Council discusses parade, banners for graduation

The Thermopolis Town Council recently voted and approved Rachel Moon to join the Travel and Tourism Board. She replaced Kevin Skates who left the Board in May of 2019 and he did not re-apply for the position. The Town advertised several times for a new person to take Skates’ vacant position but no one applied. Moon currently works at the County Museum. Travel and Tourism Board President Carl Leyba did tell Assistant to the Mayor Fred Crosby that Moon has attended some of the recent state meetings and was pleased with her to hear about that. 

The town council also approved a new contract for the maintenance of the Town Parks to Tony Larson who is also a council member. Larson excused himself from the room during the deliberations. Crosby mentioned that he advertised the opportunity for two weeks and gave a 15-20 day time frame for people to come in to make a bid, but Larson was the only person who gave a bid. His was for $31,200 for the year. The last three-year contract he had was for $30,000 per year. The $1,200 increase was for flowers for the new planters. This price increase simply covers the cost of the flowers only and the contract essentially costs the same as the previous year. This new contract is for three years. Crosby said that this is the third three-year contract the town has had with Larson and in that entire time, no one else has made a counter bid. 

Hot Springs County High School Principal Breez Daniels contacted Crosby and put in a query to the Council if the town could put photographic banners on the town’s decorative light poles. These banners would have images of high school seniors who will graduate this year. There are 47 graduates. There was much discussion about this idea. One of the issues brought up was that the light poles’ only arms that are usually used to hang Christmas decorations or other images, is not long enough to hold the banner. There is also no bottom arm to secure the banner and if it was done they would have to band the bottom to each pole. Another concern was that if the banners were put on the poles, they asked what if the wind would crack or damage or topple the pole?

Crosby mused the idea of putting the banners on poles that stick into the ground and place all of them at the “Welcome to Thermopolis” display on the south end of town so people could see them there. Mayor Mike Chimenti asked that Daniels check in with the county museum and see how they display their banners as a potential solution.

Daniels also made a second request for a senior class parade where each student would be in a car and travel through town. The parade route would lead to the high school parking lot and there they would receive their diplomas.

Crosby noted that Daniels’ proposition is because there will not be a normal graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 situation and this idea is to provide the seniors some kind of celebration. Councilmembers didn’t see any issues with this idea. Mayor Chimenti said that students would need to follow the guidelines for social distancing.