Sewers, Streets and Cops

The last meeting in 2019 had all council members attending along with mayor Greg Salisbury and town clerk/treasurer Doreen Harvey.

The council quickly approved the agenda and minutes from the Nov. 14 regularly scheduled meeting.

The next order of business was Harvey going over the financials. Harvey reported that at 41.65 percent of the budget year the revenues were at about 28.65 percent of budget and expenses were at about 20.57 percent. Harvey said WYOSTAR interest had not posted yet. November 2019 payroll and liabilities were in the amount of $16,670.63 and the regular monthly bills were in the amount of $25,416.32. The council approved the financials presented.

Irene Archibald, chairman of the 2008 Specific Purpose Tax Joint Powers Board, told the council the collection of the 2008 tax was complete and that the Town should be receiving their last check from the tax soon. She said the 2019 tax started collection in October but the first distribution was delayed due to some complications. The Attorney General’s Office is awaiting paperwork and explanations of the changes being made to the board. Once the 2019 board is officially formed, it will meet, elect officers and begin to get contracts in place for those towns bonding. Interest may be lower on the bonds than originally estimated. The rate of interest affects everything including each community’s percentage of the distribution. It may be February. or March before the first distributions are sent out. The council thanked Archibald for the update.

Concerning the sewer lagoon projects, Jon Nelson, North Fork Engineering, said they were still looking for a home for the sludge from the lagoon so the cost could be figured into the project estimates. He advised there was nothing else to report.

Salisbury asked about sand for the roads. Brandon Jones, public works, said they have been buying material from Bridger Fabrication. Salisbury questioned if sand could be placed at the intersection by The Good Things store. Jones said he would likely be sanding tomorrow and he would view the area.

Harvey advised that due to the Town ordinances it was necessary to pass resolutions allowing the road closures for the 34th Annual Sierra Madre Winter Carnival events. The council approved resolutions 2019-12 and 2019-13 allowing road closures to ensure safety during the sled races and the Sixth Street Sprint events.

Harvey said two accounts meet the criteria to have a lien placed on the property for delinquent utilities. The council approved the two liens.

The council approved $1500 for the necessary repairs to be done to the police vehicle. This included a fuel pump, tires and a possible battery at the estimated cost of $1500.

Chamber nominations were due Dec. 15. Council member Fagan-Craig noted a number of suggestions for nominations for the each of the award categories. The council agreed all were worthy nominees and allowed her and Harvey to put the nominations together.

Harvey asked if the council would like to continue to do the vaccination clinic at the Town Hall. She noted that it seems to get good attendance. She said the date would likely be Jan. 11 or 18 and that the town generally places an advertisement for the event. She confirmed that dog licenses are generally sold at the event. The council approved the dog clinic and advertising.

Harvey noted she needed to transfer recent sewer project expenses and wanted to move some of the funds form the General Fund into the WYOSTAR General Fund investment to earn better interest. The council approved the transfer of $1,736.50 from the 2009 Specific Purpose Tax investment to cover sewer project expenses and to transfer $250,000.00 from the General Fund to the General Fund reserve.

Next, Harvey said an account would be needed for the 2019 Specific Purpose tax once the Town begins to receive proceeds. She suggested a WYOSTAR investment so the Town could earn a good rate of return while waiting to do projects. The council approved the Town to open an investment account with WYOSTAR for the 2019 Specific Purpose Tax.

The council approved service contracts in the amount of $1,200.00 for the Grand Encampment Museum and $1,250.00 for the Sagebrush Senior Center as budgeted,

Jones told the council the Town of Riverside needed a backup operator to be in compliance with DEQ requirements. He noted Mayor Leroy Stephenson of Riverside had spoken with Katrina Nuhn of public works about the subject. Harvey advised the council that Stephenson asked to be toward the end of the agenda and that he would be present to clarify what was needed. Salisbury moved around the agenda item with the intention of returning to it when Stephenson arrived.

At 7:17 p.m. the council moved to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. The council came out of executive session at 7:50 p.m. No action was taken as a result of the executive session.

Stephenson had arrived while the council was in executive session.

Salisbury returned to this agenda item and allowed Stephenson to address the council. Stephenson said, in speaking with Kim Park from DEQ, he determined that the Town of Riverside was currently out of compliance by not having a backup operator for their sewer system. They have one hired and he is currently training which may take up to six months. Stephenson had spoken with Nuhn and she indicated she would be willing to act as backup operator in the event of an emergency. Council member Bill Craig stated he saw the matter as the town’s employee’s choice, but her job with Encampment would come first. Stephenson said the only time they would need her were if a true emergency existed. The council agreed by consensus that Nuhn could act as backup operator for the Town of Riverside as long as it in no way interfered with her job. Salisbury said he would like documentation when it happens.

As the council prepared to adjourn, audience member Kelly Ralston asked the council if they were going to take any action from the executive session. Salisbury answered no and said the council was going forward and working on the issue. Salisbury said he needed her to understand the Town of Encampment concerned itself with matters about Encampment and any officer responding to another jurisdiction has to be asked to respond by another agency. Discussion continued with Ralston suggesting the hiring of a part-time officer from Saratoga or from the State Patrol. Archibald said use of other agencies or use of our officer by other agencies involves agreements or Memorandums of Understanding which take time to create and would not remedy the situation of no law enforcement any quicker. Fagan-Craig told Ralston there was an application received and it was looking good and the council is moving forward on the matter.

Discussion continued amongst those still present about various potential situation and eventually became heated. Ralston said the issue was about the people in the community which is a dead-end street this time of year and that something needed to be done now.

Salisbury said perhaps her concerns should be also expressed to Carbon County Commissioners who should consider placing a deputy in the area as well. Craig said there was a better chance the Sheriff’s Office would have a deputy on duty than the Encampment officer being on duty during a call because as it is, the town does not have 24/7 coverage. The council reiterated that the matter takes time. It was also noted the process was hard and the council was not being complacent and have to interview candidates and go through the process.

When the discussion kept repeating itself and took a defamatory turn, Council member Gary Stull moved to adjourn the meeting, with Craig seconding the motion and passed by the council.

The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the Encampment Town Hall.