Resident frustrated with Worland permitting process

WORLAND – A concerned citizen expressed his frustrations on the Worland City Council on Chapter 24 – Zoning at the scheduled meeting Tuesday evening.

Jake Brown, of Worland, expressed concerns over fencing and diagram regulations.

Brown said he appreciates the council alleviating residents with the resolution regarding fencing, but he doesn’t know why he needs to do so much to put a deck on his house.

He said the front deck doesn’t go past the north or south part of house, but he now has to draw a diagram of his whole property.

In order to get the deck approved Brown said he has to (electronically) send it to Laramie (to Worland City Planning Consultant Ron Vanderpool) and within two weeks he gets a response and then has to work with City Building Inspector Nick Kruger.

The diagrams are being electronically sent to Laramie because Vanderpool resides there. Council member Keith Gentzler said Vanderpool was hired in Worland and by moving has violated his contract.

Duffy said that is a personnel issue.

Brown also questioned why he has to go through local government to make additions to his home, and council member Marcus Sanchez started to poll each city council member, asking if they knew about this issue.

Duffy reminded him all of the council approved the zoning chapter.

The council continued discussion before council member Jim Gill suggested they have a work session to address this.

Also on the agenda was a liquor license transfer.  

Christy Schneider was present as the representative for the liquor license transfer.

Schneider said, “We (she and Jim) bought the Rock Bottom Bar and Grill and we own the Warehouse …We were going to operate both, but decided to consolidate into one and we’re in the process of selling (the Rock Bottom Bar and Grill.)

Police Chief Gabe Elliott was present and said he had no issues with this transfer and council approved the motion for the liquor license transfer from the Rock Bottom Bar and Grill to the Warehouse.

Other business included Carrie Wyper as the Little Chief representative asking the council to approve a parking lot party on Sept. 9 from 5 – 11 p.m.

Elliott said Little Chief has had parties before and knows what the expectations are. The council approved Little Chief’s request.

—Following the meeting council went into executive session to discuss contract issues.

Council member Bud Callaham was absent and excused.