City Council - Regular Meeting

for the city council is May 5th. 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. We need to start with a roll call. Will you help us with that? Yes. Everyone is present. We do have a

Thank you. We have an agenda before us. Any changes to that agenda that we need to consider? There's none. Is there a motion to approve? I'll make that motion. I'll second motion to second. Any discussion? No discussion. All in favor say I. I.

Opposed. Have an agenda. We have the city council minutes for April 21st as well as the work session minutes for April 28th. Questions, comments, concerns on the minutes? If not, we'll acknowledge those as they've been written and we'll go on to the bills. Register questions on the bills.

Whitaker is a lift station on grass. No, not yet. Hopefully by say June should be connected in operation. We have we reached out to the senior center for an update from the post. Yes, they'll be coming to the work session next week. to talk to us. Is there a motion to move bills?

Any discussion?

Bzall boss and associates for marketing marketing services that um we have quite a few attorneys fees. Joe Hampton, Jeffrey J. Phillips, of course, Judicial just curious why we're outside attorney paid alongside the city attorney's salary specific.

Mr. Mayor, please counselor those are appointed public. Okay, great. and the birds and associates marketing something we hire ex this is this is a continual marketing firm that we utilize is it not I'm not sure that we that we use for the uh ad that you see done along front I think that's what this one your question.

And I just have one last question. Um there's a for parks and wreck we have a combined with uh the April 21st packet we have two cycles for 152 64130 and then we have before was 116 44513 or total 269 086 in two cycles. Um just confirming that that's Nothing's being most likely that's that may be because of the there could have been three pay periods in a month that would account for that.

Thank you. You're welcome. Any further discussion? There's none. All in favor say I. I

council com too much is on my mind. Um I'd like a just everyone as things escalate as I often mention um keep our uh service members in the forefront of your mind and their families. There are a lot of us and uh trouble times like these uh affect more people than you realize um in your community. And uh from our veterans that serve, it can be triggering for things that are happening. And for people with loved ones that are currently serving, it is a terrible, terrible burden to bear. And so if you keep them in the forefront of your thought, you may be able to add a smile and lift um lift their spirits and bring some type of relief in these very heavy burdensome times.

Nice and simple. I'm really grateful for the moisture that we have received and it's been it's been a blessing to our city and things are bringing up nicer get out and enjoy what had a lot of sorrow in our community. There's been a lot of long-term community members who have passed away this last few weeks and keep those people in our minds and our thoughts. So hopefully we're moving into a better summer.

Uh thank Be and her team for painting the crosswalks. They look nice. They got down. They had some of the art students from high school. Think that's great. Uh it's National Detention Officer Week and those are the guys that are behind the bar working with those that are making bad decisions. So, it's their week and congratulate them for their work they do for us. And I'd like to publicly thank Dean Stout for all this hard work and working for the city and just being a good member of the community, worked with him for many years in different capacities, but he's a hate to see him go to back to Rock Springs. That's his fruits. So, but thank you Dean for all your for all your friends. Mr.

thoughts and prayers out to the Albertson family and uh then I got some really important stuff. This is like a lunar eclipse falls on taco Tuesday. So, you better go get a taco and a margarita tonight. Mr.

Mr. concern uh for all those who have families that are suffering in our community and keep them in your thoughts. none of the least of which is is with us here tonight and I my heart goes out to Judge Stout. I'll leave it at that and we'll go on to our public hearings and special orders. We do have first there remarks by our meeting municipal judge. Your honor, you would like to say something please. I just wanted to to thank mayor of the council um for the opportunity to to be the municipal judge for these last few years. It was it was an honor to to serve the people of Evston and and I tried to do my best as as things came up and put the time and effort in to to try to serve the people and taxpayers of Evston. Well, Um, I know you you choose will do a good job as as this moves forward. Um, I was chosen to be a circuit court judge in in Sweetwater County, which is is what causes me to have to resign. I would note that I'll I'll get my resignation uh letter probably next week. there's a sentencing followed at the trial that the person was out of the country and so I thought that if I heard all of the evidence I should probably the person would give a sentence to that. So

just a sincere thank you and I I also wanted to to thank you for for serving. I I I've represented the government boards uh since I got out of law school in 99 county the city of Kemer, the town of Red River, Lyman in different capacities. And I I hope people in the community realize the effort and the time it takes to to serve as as councilman and serve as mayor and and to do a good job. It's a true act of of service that we usually don't realize unless you actually try to do it. So I I want to give my heartfelt thanks as as a resident of Evan Evans for following and your service. And at this point I will probably be Evston resident for at least another year as we move back and forth and make decisions. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you sir. know that know that you go with our thanks and our appreciation and as well as our condolences. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. We uh we know that you'll serve the residents of Sweetwater County well as you have us. So, thank you for what you've done for us. and we will go on considering Judge Stout's recent remarks. We will meet we find ourselves completed a new municipal judge and I would like to bring forth the name of Mr. Eric Phillips to be appointed as our municipal judge. Uh if there is anyone who would like to make a motion to that effect,

I'll make that motion your honor. We'll end with a motion. Is there a second? I'll second. So a second. Any discussion? I don't know anything about it.

