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It all started with some pumpkin seeds. “I found pumpkin seeds in Cheyenne. I grew pumpkins thinking they weren’t going to make it, I grew them in tiny medicine cups and they took off,” said Sophia Borg. “So, I had this big plan that we (StrongTower Designs and Palomino Hat Bar) were going to have a pumpkin patch. That grew from the pumpkin patch into the festival.” The festival is the inaugural Saratoga Fall Festival—or Saratoga FallFest—which was held on October 21 on east Spring Street...
After more than a decade, multiple blueprints and plans and a name change it seems there might be some progress for Never Forget Park. During the October 17 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, the governing body was provided an update from Stacy Crimmins, a member of the working group formed more than two years ago for the memorial park. With that update came a request to go out for bid for phase one of the long-awaited project. “In phase one construction, we will be seeking bids to include s...
In the past three years, the amount of short term rentals in the Saratoga area have grown from less than 25 to more than 70. In fact, they are now nearly 8% of the total housing in Saratoga. For the past year, the Saratoga Planning Commission has discussed short term rentals, whether they should be regulated and how they should be regulated. That discussion culminated in a special use permit for short term rentals, which was ultimately tabled last month. The tabling of the permit came following input from the Town of Saratoga’s legal counsel, K...
The subject of payroll, specifically relating to overtime for dispatchers, was discussed by the Saratoga Town Council during their October 17 meeting. The town council also passed a resolution approving the final plat for Octagon Estates Phase Three, with some conditions added which were recommended by the planning commission. Overtime Payout The discussion regarding overtime pay for dispatchers came under a report from the Saratoga Police Department. “Earlier in the year, shortly after I c...
Calling it "a battle we more than likely can't win" the Saratoga Town Council will not be challenging the updated flood insurance rate maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). That decision came at the October 17 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council following information from Nathan Werner of S20 Engineering. The firm had been engaged by the Town of Saratoga last month to review the preliminary maps released by FEMA. Werner, along with reviewing the maps, worked with Director...
Platte Valley Arts Council announces 7th annual Hay Bale Sculpture Contest The Platte Valley Arts Council is sponsoring the 7th annual Hay Bale Sculpture Contest. Back in September, there was an initiation sent out to all local ranches, businesses or families to show off some good ole’ fashioned ranch ingenuity that could give their outfit creative bragging rights for a year. Six participants entered this years contest. Kelley Cattle Company who has participated in all seven years of the c...
It appears any progress on potential regulations for short term rentals, or STRS, in Saratoga is stalled for the foreseeable future. A decision to table a special use permit was made by the Saratoga Planning Commission on October 10. The decision came following suggestions from Kylie Waldrip, legal counsel for the Town of Saratoga, who advised the planning commission to let Jackson “have the fight.” Government Overreach The discussion over whether the Town of Saratoga should regulate short ter...
Bridges and flooding were the main talking points for the Saratoga Town Council on September 19. The governing body will be following through with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) on replacing the bridge at Texas Trail and have selected a group to help appeal the recently released Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map. Bridging the Gap In March 2022, the Saratoga Town Council had received notification from WYDOT that the bridge behind the Saratoga...
The third phase of the Octagon Estates subdivision is on its way to being platted, following the September 12 meeting of the Saratoga Planning Commission. The seven member commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval of the final plat for phase three presented by Octagon Construction Group. That recommendation came with a lengthy discussion about the current code regulating subdivisions and whether the code would need to be amended for future developments. Building Towards Paving In August, Bo...
Saratoga may have another provider of high-speed internet in the near future, adding a fiber optic option provided to parts of the municipality by Union Wireless. At the September 5 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, Mayor Chuck Davis informed the rest of the governing body he had signed a letter of support for Mountain West Technologies. The letter, which was included in the council packet, was dated August 22 and addressed to the Wyoming Business Council Connect Wyoming Grant Committee. “I...
Property development was the main topic of the September 5 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council as the governing body discussed Town-owned land and improvements of a subdivision. Mayor Chuck Davis informed council members of the public about additional interest in property owned by the municipality, leading to a discussion about people “cherry-picking” lots in town limits. The council and members of the public also discussed progress—or lack thereof—in improvements for Octagon Estates Phase O...
Saratoga Town Hall may have a new town clerk, but she is likely a familiar face to many within the Valley. Jennifer “Jenn” Anderson was appointed as the new clerk and sworn in on September 5 during a meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. Anderson currently works as a dispatcher for the Saratoga Police Department. Prior to that, she worked for Carbon County School District No.2 for approximately 15 years. She is the mother of three children, two of whom are graduates of Encampment K-12 Sch...
The Saratoga Planning Commission, now fully seated, discussed short-term rentals (STRs), affordable housing and subdivisions during their August 8 meeting. JoDell Hone, the most recently appointed board member, joins Matt Baker, Johnny Portillo, McCall Burau, Nancy Ford, Mayor Chuck Davis and Chia Valdez-Schwartz on the planning commission. The make-up of the commission appears quite diverse with members either being long-time locals or recent arrivals to Saratoga and includes retired individuals, local business owners and real estate agents....
