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THAYNE, WYOMING
P.O. Box 298, Thayne, WY 83127
307-883-2668

Home of the first All American Cutter Races &

Star Valley Cheese Factory

 

 

Town of Thayne
Town Government

 


CLICK HERE FOR JUNE 25th SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING

 

 

Thayne Town Council Meeting
July 9th, 2008

Present: Mayor Don Aullman. Councilmembers: Bob King, Lindsay Spencer, Lorell Woolley, and Jim Bartleson. Clerk Joan Jensen.

Mayor Aullman welcomed those in attendance and called the meeting to order.
He then asked Justin Visser to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Aullman asked the council if they had reviewed the minutes of June 25th, and were ready to approve them. Councilwoman Spencer made the motion to approve the previous read minutes. Councilman Woolley seconded the motion.

The Thayne Volunteer Fire Department was first on the agenda. Chief Erickson reported that there hadn’t been any calls. Chief Erickson felt that the activities went well for the Fourth of July activities with the breakfast and fireworks. He also reported that six new cadets out of nine had passed the Firefighter One test. The cadets will be re-tested and go on to Firefighter Two. The Junior Rodeo is scheduled for July 19th. Chief Erickson asked about the audit, and Mayor Aullman stated that we would defer all comments until we get the official comments back from the state regarding the audit. Mayor Aullman also asked the fire department to let us know if the town could get something or do something to help make the 4th of July celebration easier for the fire department. Chief Erickson commented that he thought we had all the equipment that we needed and that he thought it had went well. Mayor Aullman stated that we just wanted to make the job easier and that we wanted to help in any way that we could. The council expressed a big thanks to the volunteer fire department for all that they do for the community. The fire department asked the council if the town was still working towards a new emergency services building. The members of the fire department were under the impression that the town had put the building on hold. Mayor Aullman assured them that the town was still moving forward on this project. Clerk Jensen will contact the architect and ask him to send preliminary drawings for the committee’s to review.

Mallory Winters expressed his thanks to the council for the new paint and carpet that has been installed at the EMT garage. They have a movie night fundraiser scheduled for July 18th . Mallory informed the council that the movie night fund raiser is getting more recognized by the public and getting a bigger attendance. He also reported that the EMT’s were doing the third reading of their by-laws. They will be presenting them to the town to review soon. Mallory also asked the council what the council’s plans were with the old ambulance. An individual had asked him if the town would be willing to sell the old ambulance for them to use for personal use and also use it in conjunction with the cert program. Mallory informed the council that it had not been in use for a number of years now. He felt that it would be to the advantage of the town to do something with it. Mayor Aullman informed those in attendance that we had listed it with the WAM Newsletter and tried to donate it to a community that needed an ambulance but we had had no response regarding the ambulance. Mallory said that Delon Merritt would be willing to pay $100 for it. Councilman King made the motion to sell it for $100 and get it out of the way. Councilwoman Spencer seconded the motion.

