Downtown pedestrian light of concern to citizens

The HAWK pedestrian light at Main and Shoshone has produced concern from the public, Town of Lovell administrator Jed Nebel reported at the December town council meeting last week.

Nebel said he has been asked by members of the public to meet with the Wyoming Department of Transportation regarding the light, noting that such lights are not usually placed at a busy intersection but rather in the middle of a block.

“The layout (in Lovell) is not conducive to pedestrian safety,” Nebel said.

The council approved drafting a letter from the Town of Lovell with Mayor Tom Newman’s signature requesting a meeting with WyDOT, which would also involve the Lovell Police Department and Big Horn County School District No. 2.

Masonic proclamation

Another major component of the December 10 meeting was a proclamation noting the 150^th anniversary of the founding of Freemasonry in Wyoming. Members of Tri-Mountain View Lodge No. 35 attended the meeting, including master Joseph Bassett, Chris Harrison, Shane Kannard, David Peck and Bryan Baird.

Though the proclamation celebrates the sesquicentennial of Wyoming Masonry, December 15, 1874, it also notes the history of Masonry in Lovell, which began with the chartering of Tri-Mountain View Lodge No. 35 in Deaver on October 19, 1919, followed by Lovell Lodge No. 36. When the Deaver lodge was preparing to close in the late 1970s, plans were made to amalgamate with the Lovell Lodge. When the merger took place in 1979, the combined lodge took the lower lodge number, and the charter of Tri-Mountain View Lodge No. 35 relocated to Lovell.

The proclamation states that “Wyoming Masonic lodges promote strong bonds among members, serving communities and charitable endeavors through a brotherhood of shared experiences and a dedication to moral principles and for the past 150 years the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Members of Tri-Mountain View Lodge No. 35 have generously given their time, talents and resources to better their communities.”

With the reading of the proclamation by Mayor Newman, the mayor proclaimed Sunday December 15, 2024, as “Wyoming Masons Day in honor of their 150^th anniversary, and extend sincere gratitude to its officers and members, past and present, for their accomplishments, commitment and dedication to the Lovell community as a model of courtesy and caring.”

Appointment made

The meeting began with an appointment. Mayor Tom Newman appointed Gareth Robertson to the town planning and zoning board, and the council ratified the appointment unanimously.

Nebel presented three ordinances on third reading that deal with the town garbage rates. On his recommendation, the council tabled Ordinance 1016, which would increase the residential garbage fee by $3 per month and the business fee by $5 per month. One-family residences would be charged $23 per month for garbage services, rooming houses, multi-family dwellings and apartment houses $25 per month and business establishments, hotels and motels $25 per month.

But some issues have arisen with the ordinance regarding the rate system and extra pickups, and Nebel requested that the council discuss the rate increase during a work meeting, which was scheduled for December 18 at 11:30 a.m.

The council did pass Ordinance 1017 and 1018. Ordinance 1017 repeals a section of the town code pertaining to collection districts and collection days, and 1018 establishes collection hours as being from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In other business December 10:

• The council approved Pay Request No. 6 for Midway Construction and Dirt Work for Phase II of the Constitution Park Project in the amount of $94,549.15.

• The council approved the annual special use permit for Scott and Cindy Allred to operate Head to Toe Salon, doing business as Maneline Hair and Nail Design at 985 Shoshone Avenue, which is in a residential zone.

Nebel thanked Ray Messamer for his years of service as a member of the town council, and Newman wished the citizens of Lovell a Merry Christmas. He added that he appreciates the town employees for the work they do, noting, “We’ve accomplished a lot this year.”