Campaigning on city property mulled by council

WORLAND — Political campaigning in city parks came under scrutiny at Tuesday night’s Worland City Council meeting.

City Attorney Kent Richins said there was a political event at Pioneer Square earlier in the evening. Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz spoke to the organizers and told them by state statute campaign information could not be posted in city parks.

She and Richins said the group became argumentative and told Glanz that the city needed to have their own campaign guidelines.

Richins said state statute prohibits campaign information being placed or posted on city property.

Wyoming State Statute states, “Written campaign advertising shall not be placed on or attached to any real or personal property of the state or its political subdivisions. This prohibition shall not apply to fairgrounds of the Wyoming state fair or of any county fair organized under the laws of this state. The University of Wyoming, any community college and school district may permit such advertising subject to regulation by their governing board as to time, place and manner.”

Richins said the city is a “political subdivision” of the state, thus the city does not need it’s own ordinance.

However, he said, state statute is not as clear regarding city right-of-way.

According to the statute, “Subject to the approval of the landowner and any rules and regulations adopted by a municipality, campaign materials may be placed on municipal street rights-of-way. The department of transportation shall allow campaign materials to be placed on a state right-of-way within a municipality to the same extent which the municipality allows campaign materials to be placed on municipal street rights-of-way.”

Richins said the city rights-of-way would be sidewalks around city property.

After a brief discussion, Kody Demunbrun moved to prohibit campaign information being placed on city right-of-way around city property.

The motion failed on a 3-6 with only Demunbrun, Delayne Renner Newton and Ken Shearer voting in favor and Christy Schneider, Keith Gentzler, Caleb Vigil, Kreg Lombard, Mandy Horath and Mike Neufer voting against.

In other business the council:

•Approved a resolution to allow Glanz to apply for a grant to cover COVID-19 expenses. She said the city has spent about $6,000 to date including on setting up Zoom meetings, plexiglass for the front counter at city hall, masks, gloves and cleaning supplies. The grant is for expenses incurred through Dec. 31, 2020. She is seeking $12,000.

In other COVID news, Public Works Director Brian Burky reported that the state is asking cities and towns to test raw sewage for COVID. Testing would not cost the city, but be covered by the state.

•Approved a street closure at the corner of Coburn and Fifth Street next to the Elks for Aug. 29 for the start of the eighth annual Badlands Poker Run the fundraiser for the Washakie Hospital Foundation.

•Ratified a decision by Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz in allowing a temporary vendor license for a peach salesperson in a neighborhood business zone. The vendor had been allowed in the zone last year.

Glanz noted, however, that according to city ordinance, temporary vendors are not allowed in neighborhood business zones and this vendor sets up at Hurricane Lanes.

She asked the council to consider allowing vendors in neighborhood business zones. She said she would provide information on the number of neighborhood business zones in the city at a future meeting.

•Heard a report from Airport Manager Lynn Murdoch that construction on widening Taxilane C has been delayed to Aug. 3. Construction was scheduled to begin this week.

•Heard a report from Chief of Police Gabe Elliott that the fair parade will be 9 a.m. Aug. 1 and school begins on Aug. 18.

He also reported that the city has procured two new radar signs one on North 10th at the edge of town and one on U.S. 20 just north of the bridge.

•Approved a motion to have City Attorney Kent Richins draft an amendment to Ordinance 855 regarding business trailers parking on city streets. The current ordinance approved earlier this year allows for an annual permit. Glanz said it would be easier if the permits followed the calendar year rather than a “year after date of purchase.”