Sunrise Engineering was next on the agenda. Robert Hood reported to those in attendance that last evening Sunrise had had a meeting with the town council to discuss the wastewater facility plant and the water and sewer impact fees. They had come back tonight to review briefly where we are at this time with the two studies. He explained to the audience that we were looking at a twenty year design time line with the Town of Thayne allowing for a growth rate of five percent a year. Robert explained that they had analyzed both water demand and storage figures on maximum days and normal days. The studies are based on the assumption that future use will be normal with today’s usage. Robert explained that the sewer lagoons are at capacity. The sewer tests the last few months have been a little over for capacity levels. The town’s sewer lines are adequately sized for growth. There are a few infiltration problems that we would like to find and fix. Sunrise Engineering presented three options for the town to review. They also presented an impact fee for the town to review as part of the study. The analysis looked at costs for water and sewer projects and what new users should be required to pay for new development and new grow within the town. Robert stated that they are still working on this and won’t give the numbers out at this time. The next step is to have the council select an option for the sewer improvement and after that we need to look at funding. This will help us fine tune the impact fees. The water study looked at source capacity with the town well and spring. The study determined that there is sufficient source capacity for the next eight years. In reviewing the documents, we will historically need more water capacity in eight years. The existing system is short on storage capacity at this time. The system works fine but we need to have more storage. Sunrise proposed a 500,000 gallon tank to be constructed . The impact fees were determined by looking at the cost of adding a second well and a 500,000 gallon tank. They calculated these costs with a percentage of what the existing users should pay and also what future growth should pay. Robert also stated that future developments should buy into the existing transmission lines. Robert explained to the council that we are dealing with a 67 percent grant 33 percent loan for the project. Robert stated that we should be ready for construction in 2010. Mayor Aullman asked if there were any questions from the audience. Those in attendance asked if five percent was a natural growth rate. Robert explained that they used a growth rate study that was done for Star Valley and it showed that the lower valley is growing at a growth rate five percent faster than the upper valley. A five percent growth rate is higher than what Thayne has seen recently, but taking into consideration the projects that are being planned in Thayne, Sunrise felt that five percent was a good number. The average growth rate for Thayne is actually three percent. The developers in attendance asked for a copy of the study. Robert explained that the Town needs to schedule a time for another meeting and make the final changes before the report was made public. Robert asked the council to let them have a couple of weeks to check on funding for the town. Finding funding for the town is critical for these projects. Dylan, representing Hokanson Ranch Subdivision, stated that they would like to have their engineers review the study. He added that they would like to meet with all the people involved. Councilman King commented that the council would choose what needs to be done with the projects whether the developers agree or not. Hopefully we will be able to meet for another meeting to finalize some of the numbers. Councilwoman Spencer suggested that we meet with Sunrise and then the town will send out the study for the developers to review and make suggestions. Town Council will meet next week with Sunrise and then schedule a meeting the week after with the developers. The question was asked if the council was going to stop subdivisions until we get these systems upgraded. Mayor Aullman suggested that we get the plan in place and then get a commitment from the developers to help us move forward. One of the developers stated that water usage in the town was really high. Robert Hood commented that it was consistent with Star Valley. The developers asked if the town was taking into account that they would have their own water irrigation systems. Robert explained how Sunrise figured out the water usage. Mayor Aullman asked the developers to provide their thoughts to us before the next meeting with the dollar amount they felt they wanted to contribute towards the improvements. Council scheduled the meeting one week from tonight, July 16th, at. 6:30. Mayor Aullman asked the developers to get their questions to Robert before the next meeting.

Next on the agenda was the advertised third and final reading for the Hokanson Ranch annexation. Marlowe Scherbel informed the council that he had the final Platte for the subdivision with him. Mayor Aullman asked for questions or comments from the audience. They were asked what size the lots would be and Dylan answered that they were varying between bay homes and up to one-acre lots. Jack Hale wanted to express his thanks to the council for taking time to answer his questions. He stated that he had some short questions for tonight regarding the annexation. Jack stated that he still stood behind all the opposition that he had last time. Jack asked the council to have a moratorium on all major subdivisions until we have the studies all completed and update the master plan. He commented that the master plan was out of date and that the town needed to get something done as to the planning before we back ourselves into a corner. He stated that the Town of Thayne is a major hub in the whole valley and that Thayne would be the major place where people would want to live. Both of the subdivisions affect his property both on the east side of Thayne and on the south side of Thayne He felt that the annexation was detrimental to the future growth of his property. Mr. Hale again asked how they used the easement of Highway 89 right of way to use it as a point for annexation. Jack asked if using the easement was legal and ethical. Mayor Aullman asked Marlow Scherbel to explain to the audience how using the easement was permitted. Marlow explained that the public right of way provides a way to make the land contiguous. Marlowe stated that the land had to be contiguous. The highway right of way has provided that continuity to the land. Marlowe also stated that the statutes state that you have to have fifty percent of the land owners in agreement with the annexation. Dylan stated that they looked into every option to annex. Marlowe commented that annexations helped the town with expanding their jurisdiction by taking more property in so that the town had a sense of controlling what is happening in those areas. Marlow also commented that annexation helps with providing some of those infrastructure needs for towns. After a lengthy discussion, Mayor Aullman asked the council if they were ready to vote on the third and final reading for the annexation of Hokanson Ranch. Councilman Bartleson made the motion to approve Resolution 2008-6 regarding the annexation of Hokanson Ranch on third and final reading. Councilwoman Spencer seconded the motion.

