Audit approved

The Saratoga Town Council met at 6 p.m. on March 5 at the Saratoga Town Hall with all the council and mayor John Zeiger in attendance.

It was business as usual with the approval of the minutes for the meeting on Feb. 19 and the agenda for the evening. The financials were approved to the sum of $168,568.26.

Correspondence had a letter from the Local Government Liability Pool (LGLP) telling the town that contribution rates were staying the same. LGLP informed the council that there had been no increase in the past six years. There will also be a 15 percent credit going to 2020 contribution. The contribution is required by July 1, 2019. LGLP is providing liability coverage to 520 Wyoming local government entities.

Black Hills Energy sent a letter indicating that gas mains were getting replaced in the Saratoga area beginning March 4.

Councilmember Jon Nelson asked Jon Winters, public works director, the area that Black Hills was looking to do work. Winters said the company would start at 5th and Walnut and go east.

Winters said it is not the entire town, but a selected area around downtown.

Dan Ferrin, zoning officer, put in his two week notice. He thanked the council for the opportunity to work for the town. The council approved his resignation.

When time came for public comments, Zeiger said, from that meeting on, a time limit of two minutes for an individual would be set to speak. This will also include comments concerning boards.

There were no items from the public.

Leadership Carbon County had requested Zeiger to speak on the role of mayor during their forum of government on March 19. He cannot make it because of a previous commitment in Riverton and asked if there were any council members that could go in his stead. All council members had prior engagements.

Zeiger told the council the next meeting would be run by councilmember Steve Wilcoxson because the he would still be in Riverton,

Jon Nelson said the Carbon County Council of Governments will be on March 20. Zeiger said he had been made vice-chairman at the last meeting.

Dennis Tschacher from ACM accounting out of Laramie, auditor for the town gave Saratoga a clean bill of health. He said Suzie Cox, town clerk and Sammy Flohr, treasurer had done an excellent job.

“There is good checks and balances and your staff is doing a really good job,” said Tschacher.

Councilmember Judy Welton said a strong thank you should go to the town staff for all the work they did to help the auditor.

The council approved two separate installments for installation, upgrades and network servers and equipment to Pine Cove Consultants for a total of $44,490.65.

The second reading of Ordinance 849 was approved. The ordinance amends section 8.08.080 of the Saratoga municipal code defining property maintenance.

The council approved Cox to be nominated to go on the ballot for the Wyoming Association of Municipalities Joint Power Insurance Coverage (WAMJPIC) board. It is a three year position. Cox currently serves on the board.

Police Chief Ken Lehr said police officer Kyle Murphy was going to a training class March 19-22. He has three interviews for the full time dispatcher position.

Lisa Burton, recreation director, said that 42 auditions were held for the Missoula Children’s Theater play. She said this was about the same amount of children that auditioned last year. She said a workshop that was held for the recreation department at 4 p.m. on March 5 had many attendees ask about baseball, but there is a problem finding a field. The council approved a motion to send a letter to Wood family if the town could use their field for one year.

The council recommended strong communication to the public on activities the recreation department was putting forth.

Zeiger recommended having a non-voting member from Encampment on the recreation board.

Winter said snow removal and sanding had taken a lot of time for public works. The council approved $700 for one pallet of hole patch. He said annual service for equipment had been done and the backhoe bucket had been repaired.

Winter said he received four 150 pound C12 cylinders at the lagoon. He said Western Engineering was out for three days performing step tests on all five production wells as part of the Level 1 Master Water Plan project. Winter said Western Engineering will be out this week to photograph one or two wells to evaluate screen conditions. Public works fixed the airport rotating beacon on top of the water tower, but it still needed work. The council approved $1,000 for parts that will be needed to continue the repair work.

Nelson said the airport is working on revising Ordinance 14.04.10 the minimum standards for leases.

Councilmember Bob Keel said the attorney was gathering information on the Memorandum of Understanding for Carbon County and the town concerning building permits at Old Baldy.

Saratoga Care Center Administrator Mark Pesognelli gave an update for the health care sustainability project.

The council approved a motion to look at the lease at the clinic at the end of May. Currently the clinic does not pay any rent as it is starting up. The no payment was agreed to by the last council and that arrangement has been the status quo for several years. Members of the current council want to review possible rent to offset payment maintenance costs.

The council went into executive council to end the meeting.

The next scheduled town council is at 6 p.m. on March 19 at the Saratoga Town Hall.