Tale of two leases

by Micky Jones

Passions ran high at the Encampment Town Council meeting on August 12 as the governing body heard two proposals regarding a lease for the Encampment Mill.

First on the agenda at the council meeting was Meriwether Timber, represented by Lela Konecny who informed the council of her 25 years experience in the lumber industry. At the July 8 meeting, the Saratoga resident had appeared before the council but was asked by Councilmember Stas Banach to return with an actual proposal. Konecny returned with a slide show and proposal presentation.

Meriwether Timber has an initial filing date with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s Office of June 10, 2021 and Konecny presented the council with a Certificate of Good Standing for the company.

In Konecny’s five year statistical plan, she said “Production from the surrounding Medicine Bow-Routt is plenty to support both saw mills”, referring to Saratoga Forest Management in Saratoga.

The company intends to have two truck loads of sellable products leaving the mill a day. Plans are to start with simple and “vital” products made from beetle kill which are not produced at Saratoga Forest Management, according to Konecny. Products will not require kiln drying or surfacing.

Konecny added, “Meriwether can pay the current asking terms of the lease. As well as willingness to negotiate a partnership, for a possible avenue to redistribute profits to revitalization projects for Encampment.”

Konecny stated the company planned to pay a livable wage starting with 15 new jobs for the community and 5 to 10 more jobs coming in the next year. Meriwether would open hiring to Encampment locals first and branch out from there. Stating that the current lease is for economic development, Lela Konecny made Meriwether’s request for the lease to the town mill. She added the Town of Encampment has yet to see a return of investment on the mill from the current leaseholder, who has been in contract with the Town for three years.

Tom James, the current leaseholder, was also in attendance at Thursday’s meeting. Though heard later in the evening, James was able to defend his current lease as he cited multiple setbacks in the past three years. He touched upon vandalism and robbery at the site along with machinery and equipment needing reworked and repaired. Despite these complications current leaseholder Tom James said he was working to clean the grounds as well as bring the mill to production and planned to bring 16 to 20 full-time jobs to Encampment

Members of the public made it clear they would like to see performance from the Encampment Saw Mill and urged council members to consider all proposals presented Thursday night. Banach stated he would like to look at both proposals side-by-side and be given time to research and examine the proposals in depth. He said he would like to see specifics from James concerning the mill such as how many loads are removed for clean up as well as funding and other resources to see the mill running again.

“My duty is to the town.” Banach said. “If we spent $106,000 on the building and we’ve made back $18,000 we’re not being responsible council members.”

Banach stated he would like both proposals submitted before taking further action regarding the lease to Encampment Mill.

Mayor Greg Salisbury kept things moving along to the Sagebrush Senior Center. The senior center parking lot was given approval to purchase two belly dumps of road base rock. The road base will be compacted down to keep it in place during winter snow removal. While the senior center is leased on town land the patrons of the center will be using their own resources for the new lot. This will make the Sagebrush Senior Center more presentable as well as easier to access for many local and visiting seniors to the area.

Councilmember Gary Stull brought a community service project to the council’s attention. The Grand Encampment Cemetery fence and grave sights therein are in dire need of repair. Councilman Stull brought Koye Gilbert before the council to make his proposal for repairs to the location. Gilbert began by explaining the type and number of posts necessary for the Grand Encampment Cemetery repairs. Also illustrating his project plan, Gilbert described price projections as well as multiple options for sourcing materials.

Gilbert was granted up to $32,000 to repair the Grand Encampment Cemetery fence, the grave sights therein and possibly toppled headstones. The Encampment K-12 student is doing this community service for his Wyoming Congressional Award participation.

The Congressional Award was established in 1979 to “recognize initiative, service, and achievement in young people.” It is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. The program is open to all youth regardless of ability, circumstance, or socioeconomic status. Gilbert said he received inspiration to do this particular project on the Grand Encampment Cemetery from his mother as she also revamped the Grand Encampment Cemetery in high school for the Congressional Award.

The next Encampment Town Council Meeting will be at 7:00 pm on September 9th at the Encampment Town Hall.