Thayne Wyoming Town Government

Thayne Town Council Meeting
April 9^th, 2008

Present: Mayor Don Aullman. Councilmembers: Lorell Woolley, Lindsay Spencer. Clerk Jensen.

Mayor Aullman welcomed those in attendance and called the meeting to order. Mayor Aullman also excused council members Bob King and Jim Bartleson. Mayor Aullman then stepped down as a Mayor, for this meeting only, to act as a councilman in order to have a full quorum for voting purposes.

Councilman Woolley led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The previous read minutes were approved in a motion made by Councilman Woolley and seconded by Councilwoman Spencer.

First on the agenda was an update from the EMT’s. They turned in two specific bid sheets for painting and carpeting of the EMT garage. They also turned in unopened bids to the council. Mayor Aullman asked the EMT’s if they had provided spec sheets to all the bidders and they replied that they had. Lesley Jensen, and Robert Landry, Thayne EMT’s, informed the council that they did provide spec sheets to all the bidders. They informed the council that they didn’t have as much interest as they thought they would have. Mayor Aullman opened the bids for the flooring. There were three bids:

1- Carpets Plus $4,482.63

2- Village Furniture $5,119.75

3- Fashion Flooring $4,073.18

Mayor Aullman awarded the bid to Fashion Flooring. He asked the EMT’s to make sure that they meet with Fashion Flooring and make sure that this bid meets all the specs that they listed. The Town of Thayne will advertise to see if we can get more interest in painting and repairing the ceilings for the EMT garage. The painting bid will be awarded at the next council meeting. Robert Landry informed the council that they were working on donation letters and planned to purchase safety jackets with donation money for the EMT’s to wear to accidents. The EMT’s have also purchased new chairs and tables for training. They reported that business is slow for them at this time.

Ordinance # 247 was presented for first reading. This ordinance dealt with a zoning change for Strawberry Hills LLC and David Burnett. They requested a zoning change for part of their property that is located east of Hemmert Street. They own 15.32 acres and would like to change the west 5.32 acres from residential to commercial. Clerk Jensen received letters from adjacent landowners wanting to know what kind of commercial they were proposing on having. Mayor Aullman suggested that they table the first reading on Ordinance # 247 until the proposed applicants could be in attendance. Councilwoman Spencer expressed her opinion that this was a good idea because of the amount of concern that was expressed in the letters to the town. Council discussed that C2 is more restrictive than C1 in what types of commercial businesses are allowed.

Ordinance # 248 was presented on first reading also. This ordinance would require developers to pay for some or all of the engineering fees that are required for new development. Most of these engineering studies are for subdivision reviews. Council discussed the book that they authorized Sunrise Engineering to provide to the town for standard regulations for infrastructure in the city limits. This book will include checklists for the developers and a review process so as they complete their design, they would submit those plans to the engineers for review. This ordinance allows the town to pass on the cost of the reviews to the developers. The town would also be able to bill the developers for water and sewer costs that were required for new subdivisions. Mayor Aullman asked those attending the meeting if they had any discussion regarding this ordinance. The two representatives for the proposed subdivisions in the town expressed that this was a good ordinance and pretty standard with the other cities that they have worked with. Mr. Herd expressed his opinion that having a standard regulations book for the town would be a great benefit to the developer. Councilwoman Spencer made the motion to accept Ordinance # 248 on first reading. Councilman Woolley seconded the motion.

Robert Hood, representative from Sunrise Engineering, discussed the sewer contract with the Town of Thayne. This study will help the town in determining what needs to be done to upgrade the sewer lagoons if the town allows the two new subdivisions to hook onto the town’s sewer. Robert explained that this study would be for a twenty-year growth plan for the Town of Thayne based on the immediate needs of the town. The study would propose all the alternatives for the sewer lagoons and make cost estimates for those and include basic drawings on how they would work. The study would also give the Town of Thayne a basis for charging impact fees to the developers. The study would determine the high and low end for impact fees. This study is scheduled to be completed in two months. Robert suggested that the town meet with the developers to come to a solution on how much the town would require the developers to participate in the cost of the sewer study. Dillion, representative for Hokanson Ranch Subdivision, thanked the council for moving forward to getting the study started and informed the council that they wanted to pay for their fair share of the study. He presented a breakdown of the study costs and what he felt was fair for the developers to pay for the study to each member of the council. Mayor Aullman stated that first we need to make a motion to accept the sewer contract and then set a date to meet with all the members of the council to work on what the developers would pay and what the town would pay for this study. Councilman Woolley made the motion to have Mayor Aullman sign the sewer contract with Sunrise Engineering. Councilwoman Spencer seconded the motion. Council will meet with the developers next week after they have had time to review the proposal.

