City Council - Regular Meeting

I will go ahead and call to order this meeting of the Torrington City Council. This is Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Good evening and welcome to all. We have here as usual Mr. Ryan Kaith from KGOS KERM Radio. This council meeting is being broadcast live on both radio stations and on YouTube and will be up permanently on YouTube. We also have Ms. Brenna Ralston from the Torrington Telegram. So welcome to the press. Our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance, and I've asked Councilman Dennis Kelly to lead us. I pledge allegiance 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. All right, next item is the mayor's informational items. As we all know, we've been terribly dry this year, but praise God for the recent moisture we did receive. Summer season is now upon us. There are several Go Goshen summer concert events. First concert of the year is this Thursday, May 21st, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the intersection of East A and 21st Avenue. After that, there will be two more summer concerts in that same spot and the same times, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at East A and 21st Avenue. This upcoming weekend is the second aerobatics air show in Torrington, the Torrington Tailside Acro Rodeo and Tailslide Team Challenge. Leading aerobatic pilots will be here for the competition. This will be a jam-packed weekend. Thursday, May 21st, is the Contestant Welcome Party at the Open Barrel Brewery, along with the Street Dance and Concert Kickoff at Main Street, actually East A and 21st, for the entire community. Friday, May 22nd, Wingwags Morning on Main Street, breakfast and shopping with the wives in ground support of the contestants. Saturday and Sunday, May 23rd through 24th, food trucks, tailgating, live radio play-by-play, and full-day aerobatic competition at the airport. Saturday evening, Faith Takes Flight, Cowboy Church at the Torrington Airport, led by contestant and pastor Hollywood Hayden, with music by Christina Hayden of Open Throttle Ministries. And then Monday morning, May 25th, breathtaking four-minute freestyle flights by the USA Unlimited Aerobatic Team, plus the awards ceremony. Thank you to the participating pilots, and thank you to Wayne and Heidi Forbes for bringing this event to Torrington for its second year. Also, many thanks to our local airport board, Mike Ritchie, our airport manager, and his assistant, Tristan DeMott, and all the other unnamed volunteers that put this event together. No single person does great things. It takes many hands to do great things. Again, I want to thank all the contestants and all who make flying the grand thing that flying is. I want to thank our local citizens who support our Torrington Airport. A fine airport is a key to local vitality and growth. Thank you all so much for what is sure to be a fine show, and thank you all for making it come to pass. The Dale Jones Municipal Pool will open this season on Monday, June 1st. For more information about the city pool once open, please call the pool phone at 532-7798. The pool phone is 532-7798. The municipal pool offers adult lap swim slash aerobics, swim team practice for the Torrington Sharks swim team, swim lessons, open swim, night swim, and pool parties. Memorial Day is Monday, May 25th. Matthew Hickman, Cemetery Sexton, and his crew have been working hard to make our city cemetery one of the best municipal cemeteries around. I wish you a safe and blessed Memorial Day. Last, but certainly not least, I wish to congratulate all our local graduates and all their families and friends, Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington High School, Lingle Fort Laramie High School, Southeast High School, and the University of Wyoming. Congratulations to all, blessings for a bright future. Thank you. Our next item on the agenda is the approval of the consent agenda, which includes the minutes from the May 5th, 26th council meeting as published.

Mr. Mayor, I would move to approve the consent agenda, including the council meeting minutes from 5-5-26. All right.

I have a motion from Councilman Deal to approve the consent agenda, which includes the May 5-26 council meeting minutes as published. Do I have a second? Second. Second from Councilman Warren. Any further discussion, gentlemen? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of approval of the consent agenda, which includes the minutes from the May 5th, 26th council meeting as published, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, the consent agenda is approved. Approval of the agenda itself is the next thing on our agenda.

Mr. Mayor would move to approve the agenda as presented.

I have a motion from Councilman Victorin to approve the agenda as presented. Do I have a second?

Second.

Second, Councilman Kelly. Any further discussion, gentlemen? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of approval of the agenda as presented, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, the agenda is approved. Next item on the agenda, we don't have any takers for that this evening. If there were, I would see a sheet in that black box in front of Councilman Warren, but I do like to take time to explain this. This is a section of our agenda that's always here. It's for non-agenda items. There is a time limit of two minutes, and the speaker must sign up before the meeting. This is a time for the council to listen. No action will be taken. So if you're interested in taking advantage of this, there are forms here in the room, and you can fill those out, put them in the box, and we would be willing to listen to you for two minutes. Now we are down to our action items. The first action item on the agenda is resolution number 2026-06, authorizing the submission of the Wyoming Homeland Security Grant applications for the purchase of essential equipment for the city of Torrington in the amount of $60,825. And Mr. Eddington, would you please read that ordinance by title? Or ordinance, resolution by title, sorry.

So resolution number 2026, that's 06, a resolution authorizing submission of a Wyoming Homeland Security grant application for the purchase of essential equipment for the city of Torrington.

