Present:  Mayor Don Aullman.  Councilmembers; Terry Titensor, Lorell Woolley, and Todd Luthi.  Clerk Joan Jensen.

Mayor Aullman called the meeting to order.  First order of business was the Pledge of Allegiance led by Andrew Turner.  Councilman Woolley stated that we needed to get the last name for one of the ladies who spoke in favor of having the library move to the old school at the last February Council Meeting.  Clerk Jensen will try to get her full name and put it in the minutes.  (Claudia Burkhardt)  The minutes were then approved by Councilman Woolley and seconded by Councilman Luthi. 

Sunrise Engineering presented a handout to the council regarding the water meter project.  Robert Hood stated that we would be finishing up the water project in the near future.  The telemetry project was approved by the state for $24,000.  The bids have come back higher than what they quoted.  Robert suggested that the reason the bids were higher was because of  "Buy American" products and also having to go through the general contractor for the project.  Robert will check with the state to see if they will improve the increase in cost.  If they will not approve it, the town may have to come up with the extra costs.   

Robert Hood also presented a contract amendment to the council for their approval.  This amendment increases the engineering contract amount for the water meter project.  Robert also stated that if there was not enough money in the water meter grant to finish the project, Sunrise Engineering would make a guarantee to the Town of Thayne that they would not charge the excess amount asked for in the contract amendment. Mayor Aullman stated that he would like Sunrise Engineering to present to the council how much of the increase in engineering fees was due to change orders and how much was just an increase in engineering fees for the project.  Mayor Aullman also asked for a current cost breakdown for the water meter project to make sure that we still had enough funds left to complete the project.  Councilman Luthi made the motion to accept the contract amendment pending the cost fee analysis and breakdown for increases in engineering fees.  Councilman Wooley seconded the motion. 

Fire Chief Dale Turner and Toby Merritt were next on the agenda.  They were dressed in part of their new uniforms.  Council commended them on how sharp they looked.  Chief Turner informed the council that the new truck was here and in service.  Chief Turner reported that they were pretty cramped but that they were able to park it at the fire station.  They are also working on getting their inventory updated for the upcoming budget year.   

Councilman Titensor asked to address the council regarding the remodel of the fire station.  Counciman Titensor informed the council that he had met with Chief Turner and went through the fire station.  Councilman Turner stated that we should not add on to the building but use the grant money for fixing up what we have.  Mayor Aullman suggested that we needed to look at all the options of selling the house and moving the existing power line.  Councilman Titensor stated that moving the existing power line was a major undertaking and that project alone would take most of the grant money.  Councilman Titensor expressed his opinion that unless we seen a huge amount of growth in the area we would be able to get by with the existing fire station.  He also commented that we definitely needed to fix it up.  Chief Turner informed the council that they were housing Truck # 2 at Star Valley Ranch.  Councilman Titensor asked Chief Turner to make sure that Star Valley Ranch understands that the truck still belongs to the Town of Thayne. 

Ken Cram and Sherri Merritt represented the Thayne EMT's.  President Cram reported that they had had some rough calls the last month but that things were going well.  They thanked Ron for keeping the snow removed and Councilman Woolley for being a good liason between the EMT's and the Town of Thayne.  Ken reported that their building was in good condition.  They have a garage door that is hanging up on them and they may have to look at replacing it in the future.  Council expressed their appreciation to the EMT's. 

Fayban Hanson asked the council if they had come up with a solution to the problems he presented to them at the last council meeting.  Mayor Aullman commented that he felt that the parking problem could be addressed with having parking on the west side of the building.  Mayor Aullman informed Fayban that the town had contacted Don Snider and that the town council, Don Snider, and Fayban would all meet together when they returned from their winter vacation and work out the problems. 

Mayor Aullman asked the council to review a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Afton for emergency services.  Councilman Titensor asked if the fire department still had an agreement with the Town of Alpine Fire Department.  Chief Turner responded that we had a verbal agreement.  Mayor Aullman suggested that we make sure that we have a written contract with both the Alpine and Afton Fire Departments.  Councilman Titensor made the motion to approve the mutual aid agreement with the Town of Afton.  Councilman Luthi seconded the motion. 

