Council discusses new EPA/DEQ regulations

At the February 15 Thermopolis Town Council meeting, Mayor Mike Chimenti held a public hearing for comments on the renewal of liquor licenses. No public comments were received so Mayor Chimenti closed the public hearing. Next, the council voted and passed to renew all the liquor licenses. 

Town engineer Anthony Barnett presented to the council documents and images about the potential school bus parking lot that would replace the old wooden park on the south end of the football/track field. There was discussion about an excavation permit for replacing the sidewalk and also for designing an entrance that would be close to the curve of the street.

Barnett also discussed with the council the new EPA/DEQ regulations that would affect the town’s use of lead and copper in pipes and their monitoring. Barnett said there isn’t a crisis in the town and the rules aren’t set yet.

Barnett said, “Before any money for water and sewer infrastructure comes from the state, they are going to require… a seemly brief study to identify all areas of lead joint, cast, or dug iron pipe if there is a partial copper, particle lead service line, other sources of lead in the system.”

Barnett added that there is a town ordinance that deals with this issue. Assistant to Mayor Fred Crosby said, “It allows people to fix a lead service line one time to go hook on the transition to copper.” Crosby added, “that’s going to need to be changed.”

Barnett continued and described what he learned, “the utility will replace a lead service line to the house. It doesn’t matter what the ordinances say as far as curb stops per the EPA rules, it will be into the house… at the utility’s expense.” Barnett added that there hasn’t been a hot test for lead in many years. 

Barnett also brought the issue of painting the silos at the water treatment plant. Crosby said the money to do the work has already been budgeted. Mayor Chimenti said to go do it and the council saw no need to delay the work. They were last painted in the early 80s. 

Town Attorney Mike Messenger presented the late fee charge ordinance in its third and final reading. The council voted and approved the ordinance in its third and final reading and will take effect on March 1. 

Council member Tony Larson brought up an idea related to providing charging stations for electric cars that would have a credit card reader for payments. The stations could be located downtown and or near Bicentennial Park. Council member Bill Malloy responded that there might be some opposition to the idea because the town would be entering into an energy business. Larson asked, “Who’s doing it in town?” Crosby asked if there were grants available to do this. The appeal of the idea would keep people downtown and allow them to shop downtown. Crosby said that they could “look into it.”

Mayor Chimenti brought up a request from John Gerrells who offered to be responsible for putting up and taking down the flags in the downtown area. The council didn’t have any problems with the idea. 

Chief of Police Pat Cornwell reported that they are making progress in transitioning to E-Force. The software allows better communication to first responders and in an emergency call, the system sends out a text that contained the exact location or address for the event. Cornwell said the new system helps them be more up to date.