Thermopolis Police Officer Mascorro promoted to Sergeant

At the January 18 Thermopolis Town Council meeting held at Town Hall, Officers Mike Mascorro and Kylar LaBoy were sworn in by Town Attorney Mike Messenger. Mascorro was promoted to Sergeant and LaBoy was enrolled as a new officer. Mascorro's family performed a ceremony of pinning the bars to his collar lapel and replacing a new badge on his chest.

Mayor Mike Chimenti held a public hearing to address the transfer of a liquor license for Hot City, LLC to 203 South 6th Street and a conditional use permit for Audra Dominguez who want to use her property for a coffee/tea shop. Assistant to Mayor Fred Crosby said that Dominguez's proposal does meet the code requirements and that she has properly followed through with the various steps to prepare for her request. Dominguez's property must not become a restaurant or some other type of business. The council voted and approved both items.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett reported that he has finished the DEQ permit application for the water project. After that, they can start taking bids for the work.

Town Attorney Mike Messenger presented a late fee charge ordinance for its first reading. Ordinance #612 states "In addition to the penalty of interest assessed on the past due amount, there is also imposed a penalty of $10 to the account if not paid within 45 days of the issue date on the original bill, owing to the Town of Thermopolis for water, sewer, and/or sanitation services. An additional $10 will be charged for every 30 days thereafter that the account remains delinquent."

There was some discussion in the council if the $10 was too low of a penalty. Crosby added, "I don't think it was ever our intent to make money off of this. We just wanted to stop the 50, 60 accounts we have [to] not coming in that last drop-dead date. ... But if this is a hope to get it accomplished, it's a start." The council voted and passed the ordinance's language as presented but there may be some amendments for the second reading. 

Messenger also asked the council if they wanted to entertain an ordinance for the various sanitation issues brought up during the work session several months ago. Mayor Mike Chimenti said that he, Messenger, and Crosby should discuss it together.

Crosby also brought the need for a bid for the removal of the tree in Bicentennial Park. Crosby had discussed the work with a vendor but they did not submit a bid. Crosby presented a second bid for $2,210 and the council voted and passed to accept this bid from Limbwalker Tree Service.