Rural district could expand after Tuesday vote

WORLAND – A measure on Tuesday’s ballot could allow South Worland Water Users to join the Washakie Rural Improvement and Service District, after a nearly year-long effort to combine the two groups.

A petition to join the Washakie Rural system was certified by the county clerk’s office on April 27, with more than 80 percent of voting members of the South Worland users joining the petition.

A proposal by the South Worland Water Users Corporation to join the Washakie Rural Improvement and Service District was met with a vote to approve by the county commission earlier this year, after a public hearing.

After a 30-day comment period (no objections were received by the county), the Washakie County Commission voted to allow the measure to go to public vote of both entities in November.

If approved by vote on Tuesday, the change would provide South Worland Users with a path toward incorporation, providing them with a way to qualify for federal and state improvement loans.

In a letter sent to WRISD members in October, the district advised that the average change in users would be 150 in total, and recommended members support the expansion.

South Worland Users will have a separate rate structure and be responsible for all upgrades and maintenance of the enlarged area.

On Tuesday, South Worland and Washakie Rural voters will have a separate ballot to vote on the measure, which will be provided at the board room in the Worland Community Center from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

In 2015, the South Worland users requested a recon study, which, after some delay, revealed over $1.4 million in needed improvements. At that point, users decided to petition the county commission to join the Washakie Rural system, with improvements paid for by low interest loans and grants from the Wyoming Water Development Commission, Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board, and United States Department of Agriculture Loans.