Council approves water line resolution

During their regular Tuesday night meeting, the Thermopolis Town Council, with council member John Dorman Sr. absent, approved a resolution to accept ownership of the South Thermopolis Water & Sewer District (STW&SD) water line between the Owl Creek water line at Highway 120 and the top of Cedar Ridge.

Under the resolution, the town accepts ownership of the segment of line between vault 101 and vault 102 in the Owl Creek water line. Further, STW&SD has secured right-of-way agreements with Rocky Mountain Power and the Wyoming Department of Transportation, secured easements across properties and the STW&SD certified construction of the new water line was substantially complete on June 12, 2016.

The town declined the STW&SD request to have the 2012 Water Pipeline Agreement rescinded at the council’s Feb. 7, 2017 meeting, and the town is currently operating the segment of water line outside the STW&SD boundary and has existing residential customers and potential additional water users on the line inside and outside the town’s corporate limits.

Council also approved property insurance in the amount of $35,640 for a commercial package and $4,924 for vehicles. Mayor’s Assistant Fred Crosby noted there is a four percent increase over last year, and when next year’s renewal come closer they will shop around for additional quotes.

Council member Bill Malloy was appointed as Mayor Pro Tem.

Also during the meeting, Police Chief Julie Mathews spoke of changes happening at the police department. Starting Feb. 1, 24-hour coverage will be provided, meaning there will be a uniformed officer on duty from 3-7 a.m., which hasn’t happened for some time. “We worked out a schedule to make that possible,” Mathews said.

Also, Mathews said, Officer Bobbi Zupan will be working as a public relations officer. She will be doing events to get some more community involvement. Officer Lindsay Pahl will be doing premises contacts with local business and gathering information in case of any incidents.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett reported the advertising period for the water line project is ending, though the final paperwork hasn’t been provided as a corporation valve to a service that was left off because it wasn’t in use. When the town went to turn the curb stop on, there was no water so that issue will be addressed.

Crosby noted SLIB Board applications are due Feb. 21, and it would be good to have a project ready to bring before the board and possibly get some funding. Crosby also mentioned the school district is in the process of getting a new dispenser for their fuel station. The district and the county paid for the original 50/50, but the town is on the system now and Crosby said they will have to kick in a third of the total estimated cost of $15,000.

Presented to council was a Community Review Summary from 2003-16. A meeting was held Jan. 11 regarding a community review grant opportunity through the Wyoming Business Council. At the meeting it was determined there had already been several reviews, and Amanda Moeller volunteered to compile data from: the 2003 Wyoming Rural Development Council Thermopolis and Hot Springs County community Assessment, the 2008 Wyoming Rural Development Council Five-Year Follow UP Community Assessment for the Town of Thermopolis, the 2010 Town of Thermopolis Master Plan, the April 2015 Hot Springs County tour 23 Report and the Oct. 2016 Thermopolis-Hot Springs Economic Development Company Survey.

The compiled information shows the community strengths are the state park, natural environment and scenery, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Weaknesses are weeds and junk, housing stock being outdated and too expensive, lack of public transportation, difficulty retaining youth and poor customer service.

As for what we want as a community, the list includes beautification, community facilities, improved infrastructure, upgraded housing, walking and biking paths, increased tourism and growth. Projects we have done include the new airport, the 2003 water project, the skate park, street repaving, a $1 million sewer line project, the downtown sidewalk project, fiber optics and 10 blocks per year receiving chip seal. Started projects that need to be finished are added street lighting, updates to the town park and tennis courts, and planters on main street.