I need credentials. I need to look at Every one of us should be able to look at some of these credentials and see um what uh what we're voting for. So, if we could just get those and then maybe push this so next time. Well, I think we're I think we're uh in a in a situation where we need to move quickly. I think most people on this panel know Mr. Phillips. Mr. Phillips was born and raised here. Long time resident of county as well as Rock Springs. His family certainly has a long history of of legal service and well-known attorneys in our area. Uh we had three uh letters of interest in this position, two of which were viable in my mind, Mr. Phillips, goes to the top of that equation. Um, and and giving that it's an opportunity for me to to make this appointment. Uh, that's what I'm doing here today. If that's the way we'll move forward. So, I we've got a a motion in a second to approve Mr. Phillips as our municipal judge. Is there any further discussion?

I just like to thank him for being willing to serve. Thank you.

I also I I know Mr. Phillips and they have served really well over the years. Look forward to work with. I have no doubt that he is a great candidate, but for procedure and for transparency, there should be his uh resume and his uh accreditations here for the public to look at. It's not about us. It's about all of them. And everything we do should be seen by every and be accessible not by every single taxpayer in this city. I don't have anything against um the confirmation, but the procedure of not having the paperwork that accompanies such a big appointment should be here.

Mr. Mayor, I'm happy to to step up to the podium and answer any question briefly if that helps at all. We may we may get that Mr. Sharps. I appreciate that. But I guess what I would answer to that is the way I read the laws of this uh particular position as well as all the other appointed positions are not appointed by the citizens of the appointed by the mayor. That just happens to be me right now. And so uh that's what I decide to do. If you choose to vote no, you certainly have that. Do

you have any questions for anyone? um if he's willing to come up, I think that'd be a good idea. Um at the same time, I'm I'm all for the appointment. I think it's great. Um so when we do show up here and uh all we have is appointment, confirmation of business, the judge with nothing else. More communication would be would be great. And I I'm so thankful, but procedure is procedure and we should have that and because they need it. um not just so I thank you very much for filling in.

No, and I'm happy to be here and uh I wanted to be here in person to answer any questions that there there may be. Um I've attended a lot of these types of of meetings. I haven't had one start out quite so hostile before I'm appointed. But it's good to be back in Evston. Now it's uh I did as mentioned I born and raised here. um moved away and have uh never stayed too far away um regularly back in Evston. Most people probably see I'm in court in the district court and the circuit court. Um also in this court fairly regularly, usually as a defense attorney before that I spent five years as the county attorney, Lincoln County where I was appointed. Um, despite my boyish looks, I'm actually 50 years old. So, um, my older brother Jeff uh stayed practicing in Evston and there was a lot of Phillips here. So, I made my way to Rock Springs. But, um, like I say, this is always will be home to me and I'm excited to be back in for the mayor for giving me the opportunity. I understand it's your appointment to make. Um, I did provide a copy of a cover letter, a writing sample, as well as a resume, uh, to make sure that my credentials were were known outside those who don't know me. So, I did make that available and if there's any questions or further concerns that I hopefully that will be shared, but uh, I'm excited to be here and I don't fault you at all for wanting to understand more about me. This is an important position. It's a position I don't take lightly and uh I understand the need to have the right person in the job, someone who's going to show up and and do the work and I'm committed to doing that. Uh appreciate your questioning the position.

And you went to school where you graduated from law school. I uh graduated from Univers College. Went to school here. Graduated in 94. Nice. very advice people at you term for my bachelor's degree.

I thank you very much for coming up and and filling in the blanks and that is very um very much appreciated. And just because I question doesn't mean I'm hostile. Just question. I think you firmly established yourself as hostile and uh in the future if we're still in court and it's 5:30 and you guys are starting I will hurry and not get in the car just so you know hostile they can tell you about hostile you guys are great thank you no I do appreciate you questioning and I'm happy to answer any of the questions that any of you may have

thank you so much for showing up and that that I said I'm all in favor of it But that helps fill in the gaps for anybody that kind of builds. I appreciate being here. Thank you. I was I was pleasantly surprised to see your face and see your dad. I've seen things with your dad for quite a while. So yeah, I think I don't know. I my brother and I I think bear more of a resemblance, but as we get older, I managed to avoid the white hair that maybe this child will do it to. But but your dad and your brother have the same inflections in your voice. You don't have that same I think Dean had a full head of hair when he started this job.

