Council - Regular Meeting

whatever. Get something else on the same page. Good. How are you? I don't mind any of them, but it's just more it doesn't taste good. The Evansville Town Council meeting for February 9th, 2026. Now called to order. Mayor Ernie Blackford here. Council member Edwards here. Council member Bryce here. Council member here. Council member Edwards here.

Town attorney Scott McMurray. Town engineer Shane Porter here. Town Treasure Mike Ericson here. Chief of Police Mike Thompson. Um, Assistant Fire Chief Mark Cornet. Public works director Dan Corson. Townel Underw. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Do I have a motion for approval of agenda? So I'll second. Okay, I have a motion and second. Any discussion? All those in favor? Opposed? Motion passed. Item one, consent of agenda. Under that we have three items. Approval of minutes. Regular meeting January 26, 2026. Approval of business license build USA and approval of bills. Do I have a motion for consent of agenda? I move. I'll second.

I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion passed. We will now open this up for public comments. Public comments will be limited to five minutes. Are there any public comments?

Hello, my name is Walt Barrens. I live at 1079 Silo Vista and uh nine months ago I come in with uh an issue about storm water and I understand that it's been turned over to the attorneys. Uh nine months nothing's happened. And this is where again 1079 Cello Vista. The lot behind me that uh uh used to be North Oiler Works. Gotcha. Floods into my yard. Okay.

And floods down the street and everything else. And uh uh these guys have taken care of their part and it was the ordinance was turned over I guess to the attorneys and haven't heard anything. Scott, you have anything to Yeah. Comment on that? We've been we've reviewed it uh and I believe that it's going to be um sent and circulated to council by the end of this week actually so that we can get it on the hopefully for the agenda for the next meeting.

Okay. The the reason I'm asking is because I haven't heard anything and asked several times and and didn't hear anything. uh my part of it that is with Northrep, they refuse to pick up the certified letter that my lawyer sent them because that would acknowledge that they know that there's a problem and I've got pictures and text messages and stuff from them. So, we're continuing that on, but I wanted to see what the town was doing, too.

Thanks. Okay. Thank you, Wolf. Ryan Perry, 324 Curtis Street. Good evening, mayor, council members. I'm here to re respectfully ask this council to communicate with our state legislators at WHAM about amending specific Wyoming cannabis statutes that are outdated, overly punitive, and creating real consequences for our community without improving public safety. This is not a request for this council to legalize cannabis. That authority rests with the legislature. But what I'm asking for something well within your role as a local representative to urge our state delegation to review and amend these laws that are clearly no longer working. The first statute that needs review is Wyoming statute 35-7-10002, which defines cannabis is extremely broad and makes no distinction between medical use, personal possession, or non- intoxicating forms. Under current law, someone using cannabis for pain management is treated the same as someone trafficking drugs. That lack of distinction creates unnecessary criminal exposure and removes common sense discretion from the system. Second is 35-7-1031C which governs simple possession. Under this statute, a third possession offense, no sale, no violence, no harm to others is enhanced to a felony. That single enhancement can cost someone their right to their their voting rights, their firearm rights, employment opportunities, and housing. Turning non-violent possession into a felony does not make our community safer. It makes it but it does permanently damage lives. Third is 35-7-1031 AMB covering manufacturer, delivery, and intent. This sections allow intent to deliver to be inferred from vague

