By Nathanael Himes 

Gazette Editor

KEMMERER— The Kemmerer City Council held its first meeting of the year on Jan. 13. The council approved Cheryl Gordwine to be appointed to the Fossil Basin Promotion board for a 5-year term. The South Lincoln Historical Society has been approved for a fee waiver to hold the 69th annual meeting of the Wyoming Historic Society at the Events Center. City Engineer Tom Crank presented to the council a design and survey of the South Lincoln Heights Drive Rehabilitation Project. This includes removing the old asphalt and replacing it with new asphalt. Following Crank, Ryan Erickson of Sunrise Engineering spoke with the council about the plan formed by the Kemmerer/Diamondville Water and Wastewater Joint Powers Board (KDJPB). The KDJPB has funding for running a new water line on Emerald Street. Erickson suggested that the council approve repaving all of Emerald Street rather than just what will be dug up. Erickson was giving estimated numbers on the cost of the project. “We would like to have a more concrete number,” stated Mayor Tony Tomassi. 

The council brought up the idea to send both projects to bid at the same time and have the cost of both projects together instead of separate. Crank and Erickson will discuss prices and form a more concrete, number and will present that to the council at the next meeting on Jan. 27. 

After Crank and Erickson spoke with the council, the council members moved on to the first reading revisions to the firearms ordinance. Councilman Robert Bowen stated that the five-acre range for bows is restrictive and should be narrowed to be more reasonable for those who want to have their own range on their property. 

In the continuation of the reading the council decided to change the word “their” to “his/hers.” The Ordinance was approved for the first reading and will return for a second reading Jan. 27.

A new policy was brought to the council concerning memorial art and benches on city land. Last month someone approached the council to add a memorial bench in Triangle Park. This policy is to help in the future with those interested in adding memorial benches or memorial art. The policy was postponed to finish writing and to make the bench specifications uniform. 

 The council has approved paying for the yearly subscription base to the QT POD LLC for the fuel tanks at the airport. The subscription is $945 a year and includes access and use of the web-based Siteminder Fuel Management Software Database Hosting, Data,24/7 technical support and software updates. The new system is to help with keeping track of the fuel in the tanks for the airport. 

Caleb Ellis was approved for a Personal Trainer Contract at the Rec Center to give personal training classes. Judge Kenneth Roberts was reappointed as the Municipal Court Judge.

Following the meeting, the Kemmerer council held a workshop to discuss the Exxon Mobile Mitigation and to figure out a dollar amount for public health and safety. The council agreed to ask for $350K as a starting number, half of the cost for a seventh police officer and full time Maintenance worker for the recreation center  and events center.