No, I appreciate you. Thank you. Hang on one second. We got to have a vote. We got a motion in a second. Uh any further discussion? No further discussion. All in favor say I. I read a vote. Now we can have a swear again.

I can state solemnly swear or affirm. I Eric F. to solemnly swear or affirm that I will support, obey, and defend that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Wyoming and and the Constitution of the State of Wyoming that I have not knowingly violated any law that I have not knowingly violated any law related to my election or appointment related to my election or appointment or caused it to be done by others or cause it to be done by others. And that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity.

And that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. Thank you Phillips. Thank you Diane.

We will move on to our consent agenda. We have a street closure and parade route requested by Elsa conference of the yellow alumni committee July 4th 9 at 10 down main street. Any questions on our consent agendos? We'll go on to our unfinished business and we'll start there with orders 2603 please. Thank you. Mirror in 2603 in order to grant franchiseilities to operate and maintain telecommunication system in the city of Evston, Wyoming third and final changes to that document from the beginning.

I guess we're discussion. Is there a motion to approve ordinance 2603? I'll make that motion. I'll second motion discussion. I have some concerns. Um, uh, buried in 2604. We're on 2604, right?

No. Okay. Um, uh two of them together. Uh I think this applies to I'm almost positive implies it if all marks something confidential. The city isn't allowed to keep copies except the city clerk and legal council and keep them for recordeping. That means all confidential records sit in the city attorney's office and that contract restricts the city I'm copying that. That's a structural problem. Everybody should have access to contracts in case we need to um all contracts for compared contrast with new ones. Um so our hands are balanced.

What section are you reading?

Um I'm reading from my notes. So um I go through and I read all my notes. that section is it pertaining to so we can follow along what you're saying. Um, I will make sure that my right here. Um, it's 2603 and 2604 uh 26037 and 13.341. 13 sorry 13 what

uh 13.3 what the other reference is so the one we're dealing with pull it up section 13 deals with location Well, I just Does anybody else have any contracts? Just ask your questions and then we'll release them.

We're waiting to hear what your I can't find confidentiality 26.

I mean that's not pertaining contract, right? And this contract once it's signed the contract is public. Correct. Mr. So if that I don't see it here, but if it's written that's just pretending to anything they have confidential probably when we get to the national any further discussion. Um, no. That was 2604. And we're on 2603.

I don't see a 2603. There wasn't too much on the 20 the 2604. I have noticed you have to forgive me. I am trying to save paper and not printing out the whole agenda and using my computer to go through the agenda scroll and um it's not as efficient for me as printing out those huge bricks of paper that I usually come in with. Um but I will definitely have everything here next time. This is the third and final

question on this one. Any further discussion? There's no further discussion. All in favor of ordinance 2603 on third and final reading indicate by saying I I oppose that is approved. Ordinance 2604 Mr. Harris please.

Thank you. Mayor 2604 is an ordinance granting to all West Wyoming, Inc. successors and signs the right form authority to construct, install and maintain and operate cable system in the city limiting the term said grant prescribing the terms and conditions under which said company may operate. This is also before. Thank you sir. Once again, there have been no changes since since first and second for that matter.

There have been no changes since there motion to approve ordinance 2604 on final. I'll make that motion your honor. Second one questionary all of us do we have any other franchise agreements coming up Mr. Council in uh yes Newman Newman Newman cent so that that's the next there was and that's just telecom right

that's when that's correct and there was some method for the madness I'll take your word for it I That's true. Okay. Well, quite frankly, it's we wanted to get that.

I I understand what you're saying. Any further discussion? The only question that I had answered it for nations to my satisfaction. discussion

there's one little and it's so I'm not people is such a small percent but it's more I'm bringing it up for the future the language and um it's buried in the to is this clause that says if any other cable company ever shows up in town and I'm just reading this in plain English. Um the city has 30 days to change the franchise. So all is to prepare changes happen automatically. We don't react and that's not technically how the law works and the council passes the ordinances and um you can't sign a contract that lets private companies a city ordinance just by sending a letter and waiting 30 days. Um that gives away all of our authority and also um with the constant renewal with this type of language in 12 month chunks after the 10-year contract was up. It binds future councils that know much better about the temperature of the town um and what the town needs um and the feedback from the taxpayers what they're asking for um than we do right now. Um and so it's just it you know dealing with cable it's such a small thing and uh but this kind of language um is confining for the taxpayers and confining for the councils and may or may not be an issue down the road and so it needs to be pointed out.

