Mayor Davis lists council's success

At its March 5 meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis described the Saratoga Town Council’s accomplishments over its first year, saying he is proud of how the council has “come together.”

“I think we have made some accomplishments in the first year we’ve been here and I’m very proud of that,” Mayor Davis said. The council worked on many new projects and hired several people. He enumerated each of the accomplishments.

Referring to the period between January 2023 and January 2024, he said the council hired a new treasurer, Corina Daily; a new Department of Public Works director, Emery Penner; a new town clerk, Jenn Anderson and a new Recreation Department director, Kim Hemenway, to name a few.

Other accomplishments the mayor mentioned included: the town installed a new lift station and vault on Myrtle Street, completed the Spring Ave water line improvements and fixed potholes at a cost of $60,000.

The town purchased a new dump truck for the streets and water department, a 1-ton flatbed truck with plow for the streets and water department, a new police vehicle and replaced the decals on the older police vehicles.

The town also completed its first major water well maintenance on all five wells since being installed, he said.

“This has never been done,” he said. “We know what the wells are and we know what kind of shape the wells are in. They’ve come back very good.”

Another accomplishment the mayor listed is the completion of the second of three major audits for the town.

“We do have a pretty good account on the exact amount of money the town has,” he said. “I’m really pleased with having that done.”

He said the town did an engineer and design on Never Forget Park, which went out to bid. It also engineered and designed the continuation of the River Street water line project and engineered and designed a $1.5 million street repair.

He said the town investigated the FEMA Flood Plain map and “decided there is nothing we could really do on that.”

Currently, the town is working on a Strategic Alternatives Transportation Master Plan and an airport plan, he said.

Also, the town is considering ways to operate police dispatch services more efficiently, he said. It is looking at the option of a joint dispatch services center with other municipalities and the sheriff’s department.

“We’re investigating joint dispatch and looking at places that have done this. It works and works well,” Mayor Davis said. “We’re doing our research to make sure it’s a fit for Saratoga.”

As previously reported in the Saratoga Sun, some other parts of Wyoming have made the change to a joint dispatch system as a way to save money and improve the efficiency of handling 911 calls. Sweetwater County and its municipalities created a joint dispatch system, which has been operating successfully since 2012.

“The center oversees the day-to-day operation of our dispatches,” said Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle. “The impetus for the joint center was financial.”

“I don’t have the exact numbers,” but the joint operation saves money on the cost of equipment, “certifications and things of that nature,” he said.

Rick Hawkins, executive director of the communications center, said the joint operation is a cost savings.

“One of the biggest savings is on equipment,” Hawkins said. “The center’s console system cost $1.5 million and that’s just the consoles and does not include the computers.”

In other business, the council approved an invoice to pay the Carbon County Sheriff’s Department $12,625 for assistance with dispatch services.

Police Chief Mike Morris said the town is expecting a full accounting of the cost at a later time. The town is looking at a “couple of other alternatives” and holding a public hearing at the request of the mayor, Morris said.

The Chief said the department is considering two new officer candidates.

He said the town got its FCC license for the radio towers.

The 2024 Safe Streets Grant Program is opening for applications, he said. He would like to get the money to purchase speed feedback signs for CR East and CR West. The signs flash when the driver exceeds the speed and act as a reminder. The signs cost $3,000- $6,000 a piece, he said.

In the Fire Department report, the mayor said Pumper Truck 13 is back in service.

In the Recreation Department report, Director Kim Hemenway asked the council to approve a pay increase for the pool manager from $17 an hour to $18 because she is certified to teach swimming and an hourly wage of $12 for cashiers.

Council approved both.

Hemenway asked the council to approve purchasing new T-shirts for the upcoming basketball season, which council approved.

She said Friday Movie Night this year will consist of 10 short outdoor adventure films.

Councilwoman Kathy Beck asked if Hemenway still need volunteers for the basketball games and she said she did.

In the Department of Public Works report, director Emery Penner said Saratoga finished in the top five in the National Rural Water Association Annual Rally.

“We don’t have to dump a lot of chemicals in the water,” Penner said. “It is a good asset to have.”

The town heard a report from Union Wireless Broadband, which is updating its map to construct new areas in town it will serve. The map and estimated times for construction will be on the town website.

The council approved an invoice for Mountain States CPAs in the amount of $6,981 for an audit related to an airport improvement project.

The council approved a reimbursement grant agreement for $700,000 between the State of Wyoming, the Town and the office of State Lands and Investments. This is part of the American Recovery Plan Act.

“The $700,000 grant is to assist the Town with the water line replacement that will be taking place this spring/summer,” said Penner in an email with the Saratoga Sun. “The Town received a similar grant last year for the Spring Street water line replacement project for $900,000. This is a huge benefit to the Town with costs rising as quickly as they have in the last two years.”

The town approved a level 2 feasibility study with the state Water Development Commission. The town and the Carbon County Impact Joint Powers Board are looking at finding more economical ways to store water.

The council approved an invoice to pay OV Consulting $24,510.72 for its work on the Saratoga Transportation Alternatives Master Plan and $36,550 for pool deck repair to BH Contracting.

Water and Sewer Joint Power Board

The council approved an invoice reimbursement under the special purposes tax in the amount of $33,686.73 for various expenses.

The next meeting is March 13, 2024, at 5:30 PM at the PVCC.

Planning Commission

Penner said the commission is looking at ways to clarify the town’s subdivision code Title 17. Also, the commission is looking into proposing an ordinance for short term rentals.

“We’ll see what the commission has to say,” said Mayor Davis. “I still recommend following the advice of our attorney.”

As previously reported in The Sun, the town attorney advised the town that creating a short term rental ordinance could open the town to a lawsuit.

Recreation Commission

Councilwoman Beck read three letters of interest from people who want to serve on the commission. They are: Casey Jones, Patrick Donahue and Sarah Wach.

The council voted to receive the letters and after the commission decides who gets what terms, the council will vote on the appointments at a future meeting.

The council voted to send Councilwoman Beck as its delegate to the Wyoming Association of Municipalities 2024 Summer Convention.

Saratoga Airport Advisory Board

The next meeting is March 11, 2024, at 3:30 PM at the Town Hall Council Chambers. No report.

South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services Board

The next meeting is March 18, 2024, at 6:00 PM. No report.

The next Town Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on March 19 at Saratoga Town Hall.