Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Worland man posts signs, caution tape on portion of park
Worland Mayor Dave Duffy, City Inspector Nick Kruger and John Sanchez discuss land rights at Rotary Riverside Park Wednesday afternoon. Sam Torres looks on.
WORLAND – Wednesday afternoon, a Worland man has put 'No Trespassing' signs and caution tape on a section at Rotary Riverside Park because he claims, with power of attorney rights, that his children own the property.
John Sanchez said his children, Samantha and Dylan Sanchez, bought property at 101 Robertson Avenue and planned to "clean it up."
Since then, Sanchez claims they have given him power of attorney, and provided an undated, non-notarized document signed by Dylan and Samantha to the Daily News.
Sanchez said the dispute over land started in 2015 with an old fence that was falling down, and was told to contact the city building inspector.
From there he talked to a city employee, whose name he can't remember, and was told if anything happens on the property, owned by Samantha and Dylan, they would be held liable.
Sanchez then provided a warranty deed of the land with a legal description of the land Samantha and Dylan purchased in May 2015 that includes the east bank of the river and northerly along said bank of the Big Horn River. This description matches the one on record in the Washakie County Clerk's Office.
Sanchez said he put up the signs and caution tape because, "He doesn't want anyone coming in and breaking their leg."
Sanchez claims the property lines starts from where the grill is by the parking area and stops at the beginning of the playground and said the land description on the deed corroborates it.
The city and several city employees have denied comment about this matter, but Worland Mayor Dave Duffy, City Building Inspector Nick Kruger and City Councilman Marcus Sanchez did meet with John Sanchez at the park on Wednesday to discuss the documents he presented and how to move forward.
At that meeting Duffy said, "There are surveys that show this property when the river was running right through here and the river was relocated," and added they would be in contact with Sanchez again.
Rotary Club President Kathy Koch was contacted and she said the club is aware of the dispute.