That's all further discussion. None. All in favor say I. I opposed. Go on to new business. Resolution 2615. Mr. Post, please.

Thank you, mayor. Resolution 2615 is a resolution of the city of Evans, Wyoming, authorizing the acceptance and execution of the grant agreement with the United States of America from the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain grant funds for acquisition equipment Council Gary will county airport administrative assistant. I'm here to present this acceptance of a grant from AFA to purchase a loader and a uh blower and a plow attachment. Our blower currently is purchased in 1933 I think and our blower I think was in 79 and it was a private purchase so we're not going to replace any equipment there but the blower will be the old blower will be put out there that may not be as big or whatever will purchase it. This is a this is a 400 $4818,000 grant. The total is of it is about $440,000. So it's 2 and 12% is our match. The state has 2 and 12%. It's a pretty good grant. If I say so myself, it's a 95 2 and a2% match that million dollar. So I think I'd take it.

Yeah. Uh but anyway, this is this is an uh I hope you have this. I think you have it in front of you, but uh it's an e sign. So, you're not be signing this. It'll go I think it's already come to you. Uh once you sign it, it'll go to Mr. Harris and it'll go to Mark Anderson to the county and then to answer any questions. Any questions before we move on this? got your money out of the other one, didn't you?

I think I think so. It's one of those things that FA pushes as far as they can. We had to we had to give them about a year and a half of snow totals and days that we were following to We didn't have to give them this year. We didn't give them this year. took the last couple of years and that two years ago really bumped this project up change a little bit. What we what we saved in fuel we'll use for the match. Did you just call yourself an administrative assistant? Yeah, that's my job. My job title back here.

I thought you were down that. What's that? I thought you were downplaying that. No, but comes with with such it came with no pay raise. I know that and it four times a year to empower four. You guys point to three people. I hope we got some big things happening. It's cross. I think we I think we do. Uh uh there's some private land leases that are that are coming along. We have four right now and people are asking. So we got a builder that wants to build some acres up there.

Is there introduction on this resolution with a motion? Sorry. Second. Any discussion? No discussion. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Now we need to discussion and motion to authorize a execution of a quote with G consider. Who's gonna go ahead?

Hello council mayor. My name is Jason. I'm the president of the health advisory board. It's good to see you again. Um per our discussions last Tuesday. I wanted to get you some information to follow up based on your questions and provide some more information for your preparation. Um, did you all receive the email that Kim sent with the two attachments regarding the card numbers as well as uh the information from Scott dealers? Yes. And I have a copy here if you need it. I think you guys all have that in front of you. I don't have it in front of me. You got another copy. I got it on my desk. Excellent. Thank you. Anybody else need

So put this together. I'm back.

So, I uh summarized some of the information that we have um based on the course data. And if you look at the first attachment um year to date, January to December, this is for the past seven seasons or whole years 2019 to 2025. Um so if you look, this is not all the numbers that we report. I tried to summarize summarize this and dial it in to be um relevant to the cart discussion. Uh so as you can see on there we have uh public green fees uh the number of rounds per year public car fees and then I added on uh 2024 and 2025. Um I have in my notes here what we were paying for the the car lease to compare. Um and then we put I I just put total gross sales on there as well. Just keep in mind that the gross sales numbers are not all going to be on this report because there's a lot of information that was missing that wasn't relevant to the cart specifically. Um, but if you look at this, you can kind of put together kind of an idea of what we're looking at for expense and return when it comes to cards. Um, in the year 2025, um, the city paid out $65,817.81 81 uh for a cart lease. The total revenue for carts was $248,0007252. So that's a gain of 182,9719. In 2024, uh we paid out 67971.50. Total revenue for carts was $210,000 uh or $210,000 $312. So that was a gain of $142,5962.

