Water infrastructure discussed

The Saratoga Town Council met for its second scheduled meeting of the month Tuesday to quickly work though routine matters and address several non-routine agenda items.

Besides routine matters, the council passed a resolution allowing the town to apply for funding for a Level I water study to plan future developments of the town’s water infrastructure. The board also awarded the airport runway rehab project to a contractor and voted to allow them to begin work on the project. The council also set a workshop meeting for members of the council and the planning commission to develop a final draft of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) ordinance. It also was briefed on the installation progress of the town’s new 911 system.

The council voted to submit an application to the Wyoming Water Development Commission for funding for a Level I master plan for the town’s water system.

A master plan for the town’s water system allows the town to, “… evaluate current conditions of the town’s water source and distribution system that can be used to plan system improvements, implement system modifications and establish the purpose and need for funding for future improvements to the system,” according to resolution 2017-04, the resolution granting authority to apply for the program.

The measure passed unanimously.

The council voted to award the contract for the airport runway rehab project to Century Companies, Inc., of Montana. The firm was the low bidder for the project.

The airport runway will be closed next spring for the re-paving project. In order to get a jump start on the process, the firm would like to start crushing gravel as early as possible. That work will be done at Saratoga’s bench pit, just south of the town near the WYDOT shop.

The total price of the contract is $3,199,995. Most of the funding for the project comes from federal and state government grants.

The council also voted to hold a workshop meeting with between members of the council, planning commission and town employees with a stake in the PUD ordinance proposed by the planning commission.

The PUD ordinance would allow the planning commission to approve projects and associated infrastructure improvements in a more flexible way. It would allow the commission to approve projects without requiring zoning changes and by speeding up the subdivision process.

Town council members will meet with members of the planning commission and town employees to discuss the proposed ordinance and work out any issues with the proposal.

The workshop will be held 5 p.m., Aug. 22 at the town hall building. Provided there are no significant issues, the town council hopes to make a first reading of the proposed ordinance at its next regular meeting Sept. 5.

The council also heard an update from Saratoga Chief of Police Robert Bifano about the town’s new 911 system. According to Bifano, the system has been certified and will become operational Aug. 31.

The $93,000 project was approved in the spring. As part of the project, the town purchased and installed a new 911 system and will no longer use the one operated by the county sheriff.

The next scheduled meeting of the Saratoga Town Council is 6 p.m., Sept. 5 at Saratoga Town Hall.