Planning for summer

The Encampment Town Council met at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Encampment Town Hall. Mayor Greg Salisbury was present as were council members Shannon Fagan and Kimberly Loftice.

The Agenda and Minutes from the regularly scheduled council meeting on April 12 were approved.

The financials were gone over by treasurer/town clerk Doreen Harvey. After Harvey concluded, the council approved paying the bills.

Janette Stremel, representing the Grand Encampment Cowboy Gathering, an event scheduled from July 17-20, was there to ask the council for support. The council approved the dates.

Stacy Crimmins, Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO, came before the council to tell of a project that she was hoping to get traction for tourism. She said the chamber had developed three tours using Valley resident and best selling author C.J. Box’s local locations in his book “The Disappeared.” She has developed small signs with a logo that are being put at the different locations for tourists to know they are at the right spot. She wanted to put one of the signs at the tipi burner next to Doggett Greenhouse.

Salisbury supported the idea, but wanted to make sure that tourists would not be trespassing on private property to find the sign. Crimmins agreed with Salisbury and said she wanted to put it in a place that would not cause this problem.

The fiscal year 2018/2019 budget revenue and expenditures as amended was passed on its second reading. It came to a total of $1,358,362.03. The fiscal year 2019/2020 budget got passed on its second reading. It came in at $1,970,453.63.

The next order of business for the council was to hire four seasonal workers. The higher number of workers being hired was to make sure there would be no gaps of time when a worker had to take off.

Ben Teiszen, from Public Works, said last summer having workers not able to work certain times caused some hardship. The town would not be spending more money in hiring the extra workers, but would allow flexibility. The council approved the hiring of four seasonal workers and raised the starting wage to $12 an hour. There was higher pay for returning workers.

There was a public hearing for liquor license renewals. There was no dispute from the public on any license.

Two of the murals that have faded will be repainted. It was decided the murals will have new scenes.

Malt beverage permits were approved for the Encampment Riverside Lions Club for Woodchoppers Jamboree and Rodeo and the Ranch Rodeo.

The council approved the mill levy to be 8 mills.

The town council approved the purchase of up to $6,000 for road base for repair work.

Also approved was the purchase of a Dissolved Oxygen meter for the sewer department in the amount of $2,616.00.

Wyoming Association of Municipalities -Joint Powers of Insurance for health insurance was renewed.

Ordinance 2019-01, Union franchise agreement was approved in its first reading.

The council approved Windows 10 upgrade for the town’s computer operating systems. Harvey said she was still looking into prices, but the upgrade would be less expensive than having to purchase new computers.

Two seats on the planning commission that will become vacant on June 30 were approved to be advertised.

The next regular scheduled Encampment Town Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on June 13 at the Encampment Town Hall.