Council officially declares Ward 1 vacancy; fireworks area approved

WORLAND — With Acting Mayor William Worley presiding, the Worland City Council on Tuesday declared a vacancy on the council, accepted a bid and approved the annual Fourth of July fireworks area at the gravel pits northwest of the city.

City Attorney Kent Richins said with Ward 1 Council member Scott Schaeffer announcing at the May 3 meeting that he had moved out of Ward 1 into Ward 2 a vacancy must be declared.

The council voted to declare the vacancy. The vacancy will be filled at the next election. Filing period is underway. The Ward 1 seat will be for a two-year term to complete Schaeffer’s term.

Richins also announced that state statute requires a council candidate to have resided in the ward where they are running for at least one year. Schaeffer will be unable to run for the open Ward 2 seat this year.

Schaeffer said, “I’ll be back.”

BID

The council received one bid for the dry storage pole building near the city shop. The bid for $286,877.80 from Hughes Truss Company was over the budget amount, according to engineering representative Mike Donnell.

He said the bid included two options, one for an oversized door and one for insulation. Removing the options brings the bid and project within budget at $227,363.05. The motion to approve the bid for the revised amount was approved unanimously.

FIREWORKS

Worland Fire Chief Chris Kocher said he was coming before the city council regarding the Fourth of July and the area that the city, Washakie County and Bureau of Land Management provide for county residents to safely shoot off fireworks.

He said the proposal is to allow fireworks from July 1-5 and fire crews from the Worland Volunteer Fire Department and BLM will be on site in the evenings.

He said in addition to using city land in the area, he was also asking permission to use city Dumpsters for trash in the area during that time.

The council approved the request.

Kocher made a similar request to the Washakie County Commissioners earlier in the day, which was also approved.

He said the BLM will be writing an exclusion to allow fireworks on their land in that area only.

The Council approved the proposed budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year for a total amount of $11,621,014 on first reading.

In other action the council directed Richins to draft an ordinance for a zone change for Worland RV and Campground at 2313 and 2401 Big Horn Avenue to general business, per a recommendation from the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. The area is currently zoned manufacture home.