New town ordinance effective in November

During Tuesday nights meeting, the Thermopolis Town Council — with Mayor Mike Mortimore absent — approved the third and final reading of Ordinance 854, with an effective date of Nov. 1.

The ordinance amends Chapter 4 of the town code, updating fines and fees as well as providing definitions for “bit or bitten” and “dangerous animal” and adding language for domesticated animals which are bitten.

Among the fee changes is the increase from $5 to $50 per head of impounded animals and from $3 to $30 per head for sustenance of said animals.

Also increased were license fees, from $5 to $10 for neutered animals and from $15 to $20 for unneutered. Fees for unlicensed animals, at large animals and nuisance animals are increased from $25 to $50 for a first offense and from $50 to $100 for a second offense.

Impoundment fees are also increased from $15 to $30 for first impoundment, from $35 to $70 for second impoundment of the same animal, from $50 to $100 for third impoundment of the same animal, and from $75 to $150 for the fourth or subsequent impoundment. Each of these has an additional $10 fee for each day of impoundment or any part thereof.

In other action the board approved a retail liquor license transfer for Grand Cru Enterprises, effectively allowing the business to move from its location on Arapahoe to a section of the building at 735 South Sixth, the former F.O.E. building.

Harry Hughes was at the meeting and explained the business does not sell drinks or liquor by the bottle, but rather by the case. The area of the building used — a 10-foot by 20-foot space — would be as a dispensing room, and Hughes noted typically when stock comes in for people it is picked up the same day.

A signature card name addition was approved, allowing Jolene Esquibel to be added to replace Linda Hendrickson, who is retiring after 36 years.

Director of Public Works Ernie Slagle was approved to pursue the purchase of a new engine for a loader at the landfill through Wyoming Machinery of Casper at a cost of $39,000 for removal of the old engine and installation of the new. The county will haul the old engine to Casper.

Slagle previously reported the undercarriage on the loader was fixed, though after one week the engine on the vehicle blew. An older loader is being used. Slagle noted 12,000 hours is doing well on one of the loader engines, though the 1996 loader has 11,268 and the 2009 loader had about 8,600 when the engine blew.

Town Attorney Mike Messenger raised the idea of forming a county solid waste disposal district as something to consider as it could solve some significant problems, particularly with funding and the lifespan of the landfill.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett spoke in regard to the water line project, noting all the mains are in, but there are still some tie ins along Fifth Street that need to be done. Paving from Fifth to Warren has been completed, as well as Warren from Fourth to Fifth as of Tuesday. Paving was expected to finish in the next couple weeks.