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By Karla Pomeroy
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City to request moving 45 mph zone

WORLAND — The Worland City Council is requesting a change in the speed limit at the east end of the city, wanting to move the current 45 mph speed zone farther east to the east side of Road 11.

 

November 8, 2017



WORLAND — The Worland City Council is requesting a change in the speed limit at the east end of the city, wanting to move the current 45 mph speed zone farther east to the east side of Road 11.

City Attorney Kent Richins told the council at Tuesday’s regular meeting that he drafted a letter to the Wyoming Department of Transportation following discussions about the speed limit during department head meetings over the past few months.

Engineer Mike Donnell of the city engineering firm Donnell & Allred said, “As we’ve discussed over the last couple of months, the town has really grown that direction,” adding that at one time the 45 mph sign was out of town but now it’s in the “middle of the town.” He said people going up the hill don’t pay attention to the 30 mph sign, they see the 45 mph sign at the top of the hill and begin speeding up, at about the area where people are coming on and off of U.S. 16/Big Horn Avenue. He said there are about 300 residences in the area.

Donnell added that state statute specifies that speed limits within city limits are 30 mph. “We’re just wanting to adhere to national standards,” he said. “WYDOT has to approve [a change in the speed limit] as it is on the highway but this is in the city limits.”

Worland Police Chief Gabe Elliott said he agrees with Donnell about the need to move the faster speed zone farther east. “There are so many things going on in that area. The new park [playground equipment at Hillcrest] is attracting more people,” he said, adding that there is more pedestrian and bicycle traffic than there used to be.

Mike Neufer asked if the council could seek public input on the proposal before making the request.

Dennis Koch, who made the motion to proceed with the request, said as elected council members they represent the residents of Worland.

The motion carried on a 6-2 vote with Neufer and Lisa Fernandez opposed. Fernandez said she did not feel there was a huge congestion problem in the area.

Keith Gentzler was acting mayor in the absence of Jim Gill.

In other business Tuesday night, the council:

•Awarded the three-phase 15th Street project bid to Viper Underground out of Riverton for $631,881. Donnell said the bid is below engineer’s estimates of $810,000. The second bid was above the estimate at $830,307 from Western Municipal.

The three phases including replacing the sewer line from the alley south of Arby’s to the other side of the canal. He said the city already has replaced the waterline.

The city also plans on paving a half block north and a half block south on 15th off of Big Horn with concrete.

Donnell said in an interview Monday that the bridge behind Maverik also has the last wooden walkway in town and one of the three phases is to replace the wooden walkway with reinforced concrete and handrails.

Another of the three phases is replacing a waterline in the alley just west of Bower Avenue in Blocks 1, 2, 3 and 11 of the Evert Addition. Donnell said the city had three breaks in that line last year. The project entails replacing 750 feet of cast iron pipe with PVC. He said this likely will be the first of the three phases but city officials will discuss it with the contractor once the bid is awarded.

•Heard a report from City Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz that Bentchmark, who the city contracts with for IT work, will be closing its doors for information technology (IT) work as of Dec. 1. She said she will let bids for a new IT contract.

•Heard a report from Public Works Superintendent Brian Burky that he has been approached by the Wyoming Department of Transportation to place a road condition informational sign near the Big Horn Co-op for southbound traffic on U.S. 20. The council approved allowing WYDOT to place the sign within the city limits. The sign would notify drivers of any canyon closures or other road conditions.

He also reported that Rocky Mountain Power will put up Christmas lights across 10th Street. He said he is verifying that the outlets are safe and functional.

“It’s very generous of Rocky Mountain Power to put them up for us,” he said.

In other reports Donnell said the Culbertson project grant application to the State Loan and Investment Board has passed initial review.

Richins reported that the Wyoming Attorney General has approved the amendment to the Worland Aquatic Center Joint Powers Board agreement.

The amendment gives flexibility to the board for utilizing endowment funds.

 
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