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WORLAND — The Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission postponed action on a variance request from Veile Mortuary to construct a crematory next to the funeral home at 301 South Eighth.

A public hearing was held during the board’s regular meeting Monday at city hall.

Susan Hall said she “lives right next door” and was concerned about possible odors, but added, “but I know Clayton [Dragoo, Veile Mortuary owner] and he would not request anything that would harm the neighbors and neighborhood.”

Regarding odor, Building Official Randy Adams said the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality would require the crematory to meet air quality control standards.

Dragoo was unable to be present at the meeting and no representative at the meeting could answer questions regarding the filtration system of the unit that is proposed to be constructed at 301 South Eighth.

Kent and Kathy Loveland, also neighbors to the mortuary and proposed crematory, expressed concerns about possible emissions, citing unspecified Environmental Protection Agency studies that state that mercury can be included among pollutants from crematories.

They were also concerned about what a crematory might do to property values in the residential-zoned area.

Adams said since the location is in a residential zone, a variance is required to allow a crematory. He said in the Big Horn Basin and surrounding area only one crematory is located in a residential area and that is in Lander. Board member Mike Dykman noted, however, that in Lander the lot sizes are larger and the facility is located on the edge of town near a ranch.

Kent Loveland added that “there is always the possibility of litigation afterward if this goes forward.”

John Hall said, “Ever since I’ve known Clayton, everything he does is topnotch.”

Hall noted that he understood there was an alternative location.

Adams said that Dragoo had looked at purchasing a facility at 114 Grace near the city shop in a light industrial zone.

When asked for a recommendation to the board, Adams said that it might be better to find out more information about the system that Dragoo plans to install.

The board asked Adams to reach out to Dragoo about specifics on the unit including the filtration system. Board member Dan Frederick also asked for any EPA studies regarding the unit that Dragoo plans on installing.

According to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, the crematory company must apply for an air quality permit for the incineration portion of the facility. The process for permit approval can take up to 120 days and usually includes a 30-day public notice period.

The application for the permit must include information on emission estimates and information on the incinerator being installed.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business the board heard an update from Mike Bies of the Washakie County Historic Preservation Commission on the grant for studying the downtown area. He said they are awaiting the final report and that there is a lot of good information in the report.

The study is paid for in part by a $9,000 Certified Local Government Program grant from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), submitted through Washakie County on behalf of the Washakie County Historic Preservation Commission. The BAPC has pledged up to $3,000 for the project that is a reconnaissance inventory of properties that predate the modern era, specifically those that predate 1950 as defined in the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Plan 2016-2020.

According to the grant application, “The Washakie County Historic Preservation Commission intends to conduct a reconnaissance inventory of buildings and preparation of Wyoming Building Reconnaissance forms and a Wyoming Inventory Report for History Worland, Wyoming. This project has been selected as a focus for the Commission at the request of the City of Worland.”

The project is focused on the original town plat, Court Place, First Addition, Second Addition, Pulliam and Randel additions particularly the retail businesses and civic buildings including the city hall and the county courthouse. The area runs primarily from Railway east to 15th Street and Pulliam south to Grace Avenue.