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

WORLAND — Worland Mayor Jim Gill opened Tuesday’s Worland City Council meeting with a message to the citizens asking them to be respectful of one another regarding the individual decision on whether to wear a face covering or not.

“It is a personal issue with each of our citizens that is determined by many factors like age, current health, business interest, etc. Getting into a brouhaha with someone about the mask issue is not helpful. We are proud of our city and all of our citizens working together to get us through these challenging times. Thank you Worland,” he said.

He also informed residents that 2020 census takers will be out and about this month knocking on doors of those residents who have not filled out their census forms.

The meeting was highlighted by several reports including a legislative report from State Rep. Mike Greear (R-Worland, House District 27). He said he took time before filing for re-election but finally filed on the second to last day.

“I filed out of duty to our community. We’ve got a tremendous amount of work ahead of us,” he said.

Regarding legislative work, he said the Minerals Committee, which he chairs, was charged with setting up an economic relief package for small businesses to utilize the CARES Act funding. The state received $1.25 billion in funding from the federal stimulus package.

He said the committee set up three programs, the first of which is set to roll out this week to help businesses with less than 50 employees and a cap of $50,000. He said the funding is for small businesses who were directly shut down or had significant impact as a result of the statewide health orders.

He said there is $50 million for the loan program.

Washakie Development Association Executive Director LeAnn Baker, who also attended the meeting, said the applications for that program should be available later this week. Business owners can check at the Wyoming Business Council website or go to wyobizrelief.org.

More on the reports from Greear and Baker will be published next week in the Northern Wyoming News.

OTHER BUSINESS

Donnie Bjorhus of Sagebrush Sports provided the monthly report for Green Hills Golf Course. He said in May 2020 there 590 more rounds of golf played than in May 2019.

He said the walls are up on the new restroom and concrete has been poured with hopes that it will be functioning by mid June.

He also reported that a Green Hills Golf Foundation has been established with a formation of a board and filing corporate paperwork with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office. They are working on applying for non-profit 501(c)3 status.

Bjorhus said the foundation will help to grow golf and to improve and beautify the course at Green Hills moving forward.

In other business, the council:

•Approved a request from Justin Pfeiffer of the American Legion to place an old metal mail drop box on the sidewalk outside the Legion building. The box has been refurbished and painted and will be used for residents or businesses to drop off old, unserviceable flags.

•Approved on second reading an ordinance increasing the court automation fee at the request of the Wyoming Supreme Court. The fee is increased to $50 with $40 going to the state.

•Approved on second reading an ordinance amending the city’s code regarding unattached trailers parked on city streets.

Current city code only allows residents to park unattached trailers on city streets for up to seven days.

Ordinance 855 would allow businesses to be exempt from the trailer parking code for unattached trailers directly associated with and used for business purposes. Businesses would be required to obtain a $50 annual permit and attach it to a trailer to be seen from the street or alley.

Trailers must be parked in front of the business owner’s residence and shall not impede the flow of traffic or block the line of sight for traffic.

•Heard a report from engineering representative Mike Donnell that the Culbertson Avenue project would begin June 3, noting there was a slight delay as milling work was originally slated to begin June 1.

•Approved a lease agreement with Big Horn Cooperative Marketing Association to lease property at North Railway and Russell for a new bulk water load-out system. The lease is for 30 years with the city paying $10 per year and providing a 25% water discount to Big Horn Co-op.

•Amended the proposed 2020-2021 budget on second reading to decrease the EDU payment to the Big Horn Regional Water by $16,952. The charge is based on the number of meters in the system.

Mayor Gill proclaimed June “307 First” Month encouraging residents to shop local.

See the full proclamation online.

The proclamation reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the City of Worland is committed to supporting the success and strength of our local and state economy, and encourages the efforts of our local business owners, and

WHEREAS, local businesses are the backbone of our economy and are integral to the growth and longevity of our community, and

WHEREAS, the strength of local business is dependent on the support of the community, and

WHEREAS, buying from locally owned businesses not only supports the employees of that business, the money spent locally is used to hire other support businesses such as suppliers, auto & equipment dealers and contractors, and

WHEREAS, All these factors together create what’s called a “multiplier effect”, meaning that each dollar spent in a local store brings as much as $3.50 into the local economy, and

WHEREAS, supporting local business supports critical infrastructure within our communities through the generation of sales tax revenue, making our Wyoming communities a great place to live, work and play. Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved, that I, James R. Gill do hereby declare June 2020 to be 307 FIRST MONTH AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LIVE, LOVE, BUY WYOMING