factors like quantity or packaging that leads to overcharging, inconsistent outcomes, and disproportionate sentences for conduct that is not trafficking and in any meaningful sense. Fourth is 35-71036. The conditional discharge statute. While intended as a second chance provision, it is extremely limited. It can only be used once. It is applied inconsistently across counties and leaves many with many otherwise eligible people without access to diversion or treatment based alternatives. Expanding that statute would immediately relieve pressure on courts and law enforcement. Fifth is 35-7 1014D which criminalizes any cannabis product exceeding.3% THC. This creates risks even for CBD users due to the lab variability and leaves no room for medical necessity. Wyoming currently provides no safe harbor for patients nor physician protections and no statutory defense for medical use. Finally, and most importantly, Wyoming has no medical cannabis statute at all. This is not a loophole. Is a total absence of law that leaves patients, veterans, and families without guidance, without protections, and without clarity. Many re residents rely other state programs. Yet Wyoming offers zero recognition or reciprocity. The result of all these statute combined is predictable. Strain law enforcement resources, crowded courts, and inconsistent charges and growing public distrust. Taxpayer money is spent prosecuting non-violent possession while serious public safety issues compete for attention. Wyoming prides itself on limited government, personal responsibility, and common sense. Our cannabis statues reflect none of those values. Other conservative and rural states have modernized their laws without sacrificing public safety. Wyoming can do the same, but it requires

leadership. I am asking this council to formally communicate with our state legislators and request a statutory review of these specific sections. Not to dictate outcomes, but to open the door to reform that is propos proportionally medically informed and fiscally responsible. This is not this is not about being for or against cannabis. It's about bringing the laws that actually work for fairness, for public safety, and for Wyoming values. So, I thank you for your time and serving the community. Thank you, Ryan.

Hey, Ryan. I I thank you for your comments like that. I just want to let you know that a lot of times at WAM the majority of time, we don't see them because they're in session. It's very I mean, you might get to see one representative or so, but we don't see them because they're in session as well. So a lot of times they don't come to our office this stuff. But I do thank you for your comment. I just try. That's all I'm asking.

Um Phil Gerky, 644 Eagle Trail. Um just I just got a couple really quick things. Um the guys did a great Whoever put the new web page together, website together, that's awesome. I mean, it's um easy to navigate and and you can find everything on there. And I noticed that the link that is on there for to go to watch the meetings if you aren't able to attend. And I know when I was on council sometimes I'd look at that and there'd be two or three people and now I've seen as many as 60. So, it's evidently having some effect. Second thing, this might be a little bit more controversial, but I think the town of Evansville went for over a hundred years without a time limit on for citizens to t speak to the council. And in all my time of time that I was on the council and I've been attending meetings mo some days there is nobody comes and other days we get one. And I just think we need to encourage people to come. But if if I know if I'm going to come and I'm not going to be able to get answers to my questions because my five minutes is up. I just don't think that's a good deal. And I know we had a situation where we had to had to do something but I think that is gone and behind us and I I think we need to get rid of that rule. Um, when I The other thing is is the I know we got a whole I to be honest about I haven't read them but there's like a whole list of rules and stuff when somebody gets up to talk and I officiated sports for over 20 years and I had one rule I I you could talk I would listen just had to be polite and as long as people are polite I think we need to let them talk. So anyway that's

all I got. Thank you. Thank you.

Are there any more public comments? Any more public comments? There's no more public comments, so we will move on to item three, ordinance 2-226, an ordinance setting the tax levy for 2026, second reading.

Mr. Mayor and council brought before you tonight is an or ordinance 2-2 2026. This is an ordinance fixing the tax levy for 2026 and providing effective date. Therefore, um the tax levy um is proposed to be set at 8 mil, which is also known as the general tax to meet the current expenses of the town. Um and this this 8 mil is the same as it has been previous years for you tonight on second reading. Do I have a motion for ordinance 2-226? A motion. I'll second. I have a motion and a second. Uh any discussion? Janelle, how many years have we been doing? I'm not changing anything. Do you know? Years.

Years. Years. Yeah. Many, many years.

Any more discussion? If not, I call for a vote. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried. Okay. So 12, uh, we will have a public hearing. Janelle, u, Mr. Mayor, council, brought before you tonight is a public hearing that we need to hold for the 2023 community development block grant activity. This is for the for the sidewalks that were just completed.

