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By Karla Pomeroy
Editor 

Council to mull agreements; honor green thumb hero

 

July 17, 2018



WORLAND — The Worland City Council will consider three separate agreements at tonight’s regular council meeting, as well as honor a green thumb volunteer.

On tonight’s agenda is consideration of a water district enlargement agreement with the Washakie Rural Improvement District, South Worland Water Users and the City of Worland. City Attorney Kent Richins said the Washakie County commissioners must also approve the agreement since they are in charge of special districts.

Richins explained that the South Worland Water Users need to upgrade its system and in order to obtain funding they need to be part of a district or government entity, thus they reached out to Washakie Rural.

A petition to join the Washakie Rural system was certified by the Washakie County clerk’s office on April 27, with more than 80 percent of voting members of the South Worland users joining the petition. A hearing was held during a regular commission meeting June 22.

Founded in 1972, the South Worland Water Users Corporation provides water, using pipelines leased from the Big Horn Regional Water District and the City of Worland. In 2015, the South Worland users requested a study, which, after some delay, revealed over $1.4 million in needed improvements. At that point, users decided to petition the county commission to join the Washakie Rural system, with improvements paid for by low interest loans and grants from the Wyoming Water Development Commission, Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board, and United States Department of Agriculture loans.

If approved by the commission, there would be a 30-day period to receive objections from current users of the South Worland and Washakie Rural systems.

During the hearing June 22, the only grievance came from Worland Mayor Jim Gill, who filed a formal protest with the county clerk’s office, and stated that the restructuring was “very complex” and worried that the city would lose revenue and current users (21 taps used by South Worland belong to the city, but are not part of the proposal), arguing that 160 clients would be lost.

Richins said Monday that the agreement that has been tentatively reached between the city, Washakie Rural and South Water Users would provide for the city to keep its current customers, while they could still be part of Washakie Rural Improvement Service District.

“This would accommodate both entities,” Richins said. “I will be recommending to the council they approve the agreement.”

He said Washakie Rural and South Water Users will meet on Wednesday to act on the agreement.

“This is something that is working toward the common good,” Richins added.

The other two agreements on tonight’s agenda are updating agreements with Washakie Country regarding the law enforcement center and the dispatch center.

Also on tonight’s agenda, the city council will honor Worland Garden Club member Jane O’Connor with the Wyoming Association of Municipalities 2018 Community Hero Award for Region V.

WR South End Rural Water users tentative resolution to the matter

South End needs and upgraded system, needs to be part of a district or government entity.

Our agreement, city of Worland can keep them as customers, to accommodate both entities

Will be recommending approval, Washakie Rural and South End meeting Wednesday.

Worked together toward a mutual good.

 
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