Council moves forward to legalize chickens in town

At the March 7 Thermopolis Town Council meeting held at the Town Hall, during citizen participation, Darren Butcher presented his request to legalize chickens with a packet of proposed code language describing a potential new ordinance. Mayor Adam Estenson opened the floor to the council to speak.

Council member Bill Malloy expressed his concerns about having chickens, including the time needed for law enforcement to handle nuisance calls. 

Malloy added, “Every time this chicken thing comes up, my telephone starts ringing and it never stops with people pleading. ‘Don’t allow chickens, don’t allow chickens’. And it has happened again in the last few weeks. I personally don’t have any problem with it, but the town also over the years that I’ve been involved in the council, we’ve done several different surveys over the years asking the people in the community what they like about the community, ways we can improve the communities and things like that. The one thing that always comes up is the number one thing on every one of these surveys is people want our town cleaned up and these nuisances taken care of. I personally feel as a councilman that it’s my duty to do what is best for the town. I think it’s common sense and my own personal feeling that we have so many nuisances as it is not just with dogs and cats, but with deer, crow, junkyards and everything else. I just hate to see another nuisance, but I have nothing against chickens. I want you to know that.”

There was further discussion about chickens within the town limits, including Rachel Hughes asking Butcher about lot sizes and other information. Mayor Estenson asked Town Attorney Marshall Keller about the process or order to move forward. Keller said he had concerns about procedural issues. After some discussion, it was decided there will be a work session where the mayor and council members, along with Keller, will nail down the final legal language of the new ordinance. Some of the ideas proposed to include in the ordinance will be proposed inspections, fees, enforcement, and the permit process. 

Mayor Estenson said, “I have spent quite a bit of time getting better educated on this. It was no secret that I was open to this conversation throughout the entirety of my campaign. I had not made a decision on what was good for what I felt was good for Thermopolis, for the people that I’m talking to. I think we’re at a point where self-reliance is something we can provide to people and not be a hindrance in their way of that.”

Mayor Estenson asked for a vote of confidence to go forward contingent on the finalization of the ordinance language. Council member Dusty Lewis made the motion. Council member Rachel Hughes seconded the motion. The vote for moving forward to legalize chickens in the town was with Lewis, Hughes, and Estenson for it, with council members Malloy and John Dorman, Sr., against it. 

After the language of the ordinance is agreed upon, there will be three readings at the council meetings with the opportunity for public comments and possible changes. If the council successfully votes for each of the three readings, the ordinance will be officially legal in the town code.

Also during citizen participation, the council voted and passed the approval of a 24-hour/daily alcohol beverage sales permit for Double D LLC for the Elks Foundation event on April 1.

Gary Green, representing Main Street Thermopolis, requested road and street closure for the June 3 Brewfest event between 4th and 5th Streets onBroadway Street, from noon-9 p.m. Green also asked that the old firehouse be open for the band in case there is bad weather. The council voted and passed the approval of the request.

The council voted and passed the approval of a budget resolution. There were adjustments made due to overspending on diesel fuel, utility bills from Wyoming Gas and snow removal.

Assistant to the Mayor Jim Jeunehomme spoke on behalf of Public Works and presented the 2022 Water Quality Report. This report is available on the Town of Thermopolis website.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett reported about the newer track loaders at the landfill. This piece of equipment will be hauled to Casper and will take about two months to repair. Barnett also said there are a couple of pumps out at the airport lift station. Regarding the water plant, they are preparing for some tank cleanings in the spring. 

Mayor Estenson spoke about the snow removal process from the Town. There is a crew of three town employees doing the work. Mayor Estenson said he takes the complaints of snow and pothole matters seriously and asks for patience. Gravel will be put into some of the potholes temporarily until the weather reaches a temperature when they can fill the potholes with asphalt and perform repairs to the pavement.