The zoning change for Neil Clark and Dave Burnette was next on the agenda. Mayor Aullman stated that Mr. Clark had never directed the town on whether they wanted a zoning change to C1 or a C2 in writing. He advised them that they needed an official request if they wanted C1 Commercial or C2 Commercial. Mayor Aullman asked Cindy Winchester a surrounding landowner if they had a chance to look at the CCR’s. Cindy stated that they have reviewed them but that there was still a question as to water rights. Council discussed the water right issue with the property owners. Mayor Aullman commented that he was not sure that the ditch was in the five acre area that is in question. Butch Roberts commented that we needed to make sure that the water rights have a way to get through. Mayor Aullman stated that it is a real concern now days with people abandoning their water rights. They need to find a way to take care of the water. Mayor Aullman commented that he had reviewed the CCR’s and that the town will not assume taking care of violations. The association will take care of it and you should list your own enforcement. Councilman King stated that he had reviewed the CCR’s and that they called them deed restrictions but numbers eleven and twelve are called CCR’s. They need to be one or the other. Cindy Winchester asked the council if the CCR’s would just fall within his own five acres. Mayor Aullman informed her that it would just be his own property but that most of these restrictions were already in our ordinances. Council tabled the third reading on the zoning change until we get a letter from the landowners asking for C1 Commercial or C2 Commercial. Mayor Aullman also asked them to get a copy of our C1 Restrictions on what kinds of commercial they would allow in their commercial area and initial the ones that they would approve so that when someone purchases the land they know what they can build. Mayor Aullman also asked him to give a copy of this to the surrounding landowners for them to review and approve. Mayor Aullman suggested that we table the third reading for two weeks and suggested that the parties in question get together and come up with a list that everyone can live with. Council needs a copy of the list by next week to review.

The advertised Miller Annexation was next on the agenda. Mayor Aullman asked Clerk Jensen if she had received any comments for or against. She informed the council that she hadn’t received any comments. Kevin Larsen asked if he could comment regarding the annexation. He informed the council that he stood to speak in favor of the annexation and that he knew the Miller family and felt that they would be an addition to the town in a positive way. Mayor Aullman asked if it was being annexed into the town as AR1 Zoning. Clerk Jensen replied that it was. Councilwoman Spencer made the motion to approve the Miller Annexation on first reading. Councilman Woolley seconded the motion.

Ryan Herd provided a mylor to the town regarding his subdivision and asked if the town would sign it so they could move forward with their bonding. Councilman King made the motion to accept the mylor from the county. Councilman Woolley seconded the motion.

Justin Vissor addressed the council next. He informed the council that he appreciated their time. He asked the council if they would let him pay his increase in rental fees in increments. He would like to break it down a little bit instead of doing the increase all at once. Councilman Woolley made the motion to let them increase their rent by $25.00 a month. They will be paying the $650 by January 1, 2009. Councilman King seconded the motion.

Ray Wheeler was next on the agenda. He talked to the council about his property on Dana Street. When he bought the property five years ago he was under the understanding that it was mixed use. Mr. Wheeler wants to expand his taxidermy business. He is running this business out of his garage at this time. Clerk Jensen informed him that his property was residential and not mixed use. He stated that he was misled by the realtor. Mr. Wheeler talked to the council about different things he might be allowed to do with his property. Council discussed with him different options he could do and informed him that when he decided what he wanted to do that he needed to bring his plans before the Planning and Zoning Board. Councilman King informed Mr. Wheeler that he needed to have his building permit to the town clerk the Wednesday before the planning and zoning meeting. Planning and Zoning meets the second Monday of each month.

Gaylen Clayson, the new owner of Star Valley Cheese, was next. He introduced himself to the council. He explained to the council that he was currently involved with the restaurant and cleaning it up and keeping it open for longer hours. They are in the process of getting it out of bankruptcy. He suggested that the Town of Thayne might help them apply for a grant with the State of Wyoming. Clerk Jensen reviewed what they would have to do in order to be able to apply for the grant. After a lengthy discussion, council asked him to come back when they have a plan in place and we will take it one step at a time.

Clerk Jensen will contact Pederson Planning regarding a meeting on August 19th, 2008 for the Master Plan for the Town of Thayne.

Robert Aullman went over some maintenance issues with the town council. They asked Robert to make sure the hydrant by Una Heap’s is fixed. Council also discussed some street repairs. Clerk Jensen will get the specs for chip and seal on Roberts Street and some other street repairs. The town will then advertise for bids.

Council reviewed the bills for payment. Councilwoman Spencer made the motion to approve the bills. Councilman King seconded the motion.
 


 

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