Robert also explained that the grant project would be completed with the new road as soon as the snow melts. Council discussed Myers Street and that we needed to have the school do something to the edge of the their property so that the edge of the road won’t break off when they drive onto their property on the east side of the street. Robert will contact the school regarding this problem.

Robert also suggested to the council that he would go through the specification book for the town and submit a first draft to the council for the next council meeting. He informed the council that the book has three sections. The first section will deal with the town’s process for subdivisions, annexations and building permits. The middle section deals with specifications for the engineering part. This section includes specifications for roads, water, sewer, road cross-sections, and etc. The third section deals with the planning ordinances for the town. Robert suggested that it would be easier for him to get copies of our ordinances and make it consistent with the town’s rules and regulations. Allowing him to do the first draft would give us a head start with tailoring the book to the Town of Thayne’s rules and regulations. Council agreed that this was the best way to get started and hoped to have a working meeting in two to three weeks to do the review.

Robert also presented the council with an engineering contract with Sunrise Engineering. This contract deals with day-to-day engineering services. This would only be for engineering services requested for by the Town of Thayne. Council discussed that this would be handled on a case-by-case basis. Councilman Woolley made the motion for Mayor Aullman to sign the contract for engineering fees on a case-by-case basis. Councilwoman Snider seconded the motion.

Robert also informed the council that Sunrise Engineering has been doing a water study for the entire valley. They have almost completed the data and evaluation. This study will help each town and water district. It is basically free engineering summaries that have been paid for by the State of Wyoming. This study will be a good platform for establishing a good impact fee for water impact to the town with the new developments that are underway. He explained that Sunrise would be able to do the impact fee study for the town with a minimal cost. They are planning on meeting with each town and district and explaining what they found in their studies. Mayor Aullman asked him what the cost would be for them to give us impact fee water cost analysis. Robert stated that he thought a ballpark figure would be around $5,000. Mayor Aullman asked the council if they would make a motion to direct Sunrise Engineering to do an impact fee analysis for our water system. Councilman Woolley made the motion to have Sunrise Engineering do an impact fee regarding our water system. Councilwoman Spencer seconded the motion.

Bruce Davis was next on the agenda. He stated that they needed to resolve a problem that he was having with his water and sewer connection fees for his new addition. He explained to the council that he applied for both buildings in the year 2000. He put in the water and sewer lines himself along Moser Avenue. They elected to do a 2” line and then size it down to a 1 ½ “ line before it entered the building. Mayor Aullman reminded him and the council that he elected to put the lines in so that he wouldn’t have to bore under the street. Bruce stated that he paid for the water and sewer connections at that time. Clerk Jensen informed the council that she had reviewed what he paid and it was for only one connection. Mayor Aullman commented that the second set of apartments was done after the 18-month time frame and that it no longer was apartments. They have changed the use to condos that are individually owned. Council discussed the increase in water and sewer rates since he applied for his building permit. Councilman Woolley suggested that we make a compromise and let him pay the old water and sewer tap on fees that were in affect in the year 2000. All four units would be required to pay a tap on fee for sewer $800 and water $1,200.00. Bruce asked if he would have to pay the fees all at once or if they would let him pay for them as he sold each unit. Council agreed to let him pay for the tap on fees as he sold each unit. Council did put a time frame of 18 months from April 9^th, 2008 that each water and sewer tap on would have to be paid for. Bruce expressed concern over the Child Development Center and the local school piling snow up on his property. He put in a drain for his parking lot but he is worried that with all the extra snow from the other properties that it will run down on the motel and they will complain. He felt that all the other properties needed to be required to put in seepage pits. Mayor Aullman explained that this was a new requirement that the town had implemented a few years ago. Mayor Aullman suggested that he would send them a letter asking them to help us with this problem.

Budget hearings are scheduled for May 14^th, June 11^th, and June 25^th.

Mayor Aullman informed the council that the town’s attorney is working on abandonment of streets.

Council agreed to put old ambulance up for bid. The Town of Thayne advertised in the WAM booklet that we would give it to another town if they needed an ambulance and we never got a response. Clerk Jensen will advertise it for bid and we will open the bids at the next council meeting.

Hokanson Ranch Subdivision applied to the Town of Thayne for annexation. Council reviewed the application and felt that they had complied with everything in our ordinances. Our town attorney will review the annexation and then we will start the advertisement process.

Miller family applied with the Town of Thayne for annexation. Council reviewed their documents and felt that they had not met the requirements for annexation with the town. Clerk Jensen will notify them regarding what documents they are missing.

Mayor Aullman informed the council that the Consensus Grant with SLIB would be held April 17^th at the Cokeville Town Hall.

Council reviewed the bills for payment. Councilwoman Spencer made the motion to pay the bills. Councilman Woolley seconded the motion.