Worland City Council formally votes to fight census figures

WORLAND — The Worland City Council voted unanimously to appeal the 2020 census figures, even discussing the option of a mid-decade count.

Mayor Jim Gill outlined his case before the council, noting that he personally does not feel Worland’s population dipped below 5,000. Worland’s population per the 2010 census was 5,487. The population in 2020 was at 4,773, a drop of 714 or 13%.

“I think we have great data to defend our position but we need official action,” Gill said.

City engineering representative Mike Donnell looked at wastewater usage by looking at what comes in and goes out of the sewer lagoon.

The average drop in 2020 was 2.97%. To show a drop in population of 13% there should have been a drop of at least 5% to 8% at the lagoon.

“Data doesn’t lie,” Donnell said.

Brandon Yule of Blair’s Market, who was in attendance for a transfer of liquor license, said they have not seen a drop in customers, even in 2020 with COVID.

Gill said Worland is growing in every direction with new businesses or expanding businesses over the past few year.

He noted he spoke to the mayor of Rawlins and they are also planning to appeal the census figures. He said he read a recent article where many communities throughout the country are upset about the 2020 census figures.

“We are a viable community, we are growing,” Gill said.

Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz said the next step is to begin the Census Count Question Resolution Operation where they make sure the Census Bureau had the correct boundaries and census blocks.

She said that there were census takers who went door-to-door in 2020 but did not have a lot of luck because of COVID.

She said if the appeal does not work they have the option of paying for a mid-decade count.

In the meantime, the drop in population means a loss of revenue from the Urban Systems Funding for streets, direct distribution from state legislature and state sales and use tax.

Glanz said the “guesstimates” the city could lose $300,000 to $400,000 annually including Urban Systems funding starting July 1.

In making the motion to move forward with the appeal, council member Wendy Fredricks said, “We can’t afford not to.”

In other business the council:

•Approved the lone bid for a new trailer-mounted asphalt recycler – take millings and asphalt chunks reuse for pothole patches. The bid was from Normont of Great Falls, Montana, in the amount of $87,250.

•Approved three resolutions and a work order. The first resolution was for a State Loan and Investment Board grant for 50% of a police department vehicle, $22,500. The second was for another SLIB grant for the 13 midblock fire hydrant line replacement project that was initially applied for in 2021 until SLIB ran out of funding. It is for 50% of the project at $184,349. Total project is $368,698.

The third resolution was to raise rates at the bulk crane once the new system is operational. Current cost is $3.97 per 1,000 gallons to $8 per 1,000 gallons.

The system also would replace the old PIN system and people would be issued cards if they choose to be billed by the city.

There will be a $20 card fee.

Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the new bulk water crane on Railway.

Public Works Superintendent Nick Kruger said part of the increase is to help recoup costs of the project for the new system. The city has spent $185,000 on the project, according to Glanz.

Kruger said he hopes to have the crane operational next month.

The work order was for a wildlife fence project at Worland Municipal Airport that should be started in the spring.

Airport Manager Lynn Murdoch said the project cost is $111,929.61 with the city responsible for 4% or $13,333. Federal funding pays for 90% of the project and state funding 6%.

•Approved a transfer of liquor license from KBLA Inc doing business as Blair’s Market to SBY Plus LLC doing business as Blair’s Market.