Council approves street closure for Brewfest

At the Thermopolis Town Council meeting on March 2, Meri Ann Rush and Howie Samelson, representing Main Street Thermopolis, requested street closure for the Brewfest event occurring on Saturday, June 5.

The event is from 4-8 p.m. with the closure starting at noon so the vendors can set up and with closure ending at 9 p.m.

They asked for extra barricades to help make things secure and prevent people from driving through.

The event is for both food and non-food vendors. There will be a corn hole tournament, historic tours and other opportunities.

The motion was passed with the instruction that Rush and Samelson coordinate things with the Director of Public Works, Ernie Slagle and Chief Julie Mathews. 

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett reported they had decided on dates for an advertisement for bids to run on the town shop roof replacement. He said they hope to have some numbers to go over by their first meeting in April. 

Fred Crosby noted that their insurance agent didn’t know one of their roofs was 100% aluminum and therefore will have to readjust their payout. Crosby said they want to tear out the roof and put a membrane on it. 

Town Attorney Mike Messenger reported that there will be some liquor law changes with rewriting to make the language less confusing. This would include the removal of the keg law, matters with a microbrewery and winery. Also, changes with licensing will be addressed and where matters need to be enforced. 

Under administration, Fred Crosby presented an application to appoint a new member of the Travel and Tourism Board for Audra Dominguez. She is replacing Bob Spain, who resigned as he is now retiring from his motel business. Dominguez has an Airbnb vacation rental business.

Also, Crosby noted that Travel and Tourism’s chairman Carl Leyba’s term is up in May. Crosby said there will be another appointment coming on June 1. The council passed a motion to approve the appointment of Dominguez.

Regarding insurance, Crosby reported their premium total is $51,509, about a $6,000 increase. The deductible for vehicles is $2,500 and they have a $25,000 per occurrence cost. Crosby said, “If we get another hail storm, the first $25,000 is on us. That’s the best we could do at this point.” 

Council member Tony Larson said, “Mr. Mortimore would like his picture back,” referring to the photo of President Trump that hangs on the wall above the council’s desks. He made a motion to take it down and give it back.

Council member John Dorman Sr. second it. All voted in favor of the motion except Council member Bill Malloy and thus it was passed.

Crosby and Larson later explained that the photo of President Trump was placed there not in honor of the office but as a protest to Teton County. Politicians in Teton County had a photo of the current president every term displayed in their meeting place, but when Trump became president, they didn’t put his photo up and instead placed a photo of Native American Chief Washakie.

When the Thermopolis town council put up the photo of Trump, there was some backlash.