Following an executive session Monday night, Burns mayor Phil Oakes announced the town’s marshal, Nick Dottor, had turned in his letter of resignation. Effective April 16, Dotter gave health as the reason for his departure.
"We are sorry to see him go," Oakes said. "He’s been a good employee."
In regular session, Marci Biedheuvel of Little Bit of Love Animal Rescue in Carpenter addressed council. She announced a grant was received by the organization that will pay for the spaying or neutering of 300 feral cats.
"We live trap the cats, take them to be fixed, vaccinated; and we tip an ear to show they are altered, then bring them back," she explained.
Biedheuvel said her group does this once a month and the surgeries are done in Fort Collins, Colo. Anyone who knows of feral cats in the area can call Biedheuvel and she will bring live traps over and provide transportation for the procedure. While the date has passed for February, Biedheuvel said she would provide the next date to the town hall so residents can plan for it. To contact Biedheuvel, call 307-316-0203.
During his report to council, Oakes said the environmental study done on town-owned acreage by Laramie County School District No. 2 has been completed. The district did the study in anticipation of consideration of building a new transportation garage on the site. Oakes said two items came back as concerns. One concern was, if there is a need for a permit for the compost facility run by the town. Clerk Toni McNamar said she has already checked into this issue and the representatives from the department of environmental quality she spoke with said they do not believe a permit is needed. McNamar will be checking further into the matter. The second concern was to have something in place to monitor the status of an underground gas pipe that runs through the property.
The legislation that will open the door for the town to construct a new water storage tower is making its way through the state legislature. It has been approved by the Senate and this week was slated for discussion in the House. Oakes said the town will have to mortgage the existing tower to get the loan approved for the new one. He added the loan will still be paid off right away.
Oakes said the town is still waiting for word on the award of a $250,000 grant. At issue is the determination of the historic status of the town hall building as it was built in 1907. Proof in the form of photographs showing the building has already undergone upgrades such as the addition of fluorescent lighting is being submitted to complete the process.
A grant request from the Laramie County School District No. 2 Recreation Board was denied in part. Money for work on the floors in the old West elementary gymnasiums was denied, while money for equipment was approved.
Oakes set a budget work session tentatively for April 24.
Jeff Bartels led off with reports from council members. He first announced the next Burns Day committee meeting will be held March 8 at 6 p.m. at the community center. All are welcome to attend and participate.
Bartels has been working on getting street cut regulations created for the town. Finding regulations from other communities, he told fellow council members he could plug in information pertaining to Burns and add any other items deemed necessary by council and the utility board. One item in particular concerned the compaction of dirt following projects. Utility board president Leon Pierce said an engineer needs to verify a contractor has met the requirements set out by the regulations.
"And the town will have to live by the same rules," said Oakes. "If we tear up the roads we have to hire an engineer to test compaction."
Judy Johnstone continued the council member’s reports with an overview of the Wyoming Association of Municipalities convention held last week in Cheyenne. She handed out a sheet detailing the reduction in direct distribution from the state to cities, towns and villages in the Wyoming. With a 10 percent across the board cut in the state budget in this area the town of Burns stands to lose $40,276 in the next budget year.
Johnstone told council about a seminar she attended concerning social media — the use of Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with the public.
"It’s the up and coming thing and at some point in time Burns is going to have to have Facebook," she predicted.
Looking at recycling, Johnstone said she talked with Pine Bluffs mayor Bill Shain about the deal Pine Bluffs made with the city of Cheyenne to start recycling. She added she would be calling Cheyenne and Magic City to get more information.
In old business, council approved by title only Ordinance 14D.01(a) which repeals an ordinance banning businesses from being open on Sundays.
There was one matter of new business before council – the approval of a resolution proclaiming Silver Star Banner Day, May 1. The day is held to recognize service members who are wounded or ill. Resident Jim Clark suggested the town purchase a Silver Star Banner for those in Burns who are Silver Star service members. Council approved the resolution and Clark’s suggestion.
Pierce gave a report on behalf of the utility board. He said the board has been going over ordinances. Some are being updated and some which have not been followed are being enforced. One such ordinance is in regard to the utility bill cycle. By ordinance bills are supposed to be sent out on the 20th of each month and they have been sent on the 25th. Beginning this month the bills are being mailed on the correct time schedule.
Pierce said he met with representatives of Town and Country Plumbing and Western R&D concerning the water meter pit project. The project is going to be at a stand still due to telephone lines and the frost depth being 18 inches. If there is a somewhat normal March in terms of temperature the project will get rolling again and will be complete by the June deadline. About 30 water meters are installed currently.
Councilwoman Jan Gray gave a report from the ambulance board. That board agreed the speed an ambulance is permitted to travel needed to be addressed. As such the board set the town speed limit and allowing the ambulance to travel 10 mph over the speed limit outside of town as standard operating procedure.
The board also discussed its budget and agreed not to seek additional operating funds if the town would agree to allow the ambulance board to get fuel for no charge.
"It makes no sense for them to pay the town for fuel when the town owns the ambulance," Oakes allowed.
Council gave approval effective the beginning of the next fiscal year for the ambulance board to no longer be charged for fuel.
Council entered executive session and when they came out of that session accepted Dottor’s resignation and unanimously approved the rejection of a proposal from LCSD2 concerning the transfer of the West Elementary School complex. That story begins on Page 1.
The next Burns Town Council meeting is slated for March 8 at 7 p.m. at the community center.
