Council discusses abandoned property

During Tuesday evening’s town council meeting, Mayor’s Assistant Fred Crosby expressed concern that there is a fairly significant number of houses that have not been hooked up to water or sewer services for years and are contributing nothing to the system. He proposed looking at service abandonment after so many years or a dormant charge to help towards the system.

Crosby further pointed out there is no contribution other than what is gathered through town mills, but as far as water, sewer and sanitation systems there is nothing.

Forrest Coleman-Weisz, who was present at the meeting, cautioned that a dormant charge could solve the problem but there would be significant blowback from the community. He suggested to lessen that blowback the town could look at putting a time limit on the dormant fees, should they decide to go that route.

Coleman-Weisz explained if someone abandons a property and is charged dormant fees, he or she is just going to laugh and move on. On the other hand, he said, it could be made enticing enough that people would want to pay it rather than face the costs of setting up a new tap and line.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett said on a lot of water projects they wind up reconnecting services to abandoned houses because they have active service lines, which can add cost to a project that the property owner isn’t paying for.

In board action, several catering permits were approved for Shorty’s Liquor, including: June 7 from noon to 4 p.m. for the Domback family wake in the state park; June 15 and 16, 8 a.m.to 7 p.m. for the car show in the state park; 1-11 p.m. June 21 and 10 a.m.-1 a.m. June 22 for the PRCA Cowboy Rendezvous Rodeo at the fairgrounds; and June 20 and July 9, 6-8 p.m. for concerts in the state park.

A contract with Koerwitz, Michel, Wright and Associates for the town finances audit was approved. Under the contract, the estimated fee will be $12,300 to $13,300; last year’s fee was $13,000. Additionally, since the town received State Revolving Funds (SRF) money that was over $750,000 it triggered a special one-time audit, for which the fee is estimated to be $6,000 to $8,000. It was pointed out that this is a federal requirement and has nothing to do with state statute or the auditor.

A 40-year contract with the Bureau of Reclamation was approved, allowing for 1,200 acre storage of water at Boysen Reservoir.

Town Engineer Barnett reported there has been virtually no work on the water clarifier painting project due to the weather, but the plan is for crews from Carr Coatings LLC to work Friday and Saturday this week, and weather looks good enough for them to finish next week.

Barnett also spoke about work on the raw water line to the golf course, and there’s been some interesting developments as far as the alignment as they can’t find existing pipe under the road. It’s been dug up at the right of way on both sides, he said, but where it goes in between is still up in the air.

Another part of Barnett’s report focused on a meeting Monday with Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternative Program representatives with regard to enhancements to 14th Street. Due to it no longer being a through street, Barnett said, the previous “top of the list” prioritization has disappeared and the representatives said funding would not be provided unless it again becomes a through street.

It was noted that, even though it is no longer a through street, there is still plenty of traffic along the route, as well as the fire hall and middle school.

Community Officer Ame Longwell reported she is working with a volunteer group to clean up the alley off of Third between Fremont and Clark. Nobody is taking ownership of the mess, she said. On Tuesday, Longwell identified 64 houses as nuisance properties that needed tagged; she got 52 hung. Of the 64 identified, 31 have people living in them, 19 have been empty for over a year according to records, 14 are realtor represented and 45 are repeat offenders. Longwell noted two of those contacted have called her and asked if there is volunteer help available to clean up their yards. May 13-25 is the annual Spring Clean-Up.

Moving forward, Longwell is looking to update and amend existing town codes regarding nuisance yards, particularly with regard to the fines.

Crosby, looking at a utility fund rate review, said there is a loss in sanitation and water, he noted, though he expects when summer watering kicks in they will get out of the hole for water. He doesn’t foresee the same for sanitation, and expects they will have a rate increase in July.

Mayor Mike Chimenti read a proclamation he signed declaring May 13-17 as Police Appreciation Week and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.