Ten Sleep to hold last 2017 council meeting Tuesday

TEN SLEEP – The Ten Sleep Town Council will meet tonight, to conduct regular department business, and give a final status of a United States Department of Agriculture-funded sewer project that refurbished the town’s aging system.

The project, originally estimated to cost $1.2 million and paid for in part by a loan and grant from the United States Department of Agriculture was finished in November, offering upgrades the original, circa 1930s, sewer lines located in the northern section of town, resurface Fir Street, and provide upgrades to the town’s sewage lagoon.

With the winning bid from Bornhoft Construction of Riverton coming in at $557,032 and town engineer Lidstone and Associates setting engineering costs at $219,400, the overall cost of $776,432 was well under the original estimate.

The project was paid for in part by a $251,000 loan and $349,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, although the town approved a water rate increase earlier in the year to help pay for the project.

In May, in adherence with the loan structure, the council voted to make an annual payment of $9,584 to the USDA, and create a special account to deposit 10 percent of the annual payment (per USDA requirements), totaling $79.87 per month. The council also voted to amend the annual budget, to include the USDA payment and savings account.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. All meetings are open to the public.