Selling property, rehabbing property

Different properties owned by the Town of Saratoga were major topics during the August 1 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council.

While one piece of property may have potential buyers, another could obtain a Brownfields Assessment through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additional topics discussed by the governing body included a cyanobacterial bloom at Saratoga Lake and sheep owned by Scott Kerbs.

Saratoga lake is experiencing a cyanobacteria bloom and the council talked about safety precautions and the need to inform the public on the risks involved while recreating around the lake.

Property at Myrtle

Under council comments, Mayor Chuck Davis informed the rest of the council that two different individuals had approached him about buying property owned by the Town of Saratoga along Myrtle Street. Davis noted the property had previously been assessed during discussions of land swap between previous council and Saratoga Hot Springs Resort owner Mike Janssen.

Davis noted that neither interested party in the property were developers. McCall Burau, chairman of the Saratoga Planning Commission, noted that the property appeared to be designated as open space according to the 2016 Master Plan. Burau asked, should the property sell, if the funds could be earmarked for open space or a park elsewhere in the town.

Per Wyoming State Statute 15-1-112, before any property of any town or city valued at $500 or more an advertisement of the intended sale, describing the property and the terms of the sale, must be published at least once per week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the community. The notice must also announce a public auction or a call for sealed bids for purchase of the property. The property must be sold to the highest responsible bidder, unless the town council rejects all bids.

Assessing Property

The council also discussed obtaining a Brownfields Assessment Grant from the EPA for the former police station on River Street.

“The building is full of mold and possibly asbestos. As of right now the building is just being used for storage of unwanted items,” said Davis.

The Brownfields Assessment grant is an initiative of the Biden Administration to clean up brownfield sites, properties where toxic chemicals or other hazards might inhibit redevelopment. Money for the project is funded from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and was intended to push federal environmental justice initiatives. Saratoga wouldn’t be the first community in Carbon County to use the funds.

According to a June 1 article by WyoFile, the City of Rawlins received $500,000 for renovation of 20 properties within city limits, including the old Wyoming Bar and Sunset Motel.

Counting Sheep

Between the July 18 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council and the meeting on August 1, the Town of Saratoga granted Scott Kerbs permission to temporarily graze his sheep on property in town limits. According to Davis, Kerbs had received permission from 10 nearby property owners.

Kerbs’ sheep had escaped. According to Davis, multiple attempts were made to contact Kerbs with no success. The council agreed Kerbs should be notified and given a week to address the situation. If it wasn’t addressed, said Councilmember Jacob Fluty, then the agreement with Kerbs would need to be renegotiated.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on August 15 at Saratoga Town Hall.