Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

THERMOPOLIS – During the third eclipse meeting Monday evening in Thermopolis, local officials stressed to residents who have decided to rent out their property for the solar eclipse Aug. 21, the responsibilities and possible liabilities of such a venture.

“I just hope it becomes really clear that people who decide to do this are going to be responsible for perhaps a lot of things they haven’t thought of,” Hot Springs County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Gordon said. “Those people, who may have decided that they would like to rent their property, open up their property to guests, whether it is a lot or whether it is a field out in the country, wherever it is. Once you have invited these folks on to your property and entered into a business agreement with them, a lot of what’s going to happen becomes a civil matter and it’s not necessarily a law enforcement matter,” he added.

He went on to explain that if guests litter, create a disturbance, create a huge water bill or skip out without paying the rent or for something they damaged, that it is a civil matter. He also explained that if guests start a fire, create enough of a ruckus to warrant a noise complaint or have animals which harm others, that the property owner will be held responsible. “If you invite guests onto your property you are also responsible for their pets. If they bark, if they tear stuff up, if they bite somebody, if they do their thing in the neighbor’s yard, it’s your business. You ask them there and accepted their dog,” he said.

Thermopolis Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meri Ann Rush added that anyone renting their property needs to check to make sure that their property insurance covers renting out a camping site or room for profit. “If you are allowing people onto your property check with your insurance to make sure that you have it covered, that it is covered in your policy because that’s another thing because yes we are under the fire ban but if something happens, like Bill has been saying you are responsible for the people on your property,” she said.

Rush also stated that it is the property owners’ responsibility to inform guests whether or not alcohol is allowed on the premises, to inform guests that all recreational drugs are illegal in Wyoming, precautions that need to be taken to prevent heat issues and to be aware of rattlesnakes. “If you are out in the country, notify these people or educate them on rattlesnakes, because a lot of people from back East aren’t aware and with it being hot the rattlesnakes will be out,” Rush said. “We have been working with the county to where we do have precautions taken just in case there is a mishap. We need to help educate the people of what to expect,” she added.

Anyone renting their property needs to make sure that they collect lodging tax. “If you rent a space for $30 you have to collect $33 and send the $3 into the state for the sales and lodging tax. What is nice about the lodging tax, just to make sure that everyone is aware of it, a portion of that comes back to Hot Springs County. That’s what the Hot Springs Travel and Tourism uses and they promote Thermopolis for future tourism and they help with some of the activities for our town. So yes, it’s a tax that we are collecting but locals don’t pay it and then it comes back to help promote the town, so it is a good thing to collect and I know with my little business that I have, to fill out the sales tax report, it takes me less than five minutes, so it’s not that hard of a form to fill out,” Rush stated.

Gordon also informed people that the dumping of camper sewage anywhere is against the law. “It’s illegal, I called the DEQ [Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality] in Lander just to get it confirmed, it is illegal for people to dump their sewage tanks out of their motor homes on the ground, period. So if you have a field full of campers and they are starting to leave, you can’t tell them to just dump it over there in the back 40,” he said.

Meeting attendees mentioned that sewage disposal will be available at the Thermopolis Sewage Plant and at the South Side Exxon.

Rush also mentioned that people renting spots in what she called “pop-up campgrounds” need to create a drawing of their land with all access points marked. “That way if emergency personnel have to go to your property for a fire, they know how to get into it so that their response time is quicker. Just bring it to the Chamber; it’s not going to be shared with everybody but the emergency personnel.”

“I just want to make sure that that’s clear to everybody, whether they are here tonight or in the community, spread the word, it’s a big deal to open up your property,” Gordon said.