Two seek Town of Thermopoils Mayor position

Two candidates will face off in the 2022 General Election race for Mayor of the Town of Thermopolis, including incumbent Mike Chimenti and challenger Adam Ryan Estenson.

The two candidates provided bios and answers to five questions submitted by readers and asked by the IR staff. Answers were held to a maximum of 150 words, and in the case of two part questions, 200 words. Those questions and the candidates responses are as follows:

Mike Chimenti

I am a Wyoming native. I was born in Fremont County but Thermopolis has been home for 48 years. I met and married my wife Janet in Thermopolis and we raised our two daughters here. I retired in 2016 from Law Enforcement after 43 years of service to Thermopolis and Hot Springs County. I have 30 plus years as a mid-level supervisor. 2 terms as Chief of Police. In 2018 I was elected and have had the pleasure of serving as your mayor for the last 4 years.

Adam Ryan Estenson

I was born in Laramie to Keith and Susan (Ryan) Estenson. I attended elementary school in Lander and high school in Hastings, MN. I married the love of my life, Carrie, and graduated the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a B.S. in Land Use Planning. Since college, I have volunteered to use my degree as a member of several planning commissions, currently serving as Chair for Hot Springs County. Over the last 20 years I have held multiple other leadership positions in organizations, my church and businesses. I am a Certified Director of Safety, I am employed as Safety Director for Ryan Bros. Trucking. Thermopolis has always been an important part of my life. My grandparents, Tom and Viola Ryan, made their lives here. My wife and I are honored and feel privileged to be a part of the story of Thermopolis and raise our three children here.

1. The Town of Thermopolis engaged in the creation of a strategic plan back in 1978 (with the county, Kirby and East Thermopolis) as a result of a requirement of the Wyoming State Legislature. That plan was updated in 2010, entitled “the Town of Thermopolis, Wyoming Master Plan” and is to be durable and extend for 20 years. However, the current plan anticipated the dynamic nature of life and contained a renewal clause recognizing conditions will change and that the plan should be reviewed every 5 years. Further, the Wyoming guiding Statute does not restrict the town or municipality to only those subjects required by law. As a candidate for mayor, what are your thoughts on a need to revisit the Thermopolis Master Plan? Is it lacking it any areas relative to the unique nature of Thermopolis? The original Master Plan established a Capital Improvement Fund, what is the status of this fund and how might the fund be developed/improved upon?

Chimenti: A master plan is a guideline that suggests several ideas and opinions of how the town and town government should operate. The operation of the town has everything to do with competent accounting and administration.

We have a fund. It is called a depreciation fund. As these funds are used they are replaced. This is why it is very important to make sure we fund depreciation at 100%. When the time comes to use these funds, we have had tremendous success with a 50-50 grant match on projects, because we have fully funded depreciation.

The fund has and will continue to function as it does now.

Estenson: In my experience regarding land use planning, I have dealt with many comprehensive plans (a.k.a master plan). I believe if the plan is not reviewed at least every 5 years and rewritten every 20, it is not worth the paper it is printed on. 

Primarily, the “priority action plan” section needs to be updated every 5 years. This current plan covers the bases well enough to fulfill state statutes. This document needs not only be used when zoning or development issues come before the governing body, but with all aspects of town governance. The plan should expand on the growth of the senior care industry. Upon review it should also emphasize the promotion of natural resources and outdoor recreation. Lastly, the plan recommended a joint towns-and-county zoning review board. I believe we should pursue such agreements and collaborative interaction with regards to land use and economic growth. The plan recommended the creation of a 5-year capital improvements program. The plan did not specify any funding mechanism for the program. Should it be the wish of the council, and a fund source identified, I would support a 5 year program.

2. What would you do to address the lack of affordable housing in our town?

Chimenti: The town is not and should not be in competition with private enterprise. I would hope that a private enterprise or non-profit would see the need for affordable housing. Since I was elected mayor and I am sure before, the town has always supported the application for grants to help with our housing issues. Several years ago there was a zoning change on 14th street for a planned apartment complex. There were utilities stubbed for that project, then the developer backed out. However the Town will continue to support the effort to supply affordable housing by various organizations and private business through variances or conditional use permits, when necessary, if it is in harmony with various neighborhoods.