So um this kind of gives you some information for your deliberation on whether or not to extend or or create a new lease for 16 more cards. The other attachment that we sent in the email was uh some perspective from Scott Eers and uh he can come up here and give you more on that. Um, like we said, some of that data is hard to put into solid numbers as far as what we are losing by not having uh extra t cards, but that perspective is kind of in writing and then he can share that with you. Um, so in 2024 into 2025, the overall profit gain from leasing carts to car rentals was $324,966.86. That's a return on investment of 242%. So, we understand um that we want to be in the black with everything that uh has to do with the city. Unfortunately, that's not how most city um functions roll, but the card specifically um tends to show profitability when it comes to investment from taxpayer dollars against what we're taking back in. So, um I'll let Scott come up. giving perspective on kind of what he's got going on and what he's seen from a week toeek basis over these last years. Yes,

since you're my stat guy, I appreciate it so much. Um, there was a couple fillers for future, which would be uh some of the things that we're missing to get it dialed in on the actual cost, which would be increased maintenance, um, insurance increase, um, are we is it wear and tear? Um, traffic, how is that amortized? Um storage, do we have the capacity and additional labor? Just um some extra to really help us. And again, I will say this a thousand times. Questions are not adversity. questions from me are trying to justify to the taxpayers who do not who pay for this. They have every right to know. As well as questions and stats like you and I talked about, close the gap and make it profitable and help you all to make it profitable. But without asking questions and without identifying those things, we can't create the solutions. So the taxpayers get a reward back even the ones that don't pay it. And you guys have your golf balls as well. Questions are a good thing. They are not hostile.

Certainly. Yeah. I would not Yeah, I did make the hostility statement and I'm glad I'm not coming up here to ask to be the the uh court judge, but um yes, I agree. I think taxpayer concern and council's concern and the mayor's concern are all valid. I would never come up here and ask for more money for any organization without justifying it and showing how it would be rectified. Like I said, a lot of city functions are nonprofitable. We understand that. This is a municipality. This is a municipal golf course which is typically much cheaper, more available for the public. it, you know, the argument can be made that it increases value in uh real estate. There's youth athletics. There's so many pros and cons. People can have their concerns. We want to address those. So, please ask all the questions you want. If I have the data to back it up and it's solid, I'll bring it to you and I'll tell you it's solid. If it's forecasting, I'll tell you that this is what I think is going to happen, right? Um I don't want to ignore 209% ROI. I'm a businessman and I know what ROI is and I wish my business's ROI was 277%. I do that all day long. Other factors that you're asking about mostly will be projections, increased maintenance cost, storage, but we're happy to address those. So, I can continue to take that. We wanted to follow up with the information that you asked for deliberation. Um, Scott can probably give some perspective on some of those follow-ups, especially because he's seen the dayto-day, you know, boots on the ground as far as maintenance and things like that. He's also the one turning people away cuz they're out of cards. So, I think he's going to know a lot more about it. I'm definitely interested in doing the fiscally responsible thing as well, but um, this is something that I believe, um, is going to need to happen either way. And since it's such a

a good return for uh bringing the golf course to being solvent, that would be a good goal of ours. And that's something that I want to see happen. Um and if you look also just at the overall total gross sales, $492,000 in 2019, $934,000 in 2025. We have a great opportunity here and people are coming here or staying here. Um and it's it's good. We're proud of our course and and we like the numbers see that or show that as well. So, any other questions for me? I'll send Scott up here.

No. Um, you know, the the one thing that does is very profitable in closing and helping closing that gap is golf cart rentals. Um but I I just encourage the thought process a little bit differently which is ultimately it's not our decision. It is 12,000 people's decision on where they want to put their money and that is how we should justify it. And we are only voices of a collective who we represent.

Certainly. Yeah. You have your constituents and I am just an adviser. We are just an advisor in court. We just make recommendations and I am very happy that I don't have to make the decision. I'm just bringing the information, letting you know what my personal opinion is. I'm happy to be involved with the advisory board. I think it's productive. Um, solvent business is part of my personal uh uh program. I want the golf course to be profitable for the taxpayers, but you ultimately get to decide that and represent your constituents. So, uh, any information you can provide, I appreciate. Any other followup questions, reach out, please. I greatly appreciate the numbers. That's what I like.

No, thank you. And, uh, so I'll have Scott come up, give you a breakdown of kind of what he's sharing, what he's seeing at the course. answer.

So, why don't you fire some questions at me? the way I came about the numbers um which I didn't have, you know, solid data that we track those things in particular, but what we do track is we track the amount of golfers that are out there, the amount of tournaments that are using all the cards while the other golfers are coming at a later time to play that game. So let let me just give you a typical Saturday. The numbers I put together were Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I did not do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday because those are days we don't run out. And so 50 cards is plenty for most days. So we've got these, we've got general play, and we and we use most of them, but we don't use all of them or we can at least come together. On a typical Saturday, we show up at um like 5:30 in the morning, we get every card out that we have along with private cards for tournaments. And so when all the cards are gone along with the private cards, there are no cards. And so then basically we're held captive by that tournament because we can't we can't bring down any more cards. We can't put any good any more play on the golf course. We just are simply there waiting for things to come in. So, we block out the day till about 2:00 tea time, excuse me, a shotgun start goes at 8:00 a.m. At 2:00, we um we're hoping for the tournament to wrap up actually about 1:30 is what we're trying for. And at times that doesn't happen. And so then we're sitting there, people coming at 2:00 to play without any cards whatsoever.

