Saratoga fishes for funds

The Saratoga Town Council received updates on the Saratoga Lake project from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) during their March 7 meeting.

The governing body also approved the application for three grants for Never Forget Park totaling $70,000.

Saratoga Lake updates

Mark Cufaud, habitat and access biologist for WGFD, updated the council on the Saratoga Lake Project. In September 2022, the WGFD applied rotenone to the trout fishery which is managed by the state department in response to the illegal introduction of yellow perch. The project was declared a success late last year with the killing of the yellow perch, stocked trout, white suckers and brook stickleback.

Cufaud told the council the WGFD would be installing a fish screen on the sucker ditch about 150 yards up from the inlet of the lake. The screen will be put in place to try and prevent the white suckers and brook stickleback from repopulating of the lake. They state department will be putting in power to run ice heaters during the winter so the screen doesn’t freeze up. Cufaud will also be checking the screen regularly to clear any debris. 

Councilman Jerry Fluty asked when the lake would be open again. Cufaud said the WGFD was hoping for July 2023 at the latest. The project install the screen requires precast concrete set in place and anchoring the screen to it. Once that’s completed, WGFD will turn the water on and begin filling the lake. He said they will do it as fast as they can.

Cufaud said the game and fish department wants to get water back in there and flowing through the wetlands and over to the treatment facility as quickly as possible. Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis asked if they could start stocking it now. Cufaud said he believed it would be mid-summer when WGFD would start coming in with fish trucks. 

Never Forget Park

Stacy Crimmins, member of the Never Forget Park committee, addressed the council for approval to submit three different grants.

The first grant application was to HF Sinclair for $25,000 for heavy equipment use and landscaping, light poles, restrooms, and benches. Resolution 2023-06, approving the application, was passed by the council. 

Crimmins presented the second grant application, under Resolution 2023-07,  to Wyoming Community Foundation for $10,000.00 to assist in financing the project. The resolution was approved by the council.

Crimmins presented the third grant application to the council under Resolution 2023-08 for a grant from the Laura Jane Musser Foundation. This grant funding priority is environmental and sustainability of the landscape. The grant application amount is $35,000.00. The council approved the resolution. 

Several members of the audience raised the question of whether the project actually needed so much oversight from an engineer. Members of the public said they believed there were members of the Town of Saratoga staff that could handle the day-to-day check on the progress of the curb and gutter installation.

Davis said he agreed to a degree, but “when you get into soils testing and compaction testing, you have to bring these people in any way.” Crimmins agreed with the council that doing the entire project together, which would include the roads, the handicap access, and a drain where you enter the park off of Pic Pike Road.

Crimmins said, to date, the committee had raised $275,000.00 and the Never Forget Park committee believes they should spend the money they have already raised so the community sees the project immediately because there’ll be work done. Crimmins said there are some donations waiting for physical action on the park. She also said they still have a long way to go and she will be writing four or five more grants in the next couple of weeks. Crimmins said they are hoping to begin Phase One, curb and gutter, so they can get the bidding process started in time for April. 

Another question raised by an audience member was why the Town of Saratoga wasn’t paying for the curb and gutter and sidewalk which falls on the Town’s property. The council explained the town had allotted $100,000.00 to the project. Councilman Jerry Fluty explained that when land is developed, the developer pays for the project and then the town assumes the maintenance on it when it’s complete. He said it is the same for water lines and sewer lines. 

Davis asked the council if they want to continue to use WLC Engineering or if they want to just get the plans and then go with someone else to monitor the project. The council agreed that they should move forward with WLC. The motion was approved.

Master Service Agreement

A Master Service Agreement between the Town of Saratoga and Inberg-Miller Engineers was approved by the council. The agreement includes providing miscellaneous engineering and geotechnical-related services when requested on an as-needed basis. They will be using a short-form Service Agreement for these services that present the scope of work, fees for that scope, and a schedule for each project requested. 

Saratoga Police Department

Police Chief Mike Morris told the council that Carbon County School District #2 (CCSD2) has contracted with Tac One Consulting to provide training to their staff and some students as it relates to school shootings and response. The police department is going to be allowed to play a role in that training as well. Tac One has also offered to do a training for the law enforcement specifically.

This company was part of the response on the Columbine situation. The cost is approximately $350 per officer. Tac One has offered to provide training for the five officers currently on staff. The total would be $1,500.00, which is a considerable discount. Other law enforcement will also be involved from Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, a Wyoming Highway Patrolman and possible other law enforcement personnel.  Motion was approved to allow the training. 

Saratoga Recreation

Sarah Laughlin, director of Saratoga Recreation Department asked the council to approve the purchase of a new pool pump. The new pump would have a variable speed and would help keep the not so hot pool cooler in the summer, and continue to heat the regular pool. The lowest quote was through Shively Hardware for $3,125.00. Council approved.

Department of Public Works

Councilman Jerry Fluty reports that they had issues with freezing up at the hot pools. They believe it was due to the heaters shutting down because they were working so hard. They did have blow-in insulation installed. They got a bid on the heaters and they have an electrician that will install them. The total cost will be $500 per heater. 

They are installing gates that are required by the State. 

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on March 21 at the Saratoga Town Hall.