Changes to Saratoga Council

Moving forward, the Saratoga Town Council will meet an hour later than they have in recent years. 

The change in time comes following a failed attempt at an ordinance to change the meeting date of the governing body. In addition to changing the time of the town council meetings, the council appointed one of two remaining candidates to the open seat for the remainder of 2020.

Time Change

On the agenda, under Town Hall, was the first reading of Ordinance 858. The only information provided on the agenda for the ordinance however was that it was “concerning regular meetings of the Saratoga Town Council.” As Mayor John Zeiger prepared to hold the first reading, he commented on the purpose of the document.

“The only suggestion was maybe trying to move the council meeting from Tuesdays to another evening to help accommodate Councilman Keel. He’s done a good job for this town and I think we owe that to him,” said Zeiger. “Tuesday nights are surgery nights, so that’s what’s the reason behind this.”

Before the mayor could read the ordinance, Councilmember Jon Nelson interjected. Initially asking the mayor if he believed that Nelson had done a good job for the town, he also asked Zeiger, if there had been a conflict on the first and third Thursdays if the mayor would consider not moving the meeting. Zeiger responded by asking if Nelson’s conflict was meetings of the Lions Club, Saratoga’s local chapter of the international non-political service organization.

“No it is not,” replied Nelson. 

Nelson then informed Zeiger that a client of North Fork Engineering, the company owned and operated by Nelson, was the Town of Sinclair. He stated that the Town of Sinclair regularly met on the first and third Thursday of the month.

“Is there another day that would work for you?” asked Zieger.

“Other than Tuesdays, no. Pretty much, my calendar is full between the commitments to this council, joint powers board, airport board, CCCOG (Carbon County Council of Governments) meetings and other client meetings,” Nelson said. “Tuesday night meetings that we’ve been having for the last 22 years here fits nicely within how all the other entities in this county have their meeting.”

Under Saratoga Municipal Code 2.04.010, while no time is given for the meetings, they are scheduled by ordinance to take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The ordinance setting those meetings, Ordinance No. 633, was passed in 1998. Prior to the passing of Ordinance No. 633, the Saratoga Town Council met on the first and third Monday.

“I think it’s a real hardship and an inconvenience not just to myself but to other people who arrange their schedules,” said Nelson. “The press would be another example, I didn’t even think about that, but when you start doubling up with other entities I think that creates a hardship. So, I would ask that we keep them on Tuesday nights.”

Currently, the only conflicting meeting for Saratoga Town Council is the meetings of Rawlins City Council. Other than the meetings of Sinclair Town Council, the Hanna Town Council meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, Riverside and Encampment town councils meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, the Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District meets on the 1st Wednesday and the Saratoga-Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday. Additionally, the Carbon County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees meets on the 3rd Monday.

“So, in essence, the conflict is with your employment on Thursdays,” said Keel.

“Yes, and you have a conflict with your employment on Tuesdays but I was able to make a commitment to serve on this council knowing the meetings were going to be on Tuesday nights. So, I think that ought to be honored,” replied Nelson.

Keel responded by stating that Nelson had “prioritized himself over me.” While Ordinance No. 858 did not make it to first reading, Zeiger asked if meeting at 7 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. was possible. Nelson replied that it was.

Campbell To Council

Following the passing of Councilmember Steve Wilcoxson on May 29, Zeiger declared a vacancy on the council at the June 2 meeting of the governing body with a deadline of June 12. Following the declaration, four candidates submitted letters of interest; Michael Cooley, Glee Johnson, D’Ron Campbell and Michelle Cook. By the June 23 meeting, Cooley had withdrawn and Zeiger announced the candidates would be interviewed.

At the July 7 and July 21 meetings, however, the appointment of a candidate had not appeared on the agenda. Following questioning from the Saratoga Sun about the interviews at both July meetings, interviews were finally scheduled for the August 4 meeting. By that afternoon, Johnson had withdrawn her letter of interest leaving Campbell and Cook with the interviews scheduled to take place during an executive session.

Under Wyoming State Statute 16-4-405(a)(ii), governing bodies are allowed to go into executive session to consider “the appointment, employment, right to practice or dismissal of a public officer.”

Following the interview of the two candidates in the executive session, the council voted unanimously to appoint Campbell to the open seat. Campbell will be officially sworn in during the August 18 meeting and will serve on the council until December 2020.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council is at 7 p.m. on August 18 at Saratoga Town Hall.