Estenson: Affordable housing is housing that costs no more than 30% of gross income, including utilities. Lower income households can find themselves moving regularly to adjust their living situation to current income. A majority of our residents that are challenged with housing costs are on a fixed income and are of retirement age. Most often it is the government that steps in to provide aid, in the form of subsidy, to provide stability to these households. That comes in the form of a housing authority.  Thermopolis is not of a size or demographic to provide such services. Financially we would be dependent on the State. More realistically, and immediate, the town should review its zoning and ordinances to ensure private entities, that know how to produce an affordable product, are not encumbered from entering the market. I greatly prefer the free market  approach to that of subsidy.

3. Plans are in the works to close the current town dump and move to using a transfer station and hauling our local waste elsewhere. Do you support the current plan? If not, what is your alternate idea?

Chimenti: Yes, I support the plan. The decision to not permit the south half of our landfill is being made by DEQ and EPA regulations. This will require us to find an alternative to the landfill. To permit the South side of the existing landfill, we will be required to line any cells that are opened for use, at a cost of about 1 million per cell. It is estimated that 1 cell may last 2 years. This is cost prohibitive. The Town has two choices.

1. Buy two large packer trucks for in-town pickup only, and haul the trash to Worland, Cody or another regional landfill.

2. Take advantage of a state grant that will pay for about 75% of a Transfer Station. The transfer station would be for basic kitchen garbage only. This plan is in the best interest of the entire County, including Kirby and East Thermopolis.

Estenson: I am not fully in support of the current plan to operate a transfer station at the current location. I believe the highway entrance to the new transfer station will pose great risk to the safety of the motoring public on the highway.  I have spent time with the current Mayor and Town Administrator getting educated on this subject. The State has placed much pressure on Thermopolis to abandon its current landfill. The State has pressured the Town into rushing (a relative term) into making a decision on a transfer station and its location. The town did due diligence and several sites were reviewed. Construction at the transfer station location has already begun. This will be a pressing matter upon entering office. I want to keep the dumpsters. I would not be opposed to conversation about the feasibility of creating a solid waste district as well.

4. Do you feel town and county law enforcement should be combined? And if so, what would that look like according to you. Please give examples.

Chimenti: No!!! I think we need to be very careful here. How would the County provide law enforcement to the Town? The Town would have to enter into a contract with the County at a cost that would assure law enforcement coverage it town. By the end of the contract period, there would no longer be a Police Department.

The Town would have much less control of Law Enforcement and would have no other choice but to accept and abide by a contract that could increase in cost or services. It should be noted that the Sheriff’s office is charged with the enforcement of state statute not Town ordinances.

Estenson: I believe that it would not be in the best interest of Thermopolis to disband its police force and abdicate that authority to the Sheriff. Early in my campaign I asked this question, got educated and did a few ride-alongs with the PD. The sheriff is responsible for law enforcement in the entirety of the county according to the State Constitution. If the town disbanded its department, the county would be financially responsible for hiring and equipping additional deputies to meet the new demands of enforcement.

The Sheriff is not responsible for local town ordinances. To enforce ordinance, Thermopolis would need to contract the Sheriff for these services at a cost to Thermopolis.  The Sheriff is elected and the Police Chief serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Council. Both departments derive their authority from  state statutes and ultimately the people. These departments have aligned purposes but distinct missions.

5. What might you, as a candidate for Mayor, see as processes or efforts to produce outcomes that results in strengthening the fabric and desirability of our community?

Chimenti: The most important thing for government, stay out of the way as much as possible. Set basic standards but don’t place unreasonable barriers on business, etc.

If we can ensure a good foundation through basic infrastructure, you will see growth. Our first responsibility is to the tax payers. You can accommodate a lot of things, but there has to be an overall benefit. We funded EDC for years for that purpose, but had limited success in providing industrial complexes and jobs. A successful corporate business will come if it believes it can profit. Examples: The Maverik, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut to name a few.

The town budget does not allow for a lot of financial breaks to be given, without passing that cost on to the tax payers.

Estenson: Vision! Our core values and purpose as the people of Thermopolis is our vision. A master plan is how that vision is discovered and communicated. It is the job of Mayor to identify and execute this vision.  Tourism is the long term economic engine of Thermopolis.

I have encountered so many of Thermopolis’s newest residents in this campaign. Many of you have come to find Thermopolis as your home through your travels. It becomes ever more important that Thermopolis maintains its small town charm while capitalizing on tourism. Travel and tourism will drive revenue for Thermoplis and in turn generate healthy growth. Thermopolis should encourage outdoor entertainment and competitive off-road sport events, to name a few. I want to re-establish the ceremonial role of Mayor as a fixture at events in town.

As a presence in the community the Mayor should be the embodiment and guardian of Thermopolis’s vision.