Zoned out in MedBow

Council President Lucinda Schofield called the Medicine Bow Town Council to order on April 12 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall. Those present were Schofield and Councilmembers Cindy Chace, Sharon Kahl (via speakerphone), and Dawndee Yocom. Mayor Sharon Biamon was absent. Also, present were Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen Heath, Town Marshal David Redding, Fire Chief Peter Andrews.

The minutes of March 8 were approved and the bills were ratified by the council.

Ordinance 1-2021B went through its first reading and was approved. The ordinance was for the annual appropriations for the Town of Medicine Bow.

Resolution 2021-4 concerning budget amendments was approved.

Schofield declared April Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month in the Town of Medicine Bow.

Planning and zoning Chairman Trevor Strauch indicated property owners surrounding Area 13 on the east side of town expressed concerns if Area 13 was rezoned Urban Agriculture, the surrounding property taxes would increase. The residents suggested leaving the area zoned Agriculture.

Kahl asked how it would affect the surrounding area taxes. Strauch said there wasn’t much difference between the two designations, but there were more restrictions on Urban Agriculture with respect to how many animals you could have on the property. Medicine Bow resident Bob Heward asked what the purpose of the rezoning was.

Strauch said it was being done because there are several current uses against the zoning that’s already in place. By changing the zoning, people wouldn’t be in violation of their zoning.

The planning and zoning board has taken a map and tried to match the zoning to what the land was being used for. Heward said in Area 3, east of the County Road and Bridge shop, it was being changed to Mixed Use but the land was only being used for residential. Medicine Bow resident Troy Maddox asked if there had been any other negative responses. Heath said most residents had called just asking for clarification.

Schofield saw no sense in changing the block in area 3. Heward said the taxes would go up if it was changed to Mixed Use. Kahl asked if former planning and zoning chairman Jim Colman had a good reason to change that block, and Strauch indicated it was to open up the opportunity for people to have home businesses.

Medicine Bow resident Alice Clark asked, if it remained residential and someone later wanted a home business, could they petition for a variance. Strauch said they could ask for a special use permit. The council approved the new planning and zoning map except for leaving Area 13 Agricultural and the block east of the County Road and Bridge shop RD3.

Public Works director Charlie George was to meet with Sunrise and Oftedal on the warranty items. Braeden Hyde of Sunrise Engineering said the warranty had started last November and he did do an inspection report and will re-evaluate the project in the fall.

Redding said the department had generated $116,000 in fines with $93,000 collected in the past year. Two misdemeanor arrests and one felony arrest had occurred in the month of March

Kahl said the High Country Joint Powers Board was going to apply for titles to the trucks and sell them. The board had found a company to monitor the wells at a reasonable price and send the reports to the Department of Environmental Quality.

Andrews said there were two probationary fire department members who had fulfilled the requirements, and the department was recommending John Chione and Adam Barron for full membership. The council approved both men. Andrews said the fire season had started already, with two fires in Baggs and one in Saratoga.

South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Service (SCWEMS) representative Cindy Papisan said they had had personnel changes, and the Hanna director had been replaced by Dave Geir.

Papisan said there was a suicide prevention program available with personnel staffing the phone from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The same phone line would also help single moms who were in need of assistance. She said there was a box in the Marshal’s office for donations of blankets and stuffed animals for kids who had been involved in accidents. The Highway Patrol would later come by and pick up the donations to use for accident victims.

The next Medicine Bow Town Council will have met on May 10 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall.