The Kemmerer City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, at City Hall. All council members were present, including new Kemmerer council member Mike Archibald.
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The Kemmerer City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 8, at City Hall. All council members were present, including new Kemmerer council member Mike Archibald.
Mayor Tony Tomassi approved council liaison appointments to various city boards and committees. The appointments will last for one year. Councilman Eric Rudy was appointed the council liaison to the Recreation Advisory Board. Archibald will be the liasion for the Zoning Board. Councilman David Crosland will liaison with the Kemmerer-Diamondville Water and Wastewater Joint Powers Board. Councilwoman Kate Zimmerman is the liaison for the Fossil Basin Promotion Board, Mayor Anthony Tomassi was appointed the liaison for the Kemmerer-Lincoln County Airport Committee, and Councilman Robert Bowen is now the liaison for the Main Street Committee.
Tomassi reminded the public that the Recreation Advisory Board has two vacancies, and the Zoning Board has one vacancy. Interested residents can pick up an application for the positions at Kemmerer Ciry Hall.
“Especially as we are looking at improving parks like Archie Neil and making updates to our Rec Center, it would be nice to have more voices on the board that can contribute to these discussions,” said Kemmerer City Administrator Andrew Nelson.
The council also passed on first reading Ordinance 2018-856, which changes Chapter 12 of the Kemmerer Municipal Code. This chapter deals with manufactured homes, manufactured home parks, recreational vehicles and recreational vehicle parks. The language in the code used to refer to mobile homes and mobile home parks.
“We’re tightening up language that hasn’t been updated since the code was instituted,” Nelson said.
Councilman Archibald explained that the new language coincides with changes in the building industry.
“A mobile home was built before a certain year,” Archibald said. “Now they are called manufactured homes, and they must be built to certain standards.”
Councilman David Crosland expressed concern about the language change.
“Are these definitions clear to the staff and the general public?” Crosland asked. “Because when I still use the words mobile homes and trailers, but I guess this language defines all those as different things.”
Nelson said the City would have conversations with anyone trying to install a mobile or manufactured home to ensure they understand the municipal code language.
The ordinance also institutes a new rule stating that any manufactured home installed in Kemmerer cannot be more than 10 years old.
“This allows us to have a greater say in the aesthetic of our neighborhoods,” Nelson said. “We’re also using language in the ordinance that has been used by the town of Opal and upheld in District Court.”
“These codes and ordinances have to have time frames in order to be enforceable,” Mayor Tomassi said.
The council passed the ordinance on first reading. Crosland was the only opposing vote. The ordinance will have two more readings by the council before it is accepted.
The next Kemmerer City Council meeting is Monday, Jan. 22, at 6:00 p.m.
