Dock, dock move

The Encampment Town Council selected a new representative for the South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS) board during their regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. on April 12 at the Encampment Town Hall. The council also approved the cost for moving sections of dock from Hog Park Reservoir that had been donated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) and chose which termination scenario to go with for the Specific Purpose Tax (6th Penny Tax).

Despite two members of the council being absent, the Encampment Town Council still had enough present to qualify as a quorum. Mayor Greg Salisbury informed the council members present that Mark Dunning had approached him about his inability to serve as representative for Encampment on the SCWEMS board due to conflicting meetings and other obligations. Salisbury told the council that while Dunning would be resigning, another local had stepped up to serve as representative.

Karen Bedwell, who was present at the council meeting, was approved unanimously by the council to serve as Encampment representative. Salisbury said he felt Bedwell would be a great fit on the board as she had several years of experience with medical services. Bedwell thanked the council for the opportunity.

Doreen Harvey, town clerk and treasurer, told the council that the WGFD had donated several sections of dock previously used at Hog Park Reservoir for Encampment’s community fishing pond project. Bridger Fabrication, owned by local resident Cory Nuhn, had presented a bid to the town for $600 to move the sections. The council approved the expenses and Salisbury expressed his pleasure that everything for the community fishing pond seemed to be coming together.

The council was also presented with the termination scenarios for the 6th Penny Tax. In the first scenario, Encampment would pay off their bonds and get out of the tax by June 2018. The second scenario involved paying off bonds and being able to get out of the tax by December 2018 and the third scenario was a “No Action” option allowing the tax to sunset as originally scheduled.

“We took on this tax, it’s a very, very good tax and its used very, very well. Having it completed early is a great thing, but I know there are other reasons for trying to get it quicker,” said Salisbury.

Salisbury added he believed the Specific Purpose Tax Board was “jumping the gun” and possibly looking at other potential sales taxes. He went on to state that he felt that the residents of Encampment should be given some “breathing room” between taxes. Kim Loftice, Encampment Town Council member, agreed. The council voted to follow through with the second termination scenario in which they would pay their bond off by December of this year.

In other business, the town council approved and signed a master agreement with North Fork Engineering as well as giving the public works department approval to advertise for three seasonal positions. The council also gave the sewer department approval for the purchase of two new aerators and propellers, the aerators coming in at a cost of $3,122 and propellers at $915. The council also signed a proclamation presented by John Farr that would officially designate Encampment and Riverside as gateway communities for the Continental Divide Trail.

With no other business to conduct, the council adjourned. The next regularly scheduled meeting for the Encampment Town Council will be at 7 p.m. on May 10 at the Encampment Town Hall.