Council discusses next steps for Solid Waste Transfer Station

At the March 15 Thermopolis Town Council meeting held at Town Hall, Hot Springs County Emergency Planner Bill Gordon presented information on the Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan was last approved in 2016 but now has been updated and reviewed. It’s 546 pages.

However, there is a portion of the plan as an annex just for Hot Springs County, about 38 pages. Gordon mentioned there is a chart of 10 pages to pay attention to that shows the efforts being done by various agencies and its new items. The various municipalities of the area have to all adopt the plan for it to become an official document. The town council voted and approved the adoption of the plan.

Town engineer Anthony Barnett presented a memorandum from Engineering Associates that was created by Heath Overfield. Overfield provided updates on the Solid Waste Transfer Station.

First, they received the most recent version of the Cease and Transfer Funding Application from DEQ. Also, they are working on a rough site plan to help them determine the scope of the transfer station construction project and anticipated construction costs.

Overfield said, “This information is necessary to complete the funding application. I anticipate we will have this scope and cost estimate complete by the end of March.”

The engineers have started investigating the cost and timeline for installing an additional left-turn lane on the highway for access to the transfer station. This was requested by the HSC Commissioners and Overfield said it “seemed to be in everyone’s best interests for traffic safety at the WYDOT STIP meeting last fall.” Overfield also said regarding the construction of this lane will cost roughly $400,000.

Mayor Mike Chimenti requested that a meeting be set up with WYDOT to discuss the matter.

Barnett also said that they received a letter from the Bureau of Recreation about water storage and the proposed use of water for this year. A summary letter on the matter should be presented at the next council meeting.

Recently Mayor Chimenti received a letter about a 100% grant to resurface the Broadway bridge. There was some investigation about if the bridge completely fell in the Thermopolis jurisdiction and they spoke with town attorney Mike Messenger. Messenger affirmed the bridge is in Thermopolis based on the previous historical records. The council discussed and then voted to draw up a resolution to fix the bridge and the motion passed.

Under administration, Assistant to Mayor Fred Crosby brought up a consultant contract renewal with their health insurance agent Brad Johnson. The matter has already been budgeted and approved and will cost $6,000. Cosby asked for a vote of confidence to extend the contract for another year. The council voted and passed approval to extend their insurance agent’s contract.

Crosby also brought up an item they previously budgeted for an asphalt recycler machine at $85,000 and they asked for bids. Normont was the only answer to bid for an almost new machine at $84,695. The council voted and passed to accept the bid and purchase the machine.