Council mulls curb and gutter improvements

WORLAND – The Worland mayor and city council discussed the street committee report at the council’s scheduled meeting on Tuesday evening.

Months ago, a street improvement committee of three council members, one from each ward, was put together to look costs for street improvement with the city curb and gutter loan.

Keith Gentzler, Dennis Koch and Michelle Rideout met and got estimates with help from City Building Inspector Nick Kruger from McClellan and Macqueen and Schneider Construction.

For a 45-foot lot it’s going to cost over $1,800 with McClellan and Macqueen and cost $2,610 with Schneider Construction. Gentzler said with the city loan and 15 years to pay it back , it would cost a landowner $20 - $25 per month.

However, City Clerk Tracy A. Glanz said the city has the curb and gutter loan on a six-year basis and it would cost more than $20 -$25 a month.

Council member Gentzler said the committee feels it’s still up in the air about an improvement district because while some people would jump on the opportunity, others just don’t have the money.

Even though it only applies to landowner and not tenants, Worland Mayor Dave Duffy said he hopes they can get the word out and encourage people to do it.

Playground equipment

Prints of the new Hillcrest Park playground equipment were shown at Worland City Council’s Tuesday evening meeting.

Superintendent of Public Works Brian Burky showed colored prints of what the new Hillcrest Park playground will look like once the new equipment is set to be ordered this week and it should be coming weeks after.

Burky said he was happy with the public input and said “we adjusted the playground to incorporate their comments.”

He also said the public gave feedback back on what to keep and while the safety inspection has not been completed, the public was interested in keeping the slide, swing and merry-go-round. If it is safe and useable Burky said they will keep it.

– Other business included council authorizing the mayor to sign for state airport aid in the amount of $20,000 from Wyoming Department of Transportation Aeronautics. The aid would be split 60/40 with the City of Worland for the Worland Airport master plan.

Duffy said when the master plan was made with GDA Engineers out of Cody the city had essential air service and its revenue. Now that the city has the lost its essential air service Wyoming Department of Transportation suggested Worland apply for an additional $20,000 aid to help with revenue loss.

The aid would extend the timeline on the master plan for 3- 5 years and would keep the city from having to do another master plan.

There was also discussion on changing language for zoning verification to avoid confusion. No official action was taken.

Following the meeting’s adjournment, council went into executive session for personnel regarding a contract.