Now the dilemma there is it's customer service, you know, because we have to tell them no, you got to wait for your card. It's just it's just it's just kind of a sh. And so with the extra cards, you know, whatever that number is going to be, if that does happen, then we've got those cards that we can give to golfers so that when the tournament wraps and everybody's done and they're all coming in, we can send that next wave out to the golf course. So, it's just the it's just the rhythm of the whole thing. And when we don't have cards, then we're waiting, you know, because private carts are not part of this. We're waiting for those public carts to get in. We got to get them unloaded. Some people drink a little bit of beer. Uh we've got to get that all cleaned off. We got to throw stuff away. We got to clean them up. We got to reparten them to get them back out. And it's a bit of a process. And that's Friday, Saturdays.

So, I've never played golf before. Your first your first time? First time. You know, I think I think the question that I had I think was answered last I had a couple of questions. One was the recommendation of the of the culture board. Did they were they confident that these that this additional expenditure would be profitable? And of course, the answer to that from them was yes. And I and I trust that judgment. The other question that I had and it was also being answered was is this recommendation to get to lease these additional carts. Was this based on a one-time event or anomaly? But evidently this is a common fairly common occurrence.

Now it didn't used to be. used to be 50 used to be the number because you could fill the golf course with with a 100 people and along with the private carts you you just fill the golf course up and by the time the rotation was done, they were coming in and you could get them unloaded back out on the golf course and it was easier because there was just less people. But there's not less people. You know, we were averaging 130 plus on Saturday and Sunday. the math recently. You know, 50 50 carts can take care of a hunt when we got 30 people sitting there ready to do something. Now, you know, the the other kind of dilemma here is storage. And there's no question that's that's a problem. Um there's been some discussion on where to put those things. Um, and I think the only way to do that is to take those extra cards if you all decide to go that direction, put them over at the maintenance building on the east side so it's out of the weather. We can cover them up with some with some uh covers of some nature. And then I would approach the city come winter time to bring them down to the roundhouse and some, you know, some storage down there. put them in there and let them be there out of the weather.

Questions. When you utilize private citizens cards for your tournaments, do we have to pay the card owner for that use of their cart or how does that happen? Do you or usually the card owner just taking some card? Card owners taking his own card. Okay. And we have an entry fee which is just the same for everybody. Um they take we do do not zero chance of lending out private car. You don't do that.

That's very emotional. Do we charge for private part or can we charge for private part a lot of money in roundhouse? Line's down below right now. Um and did do we have other bids? Uh are there other companies that we look at? Um just glancing we have we have contracts with Yamaha. Um and I've done those. I've done all I've done all. So,

and Yamaha is I don't want to say it's the cheaper cart, but it is the cheaper price club car. It's durable. It's the best fit for what we have it. No, no question. Now, Jason, you know, he he brought up the cart revenue. You know, one thing he did not add to his, and that's part of me, but but I went through it today. So, we did $873,000 last year. Gross. Well, if you take all the trail fees and the storage fees and the whole shoot match, we did $266,000 in car. So, that's 30% of our gross revenue as cars. And and I'll say this also the um this year we got to be open early kind of but people you know they had to walk because the the golf course was pretty dry and park probably beat that grass up some and just pretend they didn't want them out there which is all great but people don't want to play golf when they're not right. And so the demand for cards is up the hill. People are just not going to play much golf if they cannot ride. And that's just because us baby boomers are getting older and we we're in college and stuff. We used to walk on every course. But now it's not things have changed there. So I'll just say a couple things. Um if you look at the numbers going from 160 185 210 248 just the numbers tell you

that's how many more people were playing. Um so two things the cart side is very profitable. You have to have it to operate. It's a big point that Jason board is if we don't have them there, you can't sell them. If you don't have it on the shelf, you can't use it. And if you run any kind of business, uh you don't have the chance to make money selling stuff if it's not sitting there. So, we're in a situation where we're running our carts. I think this is a no-brainer. They they pay for themselves. They make money. Profit margins are stupid. my business. I wouldn't sit be sitting here in my business made that kind of money as well as a profit margin. So,

I was going to make an offer. You know, I want to do it. I'll do it. I'll do it myself. I just there's been a lot of chatter about it just so everybody knows like this really is kind of a no-brainer as far as an investment that turns around and gives us ROI. It's it's It's this should this should be easy. Shouldn't have that many people being that upset about it.

