Key to the Town

The Medicine Bow Town Council met at 7 p.m. on February 10 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall. Mayor Sharon Biamon and all council members were in attendance.

Before the minutes from the meeting of January 13 could be approved, resident Troy Maddox said he would like to correct the record.

He said, in the January 13 meeting, it had been stated by Kenda Colman that he had been contacted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) about keeping pigs and had been told he could not keep them in town, but Maddox had never been contacted by DEQ. After Maddox spoke, the regular town meeting of January 13 and Special Meeting January 28 were approved as was the agenda.

Biamon called Jim and Kenda Colman to the front of the room and presented them with a plaque that had the key to the Town of Medicine Bow for over 40 years of service they had given to the town. She thanked them for their many years on the council and various boards and commissions on which they had served. She said it was with regret the town of Medicine Bow had to say goodbye to them. The Colmans thanked the mayor and council for the key and said they would miss everyone.

When the presentation was finished, the next order of business was to go over the financials. Town Clerk/Treasurer Karen Heath presented the bills and moments later the financials were approved.

JJ Griggs of Sunrise Engineering addressed the Council and gave them a study on the 25 year life cycle of asphalt versus chip seal. Biamon said she recommended spending more on drainage and going with chip seal. The asphalt option was initially 2 inches thick, and after two years, another 2 inches would be added. Riggs said for chip seal, a new layer should be added every five years, perhaps sooner on heavily traveled roads. Biamon recommended using future Chokecherry Impact Funds for streets.

The council approved the asphalt option with Councilmember Trevor Strauch opposing.

The council approved the purchase of 724 Maple Street at $63,000 for the new town Marshal. The council approved $3,000 for earnest money payment and to pay the closing costs at closing on February 13.

Ordinance 1-2020 First Reading was approved. It is an ordinance amending Section 12.3.101 (b) (iii) of the Medicine Bow Municipal Code to clarify speed limits in the Town of Medicine Bow. The original ordinance stated the speed limit on Highway 287 would be 40 mph, but the Town had no jurisdiction over that, and the Wyoming Highway Department had already set the speed limit at 30 mph.

Resolution 2020-2 was approved next. The resolution adopted the Carbon County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The council approved Resolution 2020-3, a resolution amending the Town Employee Manual adopted in December 2017 to include job descriptions for a Police Chief, or Town Marshal, and Police Deputy.

Chairman of Planning and Zoning Jim Colman said the Council had received a packet of maps and definitions. Map A was the current zoning, Map B was the current use, and Map C were the recommendations for zoning the unzoned areas. Map D was the map with all the changes. Recommendations were the area by the burn pit would be industrial. Business District 1 would be for the east end of town. Mixed Use Commercial would be for the area along Route 287. Agricultural 1 would be a new definition to be added to the ordinances and would be all properties outside the accepted housing area. Urban Agriculture would be for the area currently around the Flansburg property. Parks and Green Spaces would be for the city parks, such as the football field and baseball diamond. The west part of Medicine Bow Estates would be zoned RD3, which allowed for mobile homes. The northwest area of the Heart B Subdivision was an area the commission wasn’t able to decide on how to zone, so they left it to up to the Council. Biamon said there would be a workshop at 6:30 p.m. on February 26 to discuss these areas.

Public Works Director Charlie George said the furnace in the Community Hall was working again and he was working with Sunrise Engineering on the streets and plowing as needed.

Town Attorney Kelly Neville said she was working on another potential foreclosure on a lien on lots. The council approved a motion to put all the lots the Town owned up for sale by sealed bids. Next the council approved advertising the lots for three consecutive weeks in the Saratoga Sun, and close the bids at 5 p.m. on March 6. The winning bids would be awarded on the March 9 meeting.

Jim Colman said the building permit for the museum setting the Fossil Cabin on its grounds was expiring soon and it should be requested to reapply or extend it before moving the building.

South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS) representative Jim Colman said the board had hired a south side EMT full time, but there was some concern by the State on certification. The candidate has to apply for certification, which would take six months. He said the Boswell Springs Impact funding would not restart until 2021, but the Special Purpose Tax would be enough money to pay for the EMS building coming into town.

A letter was read from the Medicine Bow Health Clinic thanking the Council for purchasing the service contract with them.

Biamon read a resignation letter from Jim Colman on Planning and Zoning and one from SCWEMS. She read Kenda Colman’s resignation letter for the position of Deputy Clerk/Treasurer. Lastly, in correspondence, a letter was read from Don Mayfield resigning from the Planning and Zoning Board.

The Council approved of all three resignations.

The Council went into executive session at 9:17 p.m. and came out at 10:09 p.m. and approved the sending of an offer of employment to David Ridge for the position of Town Marshal.

The next scheduled meeting will be at 7 p.m. on March 9 at the Medicine Bow Community Hall.