Town Council Work Session Covers Numerous Topics
Gazebo project still a headache
by Jennifer Binning

In a generally rapidly moving town council work session, Mayor Rose Skinner and the town council discussed many issues, which had been plaguing the council during their regular monthly meetings.

The main topics being discussed on Monday night revolved around utility franchise issues. Town attorney Ed Wood presented the council with slightly revised versions of the franchise agreements for Pacific Power and Mallard cable, specifically leaving the length of the agreements and the fees charged open for council negotiation.

Mr. Wood noted that both agreements were non-exclusive in nature, so other power and cable companies could come in later and compete.

Councilman Jeff Reising noted that although the agreement with Pacific Power was non-exclusive, the Public Services Commission in Cheyenne has assigned the Pinedale area to Pacific Power, which means essentially that no other electric companies can come into the area.

Dan Bartlett and George Funk also addressed the council, and asked them to include some wording in the franchise agreement with Pacific Power that would allow the town to consider a municipal power company sometime in the future. Mr. Bartlett had battled Utah Power and Light in his former hometown of Kanab, Utah in order to establish a municipal power company, a battle that the city of Kanab ultimately won. The council said the idea to include the verbiage was a good one, and they would study the issue.

Councilwoman Barbara Boyce brought the council up to speed concerning the progress of the American Legion Park Gazebo project, and noted that the building had been inspected by two engineers from the firm who designed the gazebo. They in turn gave Ms. Boyce a long list of problems in the construction of the building. Carmean Construction of Pinedale was the contractor on the project, and Mr. Carmean has not yet responded to a letter drafted by the council asking for corrective measures to be taken. In a telephone interview last week, Mrs. Carmean disagreed with the council's assertion that the architectural plans had not been followed. The council is considering what their next step may be.

Mayor Skinner told the board that some extra federal money has become available for improvements at the airport, and the council is investigating additional funding sources to complete the project before making a commitment to accept the funds. Mrs. Skinner also informed the council that Pinedale was included on the scenic byway map by WyDOT.

After nailing down the painting specifications for the town hall repainting bid packets, Mr. Reising noted that he has been working with Pacific Power on an idea to light the ice skating rink behind the chamber of commerce hut. The council agreed to have Mr. Reising gather more information from Pacific Power for the council's edification.