The other thing I think I would add is I'm not a hardcore golfer. I I golf on occasion and I'm absolutely no good at it. So, it's just one of those things for me, but I have learned in this position over the years that the golf course in of itself is an economic driver to this community. Granted, not everybody golfs and not everybody's going to get the benefit of these cards, but we as a community get the benefit of the golf course. um simply because when we have any corporation that is looking at us and we have that often often times those things don't happen as quickly or as often we know what they do but invariably one of the first uh inquiries that a prospective corporation to relocate here in one of the first inquiries they ever make is is a golf course. Do we have a golf course? what recreational opportunities exist for our for our folks to do as we locate our corporation there. And so the golf course in my mind has a a far greater influence and reach just beyond the golfer. Uh it is a it is an economic driver and a benefit to this community from a variety of angles. Uh so does it operate in the in the uh in the black all the time? No. No. we're getting closer and that's to your credit and I appreciate that. Uh but at the same time I think there's a lot of things that if you factor in the benefits of the golf course I think those things and they're hard to qualify but I think it would show the golf course the community goes is far more profitable to us as a community than than the numbers might even show. So I I appreciate that. hit on the head.

As I've sat up here for the last three and a half years worth of Tuesdays, I have asked you many questions and I've watched you close the gap, Mr. Heers. Phenomenal job. And I've said it once, I've said it many times. When I first got on this council, the golf course looked like a hemorrhaging body. Just something if it was a horse, I'd put a bullet in it. And I have watched you struggle and I have watched you work and I have watched you close that gap. With respect to that, there is still a gap and it is still paid by a community. And so the numbers should be more readily available uh for people to choose and decide. Um transparency especially in times like this when things are tough are is critically more important with finances and where people's tax dollars are going. And I respect that. And the chatter and the roll back from nontransparency is what we're going to we saw in the golf course or the golf cart issue. And we'll see it more and more and more as people put what we do under a microscope. And it is fair. It is their right. And it is what they should be doing. They should be inspecting all of us with a microscope. Especially in times like this. It's their money. That said, this the golf cart make money.

They close the gap. I would like to see harder numbers more than theoreticals. I trust you implicitly saying that there's people um waiting for golf carts, but that's not going to ass somebody who doesn't come to golf ball, right? That's not going to keep people that don't uh have anything to do with it and really don't want to spend their money on it. But actually showing numbers is why I have fought for three and a half years for numbers. Um, and it it makes such a difference when we can clearly show like what I was shocked when I found out Kim actually pulled up the the the numbers. We didn't have it in the proposal on the work session that those cards made $266,000 last year. They made well there's such a margin of error even though we don't have exact stats and not anything. We know how much we pay for them. We know how much we had in in maintenance and and uh other fees associated with them. And they were it was ballpark Babe Ruth numbers as far as closing the gap. It's still closing the gap though. And so numbers and do we constantly say the additional they bring in revenue people stay in the hotel how much money does it bring in we can run those type of things we can keep track of them um how much you know h 11% you increase the as I recall from your last thing you increased from 9% to 11% of players round from Was that front which is huge. I think there'll be more this

year with the um economy and and it's those kind of numbers that can let us direct the marketing down there as well that taxpayers pay for to help close the gap. So numbers as many numbers as you can get helps make a decision and helps inform

now that it's So the Gulf has just evolved from from 50 being just perfect to not. So with that in mind, we can now look at things that we do need to track and we can track going out. We can do we can do assortment of things now. So that can help. And um you know with that in mind you know like I'm I probably should say lay around and just say right now you know my wife looks at Facebook and she says she probably should read some of this. So, I was reading it and so I read I can't read it all because it just infuriates me that I can't go to bed. But, um, but I was reading some of it and and so, however I can get you all information. I am extremely happy to do that because the things they were saying were so far out in the field. It's it was really quite amazing. They had to try hard to to say some of that stuff. But that goes back to the numbers. They call us, they ask us, they email us, and we can't give hypotheticals to somebody who's extrapolating on something that they haven't kept up on. On on Facebook, we know that social media is spread um like wildfire, truth and untruth. So with numbers, with concrete numbers, we can help and we can heal. So, I I thoroughly enjoy coming to Tuesday night city council meeting, but I would love to email you information. Like just I'll just email you stuff.

Got to do both. We love to see you.

But, you know, I'm just going to tell you real quickly. 74% of the golfers are evidence. 74%. That's evidence period. It's not 2%. It's not. We're not going under. All this other garbage. We do so many community things. We do 10 fundraisers. We do high schools. We do peace officers. We do kiss each other. I mean, it's all over the map. The amount of money just generated because we're good people basically. And and so it's I'm going to, you know, maybe I just do it once a month or maybe I do it once a quarter, whatever it's going to take, but I'm going to send you information so that when I get to read Facebook, I don't see things that where a cat is going, "Oh, I know. I know." You'll have information so you can just tell them. And the important thing to keep in mind is 74% are from Evston. But what percentage of the 12,000 populace is that?

We have about 4,000 people, different people that play in 4,000. So that's like 30%. Not bad. Pretty good. So the numbers and the answers because they're paying for it have to go to the other percent. That's fair. That is fair because the 30% isn't paid for the whole course, right? And so that's just fair to have the numbers. That's a comparison you can make across the board. You can do that art. You can do that. I mean, you I do it for all of them. I do it for all of them. That's a hard one.

Every single person deserves to know where every single dime goes. I think we're safe to move on. Thank you, Scott, for putting all the numbers. Jason, thanks for all the work you did. Kim, there was a lot of work that went into getting this the information so that this could get it out in front. I made a motion to authorize this execution to just go a second. I'll second to your honor. Second. Any discussion?

The golfers are actually paying for this when it comes right down to it. It's not city. It just goes to the city, but the golfers are paying for this. So, just want to throw that out there. Yeah, they are. Discussion say I approve departments. Mr. problems. Do you have any more? No, sir. You know, maybe I should bring up we have open board meetings at parks and wreck. The second Thursday of every single month are open to the communities. We go through all these numbers and my door is always wide open at the rec center to take any questions. So,

excellent. Noon second Thursday. Thank you. Appreciate that. Is there anything? Nothing you sir.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Newsome and I will be going to Cheyenne on Thursday to uh present city storm water management control system through the water committee. Um that is request municipality because our storm water system uh so successful for almost 50 years. There will also be a presentation to select water on data center. Thank you. Public participation is anyone like Kathy Cutton 912 Maine. I just have a couple things. Uh, first of all, I'm gonna ask questions about the golf carts. Why are we releasing gas golf carts instead of electric? And um, and then they're stored underneath the restaurant and then every time they start up, there's all these emissions and you guys care about the environment. I just want to know, are all the golf carts gas? Are they electric?

All the golf carts are stored underneath the pro shop, not the restaurant. restaurant. Okay. All those carts under there, other than a select few that might be gas that are private, are all electric, except the ones we're leasing, the ones we're leasing will not be stored under there. They'll be stored up by the maintenance shed. Okay. Okay. Um, so, um, I wanted to ask about the Hillside Motel and what's been going on with that. It still looks the same to me. They were working on us today. As fast as I went by, they had they have containers are starting to pull things out of there. Oh, good. I saw that today.

It's certainly not going as fast as any of us would like, but they're making slow progress. Okay. Um, and then do we have a Clean Air Act here in our city? Is it okay to vape public buildings and restaurants? We have no joking policy uh indoors any public building that includes baking. So who enforces that? I will check it. I don't know that was passed in 2006. I don't know if that does apply to me, but I check that. I was I was thinking that I was I was hoping we added maybe to that I might

and it's possible counselor did that cuz um I've been sick now for 4 weeks with asthma cost me over $300 and I'm having a tough time breathing and it's because I went into a restaurant and the um waitress and a couple of patrons were vaping and I walked out within 3 minutes and my lungs were burning. And then the next time I went to a different restaurant, there was people sitting there vaping as well. Interesting. I Mr. Harris can look into that. I was thinking that we had added vaping to that ordinance at some point.

Well, it's not being enforced and you know, it's been bad for me. I will get

Thank you. Um, also, uh, in the future, I know we can't do it right now, but, um, I've watched Arts Incorporated, how hard those guys work. Um, I think in the future it would be helpful if we had three or four full-time paid employees that, um, it's like that's their whole life. They work, they're all volunteers. They work really hard. And I think it would be important to, you know, for the revenue in the city. um like the Celtic Festival, they were working on Sunday even um and it's all donations. I think it would be a good idea in the future to think about having um a paid position for that. That's all they do.

Also, uh one last thing, when is shades opening? It's kind of a Let's see. RA is not with us here tonight. It's kind of it's it's kind of got bogged down here. We're we need to hear some definite information one way or another. So I don't have that. But they're paying their bill, their rent. They're still paying their lease payments. Yes. Okay. All right. That's all I have. Thank you. Anyone else? Is there a motion to hear that motion?