Saratoga Town Council Addresses Flood Concerns 

Living within the North Platte River floodplain can be concerning with the coming spring rains and snow melt, and the possibility of flooding. In the May 2 town council meeting, many of these concerns and solutions were offered up to the residents. 

Carbon County Sheriff

Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken briefed the town council on what the Sheriff’s office is working on. Carbon County School District #1 has a school resource officer program with one deputy on duty in the school district #1 schools. That position is largely funding by school district #1.  A long term goal is to have a school resource officer in Carbon County School District #2 if possible.  Five new deputy’s have been hired by the county since January.  The detention division is down two deputies as of now and outside of that the county is close to being fully staffed. The Sheriff’s Office has purchased a track rescue vehicle (super snow cat) that Pat Wallaser and the Carbon County Commissioners were instrumental in helping obtain for the county. The track rescue vehicle was used several times already this year and was very helpful during a rough winter.  

The jail employees now work in a four days on and four days off twelve hour work shift to help ease the staffing shortage problem and to help provide twenty four hour coverage of the detention center. The Saratoga Police Department will be receiving the former Sheriff’s Office dispatch consoles (Motorola C 5500s).  Bakken said he is working on a Carbon County Opioid Prevention Task Force with elected officials and the county attorney, but it is in the very beginning phases at this point.  

The Sheriff said that the Sheriff’s Department will be committed to assisting the Carbon County Office of Emergency Management by assisting Carbon County Emergency Manager Lenny Layman with their resources as needed by the various municipalities in the county and the County Emergency Management team.  

REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTS

Town Hall 

Mayor Chuck Davis informed the town council and public that they have filled sandbags available to disperse. Contact Town Hall to make arrangements to get on the list for pick up.  The town is not going to deliver it to individual homes, instead the sandbags will be available in various locations in the area. Next week the town will be using the county sandbag machine that was brought to the town late last week. Sandbags that are available now have come from the penitentiary in Rawlins.The town of Saratoga is expected to go get another load of sandbags from the state penitentiary.

Mayor Chuck Davis said the town is constantly monitoring the situation with the river and the snowpack levels are changing constantly.  The river levels are right at 7 feet according to the town gauge.There will be a volunteer day to ask help from the community to come fill sandbags if there isn’t enough sandbags filled with the county machine. That volunteer day will be advertised in the paper if needed.  

Volunteers - If you are available to help residents who cannot pickup or place sandbags, please contact Town Hall.

Saratoga Town Clerk Marie Christen informed the town council that she received an email from Senator Lummis’ office informing the public that there will be a Federal Funding Summit at Sheridan College June 12 through June 15. It’s a free professional training on identifying, applying for, securing and managing federal funds. It’s an opportunity to interact with and hear directly from state and federal agencies. Towns, cities, and counties are encouraged to attend.  Registration is required and opens on May 15. Christen asked the town council if she could go. Town council approved Christen attending the summit. The town council would like to also send one more person if possible. 

Christen talked to the council about the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) and Joint Power Insurance Company (JPIC) health care annual renewal information. The rates will go up four percent. Mayor Davis believed the projected revenue generated will be able to cover the four percent increase costs effectively easily. The town council agreed to maintain this coverage for town employees with the increased insurance rate of four percent.

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Special events

Representative Scott McIlvaine informed the council of the annual Saratoga Days event hosting three bands including, King Streams Band out of Ocean City, Maryland, an 80’s band out of Denver, and country singer, Neil McCoy as the headliner.  McIlvaine said they wIll work with the police department to set up some barriers this year to make it a little more safe and secure. The date for this year’s event will be July 1 (always the closest Saturday to July 4). On July 4, a band will be at Veteran’s Island and the American Legion puts on a free barbecue at Veteran’s Island directly after the town parade. The town council approved the Saratoga Days event and also approved the closure of Bridge Street between highway 130 and South River street for this event. 

The Special Events Permit High Water Hoedown was approved by the town council.  

Emergency Ordinance 866 Budget Amendment 

This ordinance is an amendment to cover overspending that occurred in the police department and adjustments in other departments. There will be no adding money to the budget but instead the town will pull money from other departments to cover overspending in the police department.  The town council approved the emergency ordinance 866 budget amendment. 

Police Department

Saratoga Chief of Police Mike Morris gave an update on calls handled by the officers. 

A memorandum of understanding for the Purchase of Motorola Dispatch Consoles for a sum of $10 (not a typo) from the Carbon County Sheriff’s office was approved by the town council.  Chief Morris also talked to the council about looking into the dog ordinances in the near future. 

Fire Department 

Fire Chief Pat Waliser informed the town council that the main pumper truck has a seal leak going into the pump of it. A quote from Wyoming Apparatus estimates the repair costs being $1,028.50. The second request is for more hose on pumpers than they are currently carrying. Waliser also told council they need a set of bunker gear (coats and pants) for the newest member that was just put on the department full time, the cost is $2,795.00.  The town council approved the purchase of the equipment for the fire department.

Recreation Department

Town Council Member Kathy Beck informed the council that the Recreation Director position has been posted.  The recreation department has sent in a request to replace a treadmill for the price of $675. This was approved by the council. The 2023 season pool rates daily swim rates for children four and under is free. Children five to seventeen will be three dollars. Ages eighteen to sixty four is five dollars and senior citizens sixty five or older is three dollars. Group rates ten or more swimmers four and under is free, five to seventeen is two dollars, ages eighteen to sixty four is four dollars, and seniors sixty five or older two dollars.  Swim passes monthly rates for youth five to seventeen is twenty five dollars, adults eighteen and older is fifty dollars, couples seventy five dollars, senior sixty five and older thirty dollars.  The twelve punch pass for adults eighteen and over is fifty dollars, seniors sixty five and older thirty five dollars, and the seasonal pass for youth five to seventeen sixty dollars, adults eighteen and older one hundred and twenty five dollars, couples two hundred dollars, and seniors sixty five and older seventy five dollars. The town council approved to pass the price list for the pool.  Council approved hiring Samantha Anderson as a Lifeguard. 

Planning Commission

Next meeting is May 9, 2023 at 5:30 PM at the Town Hall Council Chambers

There are several letters of interest to join the Planning Commission board. 

THE NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE ON

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023 AT 6:00 PM.