Teaching the Fifth Penny

Steve Nicholson, Chairman for Carbon County Council of Governments (CCCOG) was absent from the meeting in Riverside Town Hall that started at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, so Kenda Colman, the Vice Chairman, presided over the meeting.

The voting members from the different municipalities approved the agenda, the minutes from the May 16 meeting and treasurers report.

The first item attacked on the agenda was the election for the position of Secretary/Treasurer. The room was silent several times as Colman asked if there was any person willing to take the job.

Marla Brown, the holder of the position, made it clear she was too busy to do it any longer. It took about 10 minutes before Morgan Irene, mayor of Elk Mountain, agreed to take the position.

The next topic of discussion for the CCCOG members was how to educate the public on the importance of the 2018 Local Option (5th Penny) Tax.

“I know Medicine Bow has posters up at the town hall,” Colman said.

“There are different events going on in the county and it would behoove the communities where they are taking place to educate the residents attending about the 5th penny tax,” Brown said.

Sue Jones, County Commissioner, said she had postcards and posters with her if more were needed.

Colman said the Carbon County Fair was an excellent event to have a strong presence for the 5th penny tax.

Brown said Rawlins was having a 13 day celebration for the town’s 150th anniversary celebration and it would be another good time to have a presence for educational material for the 5th penny tax.

CCCOG members agreed it was time to ramp up education on the 5th penny tax.

Scott Hannum, city manager from Rawlins, said if a special election was decided for specific purpose community projects, the municipalities should be looking at Jan 1, 2019 to firm up what undertaking each municipality needed.

CCCOG approved getting the towns to start the procedures required for getting the specific purpose community projects ready for a special election. There were several CCCOG members who volunteered to go on a committee for this project.

“I think we should have this committee have a representative from each community,” Brown said.

Colman said any town not represented at the moment, should get a representative as quickly as possible.

George K. Baum and Company, the Cheyenne based public finance firm, provided underwriting and municipal advisory services to Carbon County prior.

“It doesn’t make sense to change horses in mid race,” Jones said when it was asked if CCCOG would use the same company.

CCCOG members present approved George K. Baum to be the company used again.

Colman noted there were several candidates in the audience and asked if they would like to address CCCOG.

Terry Weikum, candidate for County Commissioner, said the CCCOG group was the envy of the State.

“This is an incredible organization and I really encourage you to continue the great work,” Weikum said.

Lee Ann Stephenson, candidate for state senator district 11, said she was visiting all the towns to hear the different issues.

“I want to address the problems of our communities because what works in Cheyenne, doesn’t always work for us,” Stephenson said. “CCCOG is an asset to our communities.”

Robert Davis, incumbent for County Commissioner, said CCCOG was an excellent organization that showed how well communities worked together.

Byron Barkhurst, candidate for County Commissioner, said he came to the meeting to be a student to listen and learn.

“It’s nice to be around a group of people you can tell really care about the Carbon County communities,” Barkhurst commented.

Gwynn Bartlett, Carbon County Clerk, said a special meeting should be called for next month instead of waiting until September. She said by having a meeting next month, they can see how well the educational progress of the 5th penny tax is going in the different communities.

A special meeting was called to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 in Saratoga.