Grow Worland Initiative in doubt?

WORLAND — Despite hearing about opposition, plans are moving forward for a public hearing Monday, Nov. 5, on annexing a portion of Hillcrest Subdivision into the City of Worland.

During the regular council meeting Tuesday, City Attorney Kent Richins said, “With respect to the Grow Worland [Initiative] I’ve been advised that a legal petition will be forwarded to my office or [Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz’s] office, with all but one property owner objecting,” Richins said. “We’ll see where that goes. I find it extremely disappointing.”

He added that he was also advised that there would be nobody attending the Nov. 5 hearing. “I’m still going day-to-day on this, but that’s what I’ve been told.”

The city had been looking at annexing property east of the city as part of Mayor Jim Gill’s Grow Worland Initiative to ensure that the city of Worland maintains a population of more than 5,000. If the city drops below 5,000 during the next census (2020) then the city will lose Urban Systems funding to help with building new streets. The city has $600,000 saved through the Urban Systems program, and receives about $100,000 annually.

City limit boundaries will be set Dec. 31 for the next census. Estimates for the city’s population are just under 5,200.

The city looked at inviting whole subdivisions to come into the city including Sunset, North Hillcrest, Ponderosa, Cormier, Gee and Gee Wilderness.

The area to be annexed is the northern portion of Hillcrest Subdivision and the Healy property that is adjacent to the Hillcrest Subdivision but not in the subdivision, approximately 30 residents. The southern portion of Hillcrest is already within the city limits on the east edge of the city.

The council approved a resolution at the Oct. 1 meeting to start the annexation process. During that meeting Hillcrest resident Janeen Capshaw-King had mentioned a petition was circulating.

The meeting will be 6 p.m. Nov. 5 at the One Oak Activity Center.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business at Tuesday’s council meeting:

•The council unanimously approved the reappointment of George Sheaff to the Washakie County Visitor’s Council. Sheaff said it was a “good, solid board, a fun board to serve and an experienced board.”

•The council unanimously approved a change in the utility billing policy requiring deposits to be paid in full before accounts will be switched from a landlord’s to a renter’s name.

•Rochelle Colvin of The Warehouse, and representing all retail liquor license holders in Worland asked for 24-hour permits for Oct. 27 for Halloween celebrations, Nov. 23 for Black Friday and Dec. 29 for New Year’s Eve celebrations.

•New business owner Crystal Getzfreid said she has a new mobile DJ/music service business called Imagine. She wanted to propose a free community dance on a monthly basis where she would provide the music if someone would provide the location. She was thinking of the fairgrounds or community center.

The council directed her to approach the Worland Community Center Complex Joint Powers Board and the Washakie County commissioners since the council does not have any jurisdiction over those entities.