Ron Coleman gave a maintenance report to the council.  Ron reported that the telemetry was not working.  Ron has been in contact with Wetco and they will be coming to fix it at the end of the week.  Ron also asked if the town would draft a letter to the business owners regarding grease traps and the rules that the town would enforce regarding grease traps.  Mayor Aullman asked Robert Hood to get us a sheet of guidelines from DEQ regarding grease traps to help us with the rules.  The town will set a deadline of the first of July for all businesses to be in compliance with the rules for grease traps.  Ron also asked if the town had ever checked into doing crack coating for the streets.  Ron will check with the county and get prices for this.  Robert Hood asked Ron if there were a lot of water meter issues from plowing snow.  Ron stated that there was some settling right now but that he was doing a temporary fix to make sure that there was limited damage done to the meter pits.  Robert reminded the council that there is a one year warranty on the meter project after the project is completed.            

Mayor Aullman informed the council that the Wyoming Business Council will be here on March 30^th to look at the old Holdway School.  Mayor Aullman also suggested that the council meet with all the tenants who are interested in moving into the building and see if they are willing to sign a contract with the town for at least five or ten years.   

Clerk Jensen reported that she had finished the grant with the Wyoming Business Council for an energy retrofit for the old school.   

Council reviewed the bids for carpet for the town hall.  Councilman Titensor made the motion to accept the bid from Carpets Plus.  Councilman Woolley seconded the bid. 

Mayor Aullman reminded the council that the town would be meeting with Wyoming Water Development on March 15^th, 3:00 p.m. at the town hall.  This meeting is in regards to the Phase II water storage planning grant the town received.   

Clerk Jensen reported to the council regarding the budget expenditures of the Town of Thayne.  Town Council will review for the next meeting. 

Bob King addressed the council next.  He stated that he had a concern with stock tanks in the town and how much water they are wasting.  Bob had measured the water flow on a stock tank on the town’s sewer property and felt that it was excessive.  He also stated that he did not think that the lease for the sewer land had mentioned that the town had to provide water for stock on that property.  Bob commented that he felt that from the months of November through March that stock tanks should have heated floats so that we are not just putting water out on the ground.  Bob felt that there is a cost for this waste of water and that the rest of the town’s citizens should not have to subsidize this waste of water.  Bob also asked Mayor Aullman if he was paying for a hookup or monthly fee for this water.  Mayor Aullman stated that he was not.  Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Coleman, commented that having this water running was an asset to the town in the winter months.  Ron felt that it kept the line clean and also kept it from freezing up.  Councilman Titensor stated that Mayor Aullman wasn't the only person in town who had a stock tank.  Councilman Titensor has a stock tank also.  Councilman Titensor commented that we needed to take a second look at how we are using our water and cut the volume down a lot less than what their fathers did in the past.  Councilman Titensor stated that all of the citizens will have a different attitude about water usage with the implementation of water meters.   

Town council reviewed the bills for payment.  Councilman Titensor made a motion to pay the bills.  Councilman Woolley seconded the motion. 

Clerk Jensen informed the council that the sewer lease was up and asked if the council wanted her  to advertise for bids.  Council had a discussion on whether they wanted to rent the sewer land.  No decision was reached.   

 

General Bills:                                                              Sewer Bills:

Salaries                                    11,433.91                  Salaries                       1,701.98

Life Insurance                                  16.00                    FICA                              397.13

Medical Insurance                     1,813.32                  Surveyor Scherbel      3,465.00

Wyo Retirement                           951.43                   Thayne True Value          44.24

FICA                                           3,030.30                    Energy Lab                  210.00

Print Star                                         54.79                    Luthi & Voyles              400.00

Hunky’s Tec Service                      37.50                   Lower Valley Energy     861.31

Paperworks Plus                          142.22                   

Rock "N" Wyoming                   1,604.00

PPS                                           1,749.70

Communication Tech.               1,357.69

Bird Welding  & Repair               194.25

Lower Valley Energy                1,303.78

Thayne True Value                       791.00

Sunrise Engineering                     480.00

M-B Companies                           659.25

A-Squared Builders                  2,000.00

Mountain Valley Mill                        60.00

Barber Shop                                    80.00

Star Valley Electric                          36.00

Allred Radio                                   216.00

Granger                                          691.37

Galls                                            2,037.63

Maverik                                          391.73

Chevron                                         475.25

Star Valley Independent              101.25

Surveyor Scherbel                        600.00

Silver Star                                      242.87

Marsha Bagshaw                            42.49

All Star Auto                                   526.38

Lincoln County Sheriff                   495.00

Postmaster                                       60.00

Valley Computer                             60.00

WY Worker's Comp                      268.67

Thayne Debit Card                         33.89