Council approves lot change request

At the June 7, Thermopolis Town Council meeting at the Town Hall, Mayor Mike Chimenti held a public hearing to address a citizen’s request to change the subdivision/lot plat for three properties on Cedar Ridge Drive owned by Chuck Cooper. 

Engineer Heath Overfield explained to the council that Cooper has three different lots in the Cedar Ridge subdivision and wants to build a garage. To make the construction legal and to simplify the situation, Cooper wants to make all three lots into a single lot.

Cooper explained to the council he wants to build a garage on the lower section of the property about the size of an average two-car garage. It will not have sewer or gas, only electricity. 

Mayor Chimenti asked for any public comments or objections, but there were none. Therefore, Mayor Chimenti asked for a vote and the council passed and approved Cooper’s request. 

The council then voted and approved Shorty’s Liquor’s request for a catering permit for the June 18 Car Show at the State Park from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. 

Shane Wilson presented a request from PRCA Rodeo to hold a parade on June 25. Wilson explained that the parade will be their usual route, starting at Pizza Hut and then turning right at the stoplight. There will be horses involved and Wilson added he already has a permit from WYDOT. Wilson also requested a liquor permit for the rodeo on June 24 and 25 at the fairgrounds from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. The council voted and approved the parade and the liquor permit.

 Tobi Johansen, representing the VFW, presented a request to address the scheduling of flags being put up in the town. Johansen said that the VFW has been in the town for 90 years and has longevity. Johansen also explained about the different holidays and their flags, how the VFW usually put them up, and now that another group is putting up the flags too, recently on Memorial Day weekend. Johansen wanted to formally request if the VFW can put up the flags and establish which days they would do so.

Johansen said, “We have approximately 45 flags that we put up along each of the streetlamps on the downtown section. If there is another group that has flags, I think it’s great and we should probably see if we can add them, maybe on the other side of Broadway or something along those lines. But the VFW has been here for a while... So I think we might have a little more on the longevity side and we’ll be more reliable in the future.”

Mayor Chimenti replied, “A while back, I don’t remember what day it was, John Gerrells called me and mentioned that we haven’t seen the flags out here for quite some time. And he asked me if I minded if he put the flags up, and I told him that I would bring it to the council. Actually, essentially, it’s not a council decision, but I brought it to counsel and asked them if any of them had any objections or knew anybody that would have any objections to the flags being put up. And nobody did. So I called John back, and I asked him where he was going to get it, where the flags were going to come from. He said he was going to purchase the flags and he would see that the flags got put up.”

“And I told him that we’re not going to vote on it. We didn’t bring it to the council for a vote, but if he wanted to put the flags up, we were more than happy to have the flags up. So I’m going to tell you the same thing. If you want to put your flags up, you’re probably more than welcome to put flags up.”

“But, I think you need to coordinate with John Gerrells and when he’s going to put his up or where you’re going to put your stuff. I think that needs to be done between you two.”

Johansen responded and said, “OK, I will say that you mentioned we haven’t done it in a while and that’s actually not true. We have put them up since I’ve been a part of the VFW for the last four years.” 

Concerned citizens Terry Tonn and Ron Barkley, who live on Roundtop Drive presented some issues about the new Roundtop trail. They reported that for hikers to access the trailhead, they have to drive from the Airport Road and head west on Roundtop Drive, with the cemetery to the north. Tonn explained there has been a significant increase in traffic on the road. Drivers have kicked up a lot of gravel and dust, and been speeding. Hikers have been camping at the trailhead and leaving trash on the ground. Tonn said three families who live in the area are affected by this activity. They wanted to see if a sign could be put up to say “Slow Down.” 

There was considerable discussion with the citizens and the council. There was a question as to whether the matter would be a Town issue or a County issue as the Roundtop Drive is not platted. Mayor Chimenti suggested to Tonn and Barley to talk to Dusty Lewis, who was not present at the meeting, and Wade Lippincott, who both lead the Hot City Alliance and developed the trail. Also, another suggestion was made that they visit the Hot Springs County Commissioners to voice their concerns. Tonn also said that he doesn’t want to stop the hiking trail but wants the traffic issue to be addressed. 

Town engineer Anthony Barnett said that the water project is ready to begin work and asked the council to formally approve a notice to proceed. The council voted and approved the notice to proceed.

Chief of police Pat Cornwell reported that the recent weekend many nuisance notices have been given for yards that need to be mowed. Cornwell plans to compare the number of notices to previous years to measure any changes and go from there.

Town attorney Mike Messenger presented the pari-mutuel events ordinance and the language changes for its second reading. The council voted and approved it without any adjustments. The new ordinance is now ready for its third reading at the new council meeting. If it passes at that time, it will be fully approved.

Assistant to Mayor Fred Crosby presented the second reading of the 2022/2023 budget. The new reading added $1,500 for a computer at the sewer plant and $5,000 for police department overtime, and $6,000 for equipment maintenance for dispatch’s second console. 

The council then voted and approved the ARPA funds, which will be rolled over into wages. Next, the council then voted and approved the budget itself on its second reading. The council will meet to address bills on June 29.