6th penny projects

Contention was visible between Encampment Mayor Greg Salisbury and council member Bill Craig during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Encampment Town Council at 7 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Encampment Town Hall. The verbal sparring between the two elected town officials came as the governing body of the municipality looked over the proposed list of 2019 Specific Purpose Tax (6th penny tax) projects that were to be submitted to the Carbon County Council of Governments (CCCOG) on Friday, Nov. 9.

With the Friday deadline approaching, municipalities throughout Carbon County have been going over proposed projects and estimated costs. Projects on the list for Encampment included improvements and maintenance of the town lagoons, replacement of 10 blocks of outdated sewer lines, rehabilitation of the transmission line between Encampment’s water facility and the town water system, and the community fishing pond.

Jon Nelson, of North Fork Engineering, was in attendance to walk the council members through the packet they had been provided and explain costs. The highest priority on the list was that of lagoon improvements, the intention of which is to get the Town of Encampment out of violation with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and decrease the amount of ongoing maintenance costs.

It was when the discussion came to the community fishing pond that Craig and Salisbury had their back-and-forth as they debated the inclusion of the project in their 6th penny proposal. The estimate of all projects on the list currently sits at $3.1 million and Craig suggested removing the fishing pond to lower the estimate to $2.6 million.

“After we’ve done all of this work for the past 12 years, I think the town deserves this. We’ve been trying to get something good for the town as far as recreation and it’s not only to have recreation, it’s a chance for economic development because we can use it for either the winter park or other activities,” said Salisbury.

Craig stated that the town could develop two ponds currently sitting above Encampment for a lower cost and Salisbury replied, stating that the total $500,000 was not intended for just the fishing pond, but for other recreation maintenance as well.

“It’s not just the pond, Bill. We’re trying to develop that park down there. Also some of this money is going towards the improvements of the restrooms at the old park and we need to work on that. This isn’t just that,” said Salisbury. “We’ve got some opportunity, with the Game and Fish and stuff, to turn this into a pretty good facility, as far as I’m concerned.”

“It’d be great, but we’re looking at putting in 10 blocks of sewer and we’ve got 40 blocks of bad sewer line in this town,” replied Craig.

After approximately 15 minutes, the council moved forward with voting on sending the proposed list of projects to CCCOG on Friday. With the rest of the council voting in favor of moving the list of projects forward, Craig was the only council member opposed.

Following the discussion of the proposed 2019 6th penny tax projects, the council also approved, unanimously, to renew their lease to Alyson Sneddon, owner of Red Wagon, LLC. The council also approved for Sneddon to act as a temporary town employee for the Sierra Madre Winter Festival on Jan. 25 and 26.

The next meeting of the Encampment Town Council will be at 7 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Encampment Town Hall.