Martin thanked for 16 years of service

Mary Martin was thanked for 16 years of dedicated service by Mayor Greg Salisbury and the rest of the Encampment Town Council at her last regular meeting of the council on Friday. The occasion was commemorated with a plaque presented to Martin during the meeting.

"I've had some amazing councils over the years, and amazing projects that we've worked for. From the water plant - that's how long I've been here - to the playground equipment, and the opera house and of course this building [the Town Hall]. I challenge the next council to do just as much or more."

Salisbury asked Martin if she would consider heading the town's recreation department, but Martin declined, for now.

According to Ken Schwerdt, an engineer with PMPC, the State Land and Investment Board approved all of the Countywide Consensus grants last Thursday. This means that the proposed Town of Encampment project to upgrade fire hydrants and water lines around town should proceed in 2015.

At the behest of Salisbury, the town is planning to keep all of the work for the project in-house rather than contract it out to private firms.

Chief of Police Grayling Wachsmuth said he will not pursue a Wyoming Office of Homeland Security Law Enforcement Prevention Terrorism Activities (LEPTA) grant because it will require too much work and has too many restrictions on equipment use to be of value to the town. "I don't think the grant is worth going for with all of the paperwork and all of the restrictions."

Wachsmuth is seeking a little more than $1,000 for a new taser and the LEPTA grant could provide up to $4,131.61. Right now the Encampme nt police are borrowing a taser from the Saratoga Police Department.

After approving resolutions supporting two South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Service (SCWEMS) grant requests, Cindy Hamilton noted that she would like to see SCWEMS better represent themselves and their proposed actions at future town council meetings. Hamilton noted ratification of a letter supporting a grant request for pediatric child restrains was not passed at the previous town council meeting because, "there was just an assumption that if they bring something to us, that we'll pass it. I would just like to have a little more representation to describe what they actually are doing."

The town of Encampment will hold its annual Christmas Light Contest this year. The judging will commence at dark on Dec. 21.

The town is planning to research a future waste to fuels program for the county. The topic is expected to be discussed at the next Carbon County Council of Governments meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Encampment Town Council will be 7 p.m., Jan. 8 at the Encampment Town Hall.