Different properties owned by the Town of Saratoga were major topics during the August 1 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. While one piece of property may have potential buyers, another could obtain a Brownfields Assessment through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additional topics discussed by the governing body included a cyanobacterial bloom at Saratoga Lake and sheep owned by Scott Kerbs. Saratoga lake is experiencing a cyanobacteria bloom and the council talked about safety...
Pickleball was again a center court issue for the Saratoga Town Council during their August 1 meeting as the council discussed the recreation commission's handling of the event. The discussion involved, at times, heated exchanges between Mayor Chuck Davis, Councilmember Kathy Beck and members of the public. The event itself didn't appear to be the issue. The issues, instead, seemed to be communication between commission members and businesses, the bidding process for food service and authority...
District: Jackie Jones, HES/MBES Principal After 28 years in the classroom, I am starting my new role as principal of the North Carbon County Elementary Schools and couldn’t be more excited. I have spent most of my summer working on administration classes and working in Hanna and Medicine Bow Elementary Schools to prepare for the 2023-24 academic year. My husband, Clif, and I were able to take a couple of trips to Yellowstone to do some photography and escape cell phone and internet service. W...
The town of Saratoga, and the Saratoga Recreation Department, staged the 1st Annual Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, July 22, at Veterans Island. The event drew 20 players, competing in doubles, divided into two flights; beginners and intermediate level players. Most teams were local; from Saratoga and Rawlins, but a team from Cheyenne and one from Casper were also competing. It is notable that Saratoga staged this tournament of the popular sport since just six weeks ago the courts did not...
The western water tower for the Town of Saratoga, which has long been a source of frustration for both the Saratoga Town Council and the water and sewer joint powers board, was finally demolished this week. The tower had been scheduled for demolition and isolated from the water system for over a year....
Expenses presented from the recreation department were the catalyst for a conversation regarding bidding processes, approval policies and the spending of public money during the July 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. Councilmember Kathy Beck, who serves as the council representative to the recreation commission, presented a bill for $741 from Cowboy Couture for t-shirts and discussed a $780 bid from Hangry Services, Inc.. Both bids, which were for the pickleball tournament on July 22,...
A request by a Saratoga resident has appeared to have highlighted a gap in the municipal code when it comes to temporary agricultural uses on residential property. At the July 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, Mayor Chuck Davis said Scott Kerbs had asked about letting his sheep graze an overgrown parcel of property along Farm Street between 7th and 9th streets. The property in question is zoned RD7200 which, under section 18.42.150 of the municipal code, only allows horses to be kept permanently on a residential property. There is an exc...
More than two years have passed since the formation of a working group for Never Forget Park—formerly Tyler Pickett Memorial Park—and from the outside looking in it appears there has been little more progress than in the previous decade. It’s not for lack of trying. “I have written six grants and have a couple more in the works,” said Stacy Crimmins, who has been with the working group since its formation. “Unfortunately, (we) have not received any of those grants yet. It’s a little frustrating...
Jon Nelson, of North Fork Engineering told the Encampment Town Council that the project has been mobilized. the contractor began excavation, compaction and backfill with testing to be completed. He said pipe removal is 90% complete and the old structures will be removed. Concrete forms, rebar and road base will be delivered in anticipation of the first footer and the forms in place. Weekly progress meetings will be 2 p.m. each Wednesday at the town hall. Nelson told the Council that the...
The Town of Saratoga will once-again begin the search for a town clerk following the resignation of Marie Christen on June 20. Christen, who struggled at times to hold back tears, read her own resignation letter near the end of the meeting. “I want to express my gratitude for the opportunities I have had while working here. I have learned an immense amount and appreciate the support provided by my co-workers and the council,” said Marie. “I am committed to ensure a smooth transition and will...
The Saratoga Town Council passed its annual budget on third reading Tuesday night, approving $3.92 million in expenditures during the 2023-2024 budget year. According to budget documents, the town anticipates receiving approximately $3.67 million in General Fund revenues, with nearly $2.19 million coming from taxes. Other major contributors to the total expected revenue include $699,000 listed as Contributions and Transfers, $261,650 listed as Miscellaneous Revenues and $357,600 listed as Intergovernmental Revenue. Contributions and T...
Dear Editor: Has Hobo Pool been sold? If the “Private Property, KEEP OUT” and “No Trespassing” signs posted on the four hog wire fence barricades blocking access to the free flowing mineral hot springs are official and accurate, the “publicly-owned, open and free forever”, Hobo Pool has either been sold, given away or somehow ended up in private hands. None of the signs indicate by whose authority the barriers were erected. (See photos). The barriers and signs have been up for a couple of weeks, with no effort by the town to open the healing...