Council approves franchise agreements

Tuesday evening, Thermopolis Town Council approved new franchise agreements with RT Communications and Wyoming Gas. The agreements are for 10 years, and each franchise saw an increase in the percentage they pay to the town. While previous agreements saw both utilities paying two percent of their gross revenue, under the new agreements RT will pay five percent and Wyoming Gas will pay 3.5 percent.

The figures were suggested at a previous board meeting to match other franchises, as Charter pays five percent and Pacificorp pays 3.5 percent. The money from the franchise agreements goes into the General Fund for the town, and is something of a “pass through” cost, as their increase will pass on to the franchise customers.

The new agreements also contain clauses that stipulate if the franchises, in their work, mess up town property, the town crews will fix it and bill the franchise.

In other action, the board approved a bar and grill license to Jurassicorp, for Raptors Bar and Grill. The new restaurant, which will be in the location of the former A & W, is expected to open Dec. 15.

A second payment was approved for the coating of the airport tank, in the amount of $57,645. Though the payment was already a part of the approved list of bills, the formal action on the payment was so Mayor Mike Mortimore could sign it.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett noted at the meeting that the tank was filled Tuesday and the chlorine was in it and, they were waiting a 24-hour period before it will be used.

Also during the meeting, Mortimore reported John Lumley sent an email informing people the state is looking at trying to make the Pioneer Home private. Mortimore noted this is something that comes up occasionally, and some of the county commissioners are planning to travel and visit with Joint Appropriations Committee. Fred Crosby, assistant to the mayor, will also be travelling to meet with the committee, and council member Dusty Lewis expressed he might attend as well.