Council confirms July 4 fireworks

The council has confirmed that fireworks will be permitted for the July 4 holiday this year as long as Fire Chief Gari Gill determines that the ground is not too dry for public safety to be threatened. This is similar to the decisions made by the council in the past regarding fireworks, explained Clerk Treasurer Kathy Lenz.

With the fire chief’s blessing, fireworks will be allowed between noon and midnight on July 4 itself and until 11 p.m. the next night. This decision was approved by the council at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

During his report to the council, Gill was also able to solve the loss of the city’s landing zone for LifeFlight, which until recently was the Sundance Rest Area. Now it’s back open, he said, it’s difficult to know what to do as it’s tough to shut down the Port of Entry every time a flight comes in.

Council Member Brad Marchant responded that LifeFlight is still welcome to land behind the shop at the port. There’s not always time to get everyone out of the way in the parking lot, he agreed, but there’s always room behind the shop; he promised to secure a key for the padlock for emergency services if needed.

With Sundance Square set to officially open to the public next weekend, Lenz asked the council for permission to devise a fee schedule for rentals at the new concession stand. She suggested people will want to sell, for example, malt beverages while a concert is in progress, and the schedule would account for such things as power usage.

Lenz was given permission to present a proposal at the next meeting and, in the meantime, to use the existing fee schedule used at other city parks.

Karla Greaser of city engineers Trihydro reported that the Sundance West water tank project has, “achieved substantial completion and we are just working through the punch list items.”

Meanwhile, she said, five bids were received for the Sundance Kid Water Tank project and the apparent low bidder was Hot Iron of Gillette. However, the bid amounts exceed the funding amount through the Abandoned Mine Lands grant.

Lenz responded that the award was $1,440,000 for this project but, when the price of construction items began to increase, she knew it would be hard to meet that amount and budgeted $1.7 million for the project. By the time it’s completed, she said, the total will be $1.695 million including design and contingency.

When Lenz went back in and looked at revenues, she continued, some were better than expected, allowing her to adjust the budget to $1.8 million.

“So I am confident that we have enough money to complete this job,” she said. The council granted permission for Mayor Paul Brooks to sign a notice of award granted.

During the final reading of this year’s budget, “just for fun” Lenz handed out a comparison with the first budget she was involved in preparing when she joined the city’s staff around 14 or 15 years ago. Back then, she pointed out, the city had around $206,000 in sinking funds, whereas this year it has around $1 million.

“I just want you to know you guys are doing a great job and you’re doing good with city finances,” she said, calling this year’s a good, sound budget.

The council also heard that Crook County Natural Resource District intends to hold another countywide e-cycling event this year. As it has done in the past, the council agreed to contribute $2000 towards the cost.

In departmental reports, City Attorney Mark Hughes told the council he has written a couple of nuisance letters. One recipient appears to be working on the stated issue, said Brooks, and is waiting to use their free landfill coupon.

“The free dump day is for that very reason,” Brooks said. As there has been no change at the second property, Hughes will send a second nuisance letter.

The next regular meeting of the council is scheduled for July 6.