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TEN SLEEP – During their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 1, the Ten Sleep Town Council passed ordinances Nos. 224 and 225 regarding fires within city limits.

Ordinance No. 225 would add section 4-1-4 which will pertain to burning, prohibited and required bonfire permits and reordering the code to change 4-1-4 to 4-1-5 regarding penalties.

Section 4-1-4 would make it unlawful to “burn papers, rubbish, garbage, refuse, leaves, grass, brush, animal waste, treated or painted wood, or combustible substances within the city.”

The ordinance would allow bonfires, open fires or campfires being able to be burned in connection with recreational, religious, or school activities after first acquiring a burn permit from the town. These fires may only be ignited with and burn untreated or unpainted wood.

Exemptions for the order include an outdoor fire on privately-owned property in an appropriate non-combustible container or fire ring. The fire must be no more than three feet in diameter and two feet in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or other similar purposes.

Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 15 feet of a structure shall be removed or eliminated prior to ignition.

Recreational fires must utilize a screen or spark arrestor and it must be in place while burning. Open burning must constantly be attended by an adult and a portable fire extinguisher or other approved fire extinguishing equipment must be on site until the fire is put out.

Open burning shall not be permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Grills, barbecues, charcoal grills, purchased gas outdoor fireplaces are exempt when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Open burning shall be prohibited when weather conditions or local circumstances would make such fires hazardous.

Ordinance No. 224 pertains to amending 6-3-5 subsection B which currently states that “fires not in established pits or fireboxes are prohibited.” The proposed change in subsection B would state that “Additionally, any fire or burning within the Town of Ten Sleep must comply with Code Section 4-1-4 of the Ten Sleep Code.”

Ordinance No. 226 regarding the 2021-22 fiscal year budget passed on second reading.

A request for a restaurant liquor license by One Cow LLC. was submitted to the council. Mayor Ernie Beckley told the council that he had received various concerns regarding the license. The council took no action on the license request.

During the maintenance report, it was reported that the water is on at the park and that the new sprinklers that were installed are working.

There were trees removed from the park and new ones were planted in their place. It was also reported that the bathroom floors were repainted at the park.

The council approved a $300 promotion for the Ten Sleep Youth Rodeo and a $250 promotion for the Fourth of July parade that had previously been budgeted for.

The council entered into executive session to discuss potential litigation.