Riverside council greets 2017

The Riverside Town Council met Thursday to swear in a new member, make appointments and make other preparations for the upcoming year in governance in the town.

New council member Katie Cheesebrough was sworn in by mayor Leroy Stephenson. Cheesebrough ran for the position after former council member Margaret Weber resigned her position because she had sold her business and residence in Riverside and moved just outside town limits. Cheesebrough’s introduction to the world of town council politics went smoothly, with the board conducting mostly housecleaning issues for the new year and routine business once the business of appointments had been finished.

For the new year, all members had to sign financial disclosure forms to spell out any possible conflicts of interest. Stephenson also appointed board members to positions on the council. Liz Swynarczuk was appointed to be in charge of parks. Fred Lorenz continued his position as mayor pro tempore, and as the town’s representative to the council on governments (COG) and manager of the town’s roads.

Stephenson appointed council member Ed Golden, formerly the town’s representative to the Sierra-Madre Joint Powers Board, to the zoning commission and the specific-purpose tax commission. Stephenson appointed himself to be in charge of sewers. Stephenson also renewed the appointment of Thomas Thompson, of Rawlins, as the town’s legal counsel.

After approval of the previous minutes and paying the bills, the council delved into a few issues before it. The town needed a representative to the South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services board (SCWEMS), but council members were left scratching their heads as to whom they should appoint.

“It’s a tough board to get representatives for,” Stephenson said. “They meet in Saratoga and Elk Mountain and sometimes don’t get done until 10 at night.” Town clerk Jan Cook said she would post flyers to recruit for the board position.

Even though it was the dead of winter and snow was falling at a good clip, the board discussed a 2017 concert by the High Plains Tradition Bluegrass Band to play at this summer’s party day. The party day will be held this year on Aug. 19, the same day a total eclipse will cut a swath across the state.

“We hope attendance will be high this year,” Cook said. Cook said the town would also work on grants to help defray the costs of hiring the Colorado-based bluegrass band.

The town was also missing a representative to the Sierra-Madre Joint Powers Board, Stephenson said. After approaching several people who were not interested, Stephenson said, the only person he could find who was amenable to taking on the responsibility was LeAnn Stephenson, mayor Stephenson’s wife. The board voted to appoint LeAnn Stephenson to the joint powers board, with Leroy Stephenson not voting.

The next meeting of the Riverside Town council will be 6 p.m., Feb. 9 at the Town of Riverside Building.