Yes, the 2025 sidewalks. Um so we just ask for you to open the public hearing for any comments um concerning that and then any comments that engineer Ford would have. It's a requirement of the of the funding agency that we hold this second public hearing and it's just to take comment on the project itself, how it went, any issues, concerns, any public comments whatsoever. Um we're required to to hold this second public hearing before they close the project out. So project is complete. Um, I think went pretty well. So, everything's complete and everything's signed off and Okay. Yep.

Uh, any public comments regarding this. Okay. Hearing none, we will close the public hearing for the community development block grant. Item five, sworn officer pay scale adjustment. you should know. Can you fill us in on that?

Um, so being presented to you tonight is the town of Evansville step pay structure for sworn police officers for 2026. This is um a proposal that was prepared and presented to the governing body for approval. Um, and so it's brought before you tonight for formal approval and Chief Thompson is present to answer any questions or make any comments on it. Okay. Um, do I have a motion to accept this form officer pay scale adjustment? I'll motion. I'll second.

Okay, I have a motion and a second. Uh, is there any discussion? Anybody have any questions for the chief? Okay. Hearing no discussion. Uh, I call for the vote. All those in favor? I I opposed. Motion passed. And now we will have the engineers report. Shane.

Yeah, Mr. Mayor and Council, I just have a few things tonight. Kind of the the standard ones I go through just about once a month. So, uh, first one I have is on the Mystery Bridge and Wildcat Road improvements project. I have application for payment number seven. Uh, the total of this pay request is $380,35922. for work completed from December 20th through January 30th. Uh we're holding 5% retainage. So the total amount due for this pay request is $361,34126 with $19,17 uh.96 being placed in the joint retainage account. So I just recommend a motion to pay Wayne Coleman Construction for pay estimate number seven.

Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion carried.

So on the same project, I have draw request number seven. Uh draw request number seven is for reimbursement from invoices from Wayne Construction. Pay application number six. Uh the total of the invoices is $267,199.33. The grant covers 88%. Um, so the total request is for $235,135 even. Uh, leaves a total remaining balance on the grant of $6,632,015. Uh, the town will receive additional reimbursement from from these invoices for the four other parties involved. Advanced Casper, Mesa Solutions, uh, True Land and Reality, and Hatsix Wildcat LLC. Uh, their reimbursement amount will be 29,52553. uh which leaves the town responsible for $2,538.39 of this uh total invoice of $257,19933. So recommend a motion of the mayor sign and submit draw down request number seven to the Wyoming business council. Do

I have a motion for this draw down? I move. Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion carried.

So the sidewalk project wrapped up, but now the pathway project is getting moving. So I have similar items for it. This is the laser pro pathway phase 2 project. I have draw request number one. Draw request number one is for reimbursement of the invoices for design engineering. Um from July 1 through November 30th. Uh the total of the invoices is $26,50.95. The grant covers 90.49%. So the total draw down request is 23,57350. Uh leaves a total remaining balance on the ground to 594,21.50. So recommend a motion that the mayor sign and submit draw down request number one for the pathway project. Do I have a motion for that draw down? So move.

Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor?

I opposed. Motion passed. And the last thing I have is on the same project, the Lyther Road pathway project. We have a form that we need to submit to the funding agency, which is why do it's a the TAP grant. Uh they have a form that's uh called preliminary engineer completion certificate. Uh it's just a preliminary engineering completion certificate and it's just a form that states that the town has completed the design services and any remaining money will be used for construction. Um I don't have that number in front of me exactly, but we um spent about 50% of the design budget. So that will get moved over to construction. So I just recommend a motion to have the mayor sign the preliminary engineering completion certificate.

Do I have a motion? Second. I have a motion and second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor? Opposed? Motion passed. That's all I have tonight. Okay. Do I have a motion to accept the engineers report? So move. Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion? No discussion. All those in favor? I opposed. Motion passed. I would now ask for a motion to adjourn to executive session. I move.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Uh, all those in favor? I opposed. Motion pass. You want me to start?