WORLAND — In person hearings and bench trials were slated to begin Tuesday for Worland Municipal Court following action by the city council Monday night.

Discussion originated at the Aug. 4 meeting, continued at the Aug. 10 work session with further discussion and official motion on Monday, Aug. 17.

Municipal Court Judge Marcy Argeris told the council Monday night that pending approval they would like to begin bench trials and order to show cause hearings starting Tuesday, using the council chambers as the courtroom.

Usually municipal court is held in the Fifth Judicial District Circuit Court courtroom. However, the Wyoming Supreme Court has suspended most in-person hearings and thus use of the courtroom is unavailable at this time.

She told the council they would like to hold court for two hours each Tuesday starting this week through September in order to get caught up on the 44 citations that are awaiting arraignment.

Defendants will be “ushered in, in a routine way” in order to minimize risk to city hall staff, Argeris said.

Richins said they had three bench trials and five order to show cause hearings scheduled for this week, pending finding the defendants.

“We need to get these cases out of the way and moved on down the road,” Richins said, noting some will await a trial following their initial appearance.

He said he does have concerns about having it at city hall because there is not a lot of space, there would be more traffic in city hall on those days.

Worland City Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz said they do have a thermometer to check temperatures of everyone entering the courtroom, as well as masks and cleaning supplies necessary to move forward.

In addition to checking temperatures and providing masks and gloves, the court clerk will also sanitize tables and other high use surface areas in between each hearing. Only court personnel and the defendant will be allowed in the courtroom.

Kreg Lombard, who would eventually be one of two opposition votes, said “I really appreciate this problem we’re having but putting our employees under a lot of stress, some have families at home, I don’t think city hall is the place to have court, mainly because of our employees; they are in jeopardy whether you believe it or not.”

He said the council needs to consider the health and safety of the employees “over these minor problems people are having with their tickets.”

Richins had stated at the Aug. 4 meeting that there was concern of violating state and federal statute allowing defendants the right to a speedy trial.

Council member Mike Neufer and Mandy Horath spoke in favor of allowing court at city hall. Neufer said, “I think we need to get the ball moving or we will have things so back up it will be hard to deal with.”

Horath added that defendants could leave, which would leave the cases open, wasting hard work from the police officers.

When asked about a location outside of city hall, Glanz said hearings need to be recorded and there would be no way to record at another location such as the community center.

Argeris said she understood the concerns of the county and city staff. One of those city hall employees is my clerk. She will have the most exposure. She will greet the defendants at the door with a mask and take their temperature.” She added that the clerk will also take payment if the defendant pays the fine following the hearing.

“She is willing to do it because she is concerned about the backlog as well,” Argeris said.

She said if the council chooses to wait then they will wait and work around the circuit court schedule to schedule hearings this fall. The Wyoming Supreme Court has delayed in court hearings through October.

After confirming with Argeris that the council chambers would only be used one day a week for about two hours, Council member Keith Gentzler moved to allow court hearings to proceed at city hall.

The motion carried with Lombard and Delayne Renner Newton opposed.

In other business, the council:

•Approved a change to the employee handbook for future new employees extending the probation period from six months to one year.

•Heard a report from engineering representative Mike Donnell that the Culbertson project is moving ahead of schedule and should be completed by the end of September.

•Heard a report from Glanz that the city received the $12,000 CARES grant for COVID-19 supplies and expenses from the State Loan and Investment Board.

•Heard a report from Public Works Superintendent Brian Burky that the Worland Rotary Club poured a sidewalk to the new picnic shelter at Riverside Park.

Burky also reported that they received their grant from the SLIB for sewerline improvement at the lagoon that will provide new pumps for the lagoon, and provide a lining for a 100 feet of wastewater line.

•Heard a report from Chief of Police Gabe Elliott that they are conducting another highway safety event titled the National Crackdown, with additional officers on duty in the evening for driving under the influence enhancement patrol. The event runs from Aug. 14-31.

He also reminded people that with school starting they need to heed to the school zone of 20 mph.

•Approved a request from Worland-Ten Sleep Chamber of Commerce Board Treasurer Rhea White to allow for extended hours until 2 p.m. for the farmers market on Sept. 12 during Harvest Festival. They also requested use of the Pioneer Square for activities, and use of sidewalks downtown in front of empty storefronts for craft vendors for the same event.