To forgive or not to forgive

The Medicine Bow Town Council met Monday October 10 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall.A recent purchase of a vehicle for the police department had tax attached to it. Mayor Sharon Biamon asked if the taxes could be reimbursed since the town was tax exempt. Karen Heath, Town Clerk, said she would contact Carbon County regarding the town’s options.Dave Worthington and his wife Tasha came before the Council to ask forgiveness on several properties which had liens on them. They were also representing a family member who had nine properties with liens on them.The Worthingtons explained if the liens could be lifted, they could  keep the properties and start paying the water bills. They said as it was, they were not in a position to pay the full amounts of the money owed.They pointed out there had been a precedent where a lien had been previously been forgiven in its entirety. The Worthingtons did understand the town had spent some money on legal fees, but hoped the fact they would now be paying on the properties, it would be worth it to the town to help them out instead of the town taking the properties back.The total of the liens on the ten lots was $12,191.68. Resident Alice Clark spoke out and said the Town had expenses that should not be ignored. She said she would be willing to go along with forgiving half the liens, but when anyone takes a property at the tax sale, they should check into it first. Town attorney Robert Piper said new owners take on a property at a largely discounted amount, and accept all encumbrances.Biamon asked if forgiving half the lien would be acceptable to the Worthingtons. David Worthington said they would have to think about it again mentioning the precedent. Clark said the prior forgiveness of a lien made a lot of residents unhappy because they had paid off their liens. Biamon said the Town had to recover some costs. Piper said because one lien had been forgiven, doesn’t mean a precedent was set. The Town is not obliged to forgive all of them that come before the town. Baimon again asked if they would be willing to pay half.The Worthingtons said they probably could not. Baimon said the topic would go into executive session and the decision would be made later in the evening.Leslie Jefferson, the director of the Carbon County Visitors Council (CCVC), was the next to speak. Sshe introduced the new member-at-large, Alex Gruenhagen and provided an update. The CCVC operates on the 2 percent  lodging tax, which all visitors pay when they stay in Carbon County. This tax is up for renewal and she hoped it would be voted back in. The money is used to promote the hospitality industry which employs almost 1,600 people in Carbon County. It is also used to market tourism, including the 10 museums in the county. She pointed out the CCVC funds grants for different events at different municipalities such as rodeos and festivals. Jefferson pointed out most of the tax is paid by visitors coming from out of state. She said tourism had become the number two industry in the State and this tax would help Carbon County grow stronger with visitors. Jefferson said there will be a meeting at 2 p.m. of the CCVC board on November 10 and an Open House at their new office located at 105 Cedar Street in Rawlins at 5 p.m. She asked the town if there was any individual willing to serve on the board to represent Medicine Bow as that seat is now vacant. Biamon said she would look for a person, but it was not easy getting volunteers for boards in general.Jefferson thanked the Council for its time.C. J.  Walker, office manger at Sunrise Engineering in Cheyenne, said he had read the paperwork on the project  for the roads. What he read about the work completed, wasn’t up to the standards he was used to. He asked to delay the closing of the project. The former project manager Braeden Hyde no longer worked for Sunrise and Mark Davidson, the Vice President, was at another town meeting. Walker told the Council, Davidson will be retiring at the end of the year. He apologized for not being up to speed on all the town’s concerns about the road project, but he would do his best to remedy the situation. Walker said he would listen and try to understand the Town’s concerns as he becomes more informed. He asked for patience while he reviewed the project more thoroughly and asked to meet later in the week. The Council was receptive to his effort in trying to remedy what had gone wrong with the project. The Council went into executive session at 8:27 p.m.When the Council came out of executive session at 9:22 p.m., and it was announced the Worthingtons’ lien would be cut in half by the town, but not totally forgivenThe next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. on  November 14 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall.

Med Bow Town Council

Other Business

A Wyowarn agreement was not approved.

Council members and employees should set up a free email account separate from their personal email accounts for town business.

November was proclaimed lung cancer month.

Public Works director Hayden Bricker Is waiting for Monex to indicate they are processing payments for the bulk station.

The Council approved refunding the money from the previous bulk station accounts that were owed to some. 

New meters were all installed.

Liners for the fuel tanks had arrived, installation is underway.

The cold shop is finished thanks to AMG Electric.

Marshal

Medicine Bow Town Marshal Roger Hawks said there had been 38 traffic stops with 25 citations paid. There was a call for a gas leak.

Training is concluding for Deputy Marshal Chris Tirpak in November.

Museum

Medicine Bow Museum will have a tree lighting in November.

Fire Department

There are now 16 active volunteers.

The week of October 10 is Fire Prevention Week.Firefighters will be sent to do a safety program at the school.

There were six calls this month.

Planning and Zoning

One building permit for a fence was issued.