Lovell Town Council continues budget work, hears request from Foster Gulch

It was a busy but quick April meeting for the Lovell Town Council last Tuesday as they worked a list of items that included the budget and a variety of other agenda items.

Tim Winland, representing the Foster Gulch Golf Course board, addressed the council to reiterate the board’s request for a $10,000 budget increase for the 2024-25 fiscal year in order to construct or repair the deck at the clubhouse. He said the golf board had met and asked him to come to the council meeting to see if the council members had any questions.

“I just wanted to re-emphasize the extra $10,000 to upgrade and possibly replace the deck,” Winland said. “It is in need of repair and has rotted (wood) in places. We need to put some major money into it to fix and replace part of it or the entire thing.”

Winland said the course was to open officially on April 15 after a soft opening the prior weekend. The council said they understood the request and had no further questions.

As for the budget, the council passed the annual appropriation ordinance – 1010, 2024 – on second reading by title only, leaving the administration and council two more months to finalize the numbers for the FY24-25 budget.

Town administrator Jed Nebel asked the council if they wanted to keep the same employee health insurance plan, noting no increase in premium and only minor changes to the dental package. The council agreed to keep the same plan and package.

Town clerk Colleen Tippetts pointed the council to the lodging tax budget proposal, noting that the lodging tax board and chamber of commerce would like to remove a tourism sign west of Greybull and spend the money elsewhere.

Tippetts and Nebel said they are still awaiting final revenue numbers from the State of Wyoming.

The council also passed on second reading Ordinance 1011, which updates the town code regarding telecommunication system franchise agreements, then voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with Big Horn County regarding septic systems within town limits as required by the Dept. of Environmental Quality. The MOU allows the county to inspect septic systems in the Lovell town limits.

In other business April 9:

• After a discussion with Nebel, the council voted to approve an agreement with the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline board acknowledging that both the town and the pipeline board use the same firm for legal counsel work.

• The council voted to renew a service agreement with Motorola for the dispatch center telecommunications equipment contingent upon updated numbers in the agreement.

• Having had an offer from a citizen, the council voted to sell an old town Chevrolet Lumina for $100. The car is not currently operational, Nebel said.

• Nebel informed the council that Lovell will host a three-hour municipal government leadership training course on May 8 at the fire hall featuring Allen Thompson of Sheridan.

• The council voted to renew an annual swimming pool cleaning contract with Deanna Opp and voted to approve the annual operation and maintenance agreement with School District Two regarding the pool.

• Mayor Tom Newman issued, and the council approved, a proclamation designating May 1 as Arbor Day for the town’s status as a Tree City USA community.

• The council also approved the mayor’s proclamation in support of Child Abuse Awareness Month.

• With little discussion, the council voted to approve an agreement with Big Horn County Little League for use of a concessions stand at the Northeast Little League Complex.

• After discussion, the council decided against entering into an agreement with the UpAhead emergency alert system (for road closures, water line breaks, events and the like) due to the high cost of the program and the size of the community. Nebel said the program would cost the town $7,000 a year after an introductory price of $3,500 the first year.

• Nebel and public works director Adrin Mayes said Wilson Brothers Construction has given an estimate of $15,000 to repair a major water line break in town at Third and Jersey, and Nebel told the council he would like to get the project done during the current fiscal year for budget reasons.

The council set a work meeting for April 24 at noon.