Council considers deer, dogs and failing culverts

The city’s annual efforts to cull deer are underway with 22 animals harvested so far.

At last week’s regular meeting, the Sundance City Council heard a report from the two individuals who have been contracted to fulfill the permit, Shad Schloredt and Rusty Speidel.

A Wyoming Game and Fish permit was approved earlier this year to allow the City of Sundance to cull double the number of deer this year with no restrictions on season timing in response to evidence that chronic wasting disease (CWD) may be more prevalent than previously thought.

Most years, the city applies for a license to cull a certain number of deer. Last year, the quota was 50 deer, which was subsequently filled.

However, seven of those 50 deer tested positive for CWD. In February, Game Warden Nate Holst presented a proposal from Wyoming Game & Fish to allow the larger cull.

At last week’s meeting, the council approved a second reading amendment to its ordinance governing the number of dogs allowed in a residence. The council confirmed that this change will not apply to residents who already have more than three dogs in their home.

“You can’t retroactively impose something,” explained Mayor Paul Brooks.

Council Member Joe Wilson was appointed to be Sundance’s representative on the joint powers board investigating the possibility of a countywide solid waste district.

A resident of High Mile requested the council’s attention on a water issue that occurs in the area during heavy rain. Water jumps the curb, he said, and there is no gutter to catch it.

He asked if there might be a possibility of adding drainage in the area. Brooks agreed that this is an issue that is also happening in the downtown, probably because roofs these days are larger than they used to be.

This being the first he had heard of the problem, Public Works Director Mac Erickson agreed to go take a look at the area. The issue will then be opened up for discussion, said Brooks.

Wendy Crisp approached the council to an extension on the variance granted earlier this year that allows her to live in an RV on another person’s property. The council has been cracking down on the use of campers for more than the two weeks allowed by the city’s ordinance.

However, Brooks explained that Crisp’s situation does not fit the criteria of the problem that the ordinance is intended to fix: people using RVs as permanent abodes and overstaying their welcome. As there is a genuine reason for Crisp’s current situation, the council agreed to extend the variance by one year.

Erickson reported on current projects, telling the council that surveying is underway for the 3rd Street water project. His department spent much of the week before searching for lost water lines and was able to find half of the eight in question.

A permit has been issued by the Department of Environmental Quality for the project to fix a leaking line on Ryan St., he continued, so he is assuming that will go to bid over the winter.

The city has also secured a grant to upgrade its outdoor lighting, he said.

However, the city was not awarded a WYDOT grant to replace the culvert over Ryan St.; the department cited eligibility requirements, Erickson said. Brooks expressed surprise, as these requirements had all been laid out by WYDOT during a meeting.

“I think the plan now is to continue looking for some money,” said Erickson.

Brooks agreed, commenting that, if the culvert fails, it will become an emergency and the city will qualify for State Lands and Investments Board money, though it would be nice if the issue didn’t have to go that far.

City Engineers Trihydro are meanwhile working on cost estimates for a few possible projects, including three water lines and one sewer line, to enable the council to pursue funding quickly should grant opportunities become available.

Fire Chief Gari Gill reported the success of this year’s fundraiser open house, telling the council that 142 people attended.

The next regular meeting of the council is scheduled for December 5.