Worland Mayor Candidate: Jim Gill

How long have you lived in Worland?

My wife, Connie, and I have lived in the Worland community for the past 48 years. We raised two children here: Chris, who is a United Airline Pilot living in Phoenix and Carey who is a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin. They both received a great education in our schools and were always safe from harm here. That holds as true today as it did then. I was a University of Wyoming Extension Educator with 36 years of service. 4-H club work was a big part of my job. I also worked with farmers and ranchers, and homeowners wanting assistance with lawn, tree and garden problems thru the years. I brought UW Resources like WESTI Ag Days, The UW Bull Testing Program, the Big Horn Basin AG Ambassador Programs and many other endeavors in our area

Why are you running for Worland mayor?

I retired from the University of Wyoming Extension Service in 2010. I decided to throw my hat in the ring so to speak to fill an unexpired term on a City of Worland Council seat. I was one out of three candidates. I was selected to fill the position. I then decided to run against four other applicants for mayor when Dave Duffy decided not to seek another term of office. I won the Election to be the new mayor of Worland in November 2016. I started learning about the rule of order when I became a 4-H Member of the Hidden Valley Hustlers 4-H Club and then president of the Riverton FFA Chapter.

Do you feel you have the time it takes to serve as mayor?

It has not been a problem for me in the past and this "Spirited Senior Citizen" would not expect it to be in the new term. You know, it's easy for a new person to move into our area and suggest that you do this or do that to improve our governed ways. This Mayor can tell you from experience that the reality of governing can change quickly on any given day due to ice jams, mainline water breaks, distraught citizens, employee issues, etc. It takes a measured person to steady the ship so to speak. I might not always be right, but close enough to keep the ship afloat and headed in the right direction.

With rising costs and ever tightening budgets, how would you address increasing revenues or cutting costs for the City? Would rate increases be a part of that?

The best way to answer what decisions need to be done to raise costs of services verses or cutting budgets as determined by the City Council and the Mayor is always a concern. Our largest department is "public works" with Nick Kruger as the director. We recently conducted a Worland Operational Tour to educate our elected officials and/or their staff about our financial needs to keep the artesian water flowing, the sewer system ponds working, maintaining parks for kids to play in, garbage collected, plowing snow and sanding streets, and making it possible for players to make a hole in one at our golf course, interments at our cemetery and so much more. Public works takes care of operational duties to get all of this done. Lynn Murdoch is the department head of the airport who is making it safe for airplanes to land, fuel up and take off through rain, sleet and snow. The chief of police is Gabe Elliott who with his team of officers keeps our city safe. Tracy Glanz, clerk/treasurer administers city hall and the building department. Her team of clerks helps her answer questions from the public; keep the paperwork in order and the bills going out and so much more. Our chief engineer is Mike Donnell with Eagle Engineering who sets his sight high when it comes to getting a project done. Kent Richins is our city attorney who keeps us on the legal side of the street so to speak. My point is that the City Operations help keep our business community and residential customer's lives flowing to meet their needs each and every day. It takes good people and adequate funding to do it!

Currently the one-cent optional general purpose sales tax is earmarked for street improvements. Is this the best use of these funds or do you feel funding should be directed to another area? If so what area or areas? 

I would remind residents that you can't have better streets without construction. We currently have a lot of construction going on with the help the fifth penny one percent tax. Folks, if that money is no longer available to support the "City's Street Improvement Initiative," it won't take long for the potholes to double down and get deeper. The property tax has been a hot issue in the legislature. The amount of money that the city gets from an average business or residence from the property tax amounts to less than $90; not per month, not for a quarter, but for the year. The rest goes to the county, the schools, weed and pest, the landfill and other allotted districts.

Do you feel city mayor and council should focus on social issues, recreational issues, basic services or a combination of those?

Basic services that I mentioned earlier in the article are the greatest need in this inflationary time. The city does get help from the Newel Sargent Foundation to help with Pioneer Park and Newel Sargent Park for recreational and special needs, which is very much appreciated. The city contributes a great deal to the social issue with the various parades that are held and supported as examples. We pay our employees overtime to block streets and help with these events. We support the Farmers Market and other similar events as well.

What role should the city play in helping fill empty downtown storefronts? What type of incentives might be included in recruiting businesses?

The first two blocks of Main Street after crossing the tracks heading east is the most challenging part of the question. One of the most iconic properties used to be the Washakie Hotel. After its demise, a local businessman, Dave Hamilton purchased the property and tore it down. He then sold the property to two local businessmen and their wives to start new businesses on the property. Both of these, Ranchito and Big Horn Basin Tire are still with us. Downtown parking is a big problem in that area. Those properties have adequate parking. That is the best model. Let local business operators figure it out.