Thank you, Mr. Eddington. And Mr. Chuck Kenyon is back there and can present this item to council. He's our emergency management coordinator.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. The resolution pretty much contains all the information. Side note, this was a surplus funds request that this is out of the normal cycle. This is leftover funding from the 23-24 federal fiscal year at state Homeland Security. So they sent the notice that they wanted some fast applications so this was actually an application that was filled out for the 25 fiscal year that was not funded has not been promised to be funded we're still waiting for that stuff and waiting for those contracts so they asked for us to reapply that we did we have received notification that they intend to fund this although we have not seen the contract documents yet I stand for questions

How many radios will that purchase us?

Six. With accessories.

And that's for the PD?

Yes, sir. It's for command staff at the police department. The radios are slightly more sophisticated than the... simple radios that the crew has right now. The idea is that this gives the command staff a little more power and a little more flexibility, radio power, I should say, longer batteries and things like that. Just a little bit of an upgrade.

Gentlemen, do you have any more questions for Mr. Canyon?

No, sir.

Appreciate it, Chuck. um with do you have any questions for chief johnson anybody no given that i'm not hearing any questions i would entertain a motion on item one to approve the resolution number 2026-06 mr mayor i move to approve resolution number 2026-06 All right, I have a motion from Councilman Deal, item number one, to approve resolution number 2026-06, authorizing submission for Wyoming Homeland Security Grant. Do I have a second? Second. Second from Councilman Victron. Any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for vote. Item number one, all those in favor of approving resolution number 2026-06, authorizing the submission of the Wyoming Homeland Security Grant, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, that resolution is approved and I will sign it. Thank you, Mr. Kenyon. Next item on our agenda is item number two, ordinance on second reading, establishing I-1 zoning for lot one and C-1A zoning for lot two of the DSI subdivision. And there, Mr. Eddington, would you please read that ordinance by title?

So an ordinance amending and reenacting section 18.16.020 of the Torrington Municipal Code 2026 revisions relating to the city of Torrington, Wyoming. Amending the zoning district map by establishing I-1 zoning for lot 1 and C-1A zoning for lot 2 for attractive land to be known as the DSI subdivisions.

Thank you, Mr. Eddington. And Mr. Estes, our buildings and ground superintendent.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. I've had no comment, and so it's pretty straightforward. We would recommend approval.

All right. Gentlemen, any questions for Mr. Estes? Okay, we're on second reading. If there are no questions for Mr. Estes, I would entertain a motion to approve this ordinance on second reading that's set forth in item two.

I would move the second reading of the ordinance as set forth.

I have a motion, Councilman Victron, to approve the ordinance on second reading in item two as set forth. Do I have a second? Second. Second, Councilman Warren. Any further discussion, gentlemen? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. Item two, all those in favor of approving this ordinance on second reading, establishing the zoning for the DSI subdivision, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, that ordinance is approved on second reading. Thank you, Mr. Esselstyn. Thank you. We are now on item three, ordinance on third reading. Relating to recreational backyard fire pits, barbecues, and smokers. Mr. Eddington, would you please read that ordinance by title?

An ordinance creating and enacting section 8.08.015 of the Torrington Municipal Code, 2026 revisions relating to recreational backyard fire pits, barbecues, and smokers.

Thank you, Mr. Eddington. Mr. Estes.

Again, Mayor, thank you. We've had no changes other than Mr. Councilman Kelly's addition of the violation penalty. And the attorney put that in there. And I think everybody's OK with that. So we would, again, recommend approval.

All right. And I do remember that Councilman Kelly suggested that we put a penalty provision in there so it was self-contained within the ordinance itself. And I see Chief Johnson nodding in agreement with that. So gentlemen, do you have any question for Mr. Estes? All right. Appreciate it, Mr. Estes. Thank you. If there aren't any questions, we are on item number three, ordinance on third reading relating to the recreational backyard fire pits, barbecues, and smokers. I would entertain a motion.

Mr. Mayor, I make a motion to approve as presented.

Item three, I have a motion from Councilman Deal to approve ordinance on third reading as presented. Do I have a second?

Second.

Second. Councilman Kelly, any further discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. Item three, all those in favor of the approval of this ordinance on third reading relating to recreational backyard fire pits, barbecues, and smokers, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, that ordinance in item three is approved. Thank you, Mr. Estes. Item four. Ordinance on third reading relating to the Municipal Cemetery. Mr. Eddington, would you please read that ordinance by title?

An ordinance amending and reenacting chapter 12.36 of the Torrington Municipal Code, 2026 revisions relating to the Municipal Cemetery.

Thank you, Mr. Eddington. And I know Matthew Hickman's not here, but Mr. Estes is here to let us know anything that's happened since the last time we met.

Yeah, we've had no updates. Matt Hickman, the cemetery sexton, and Lynette and Sylvia had done a lot of work on this with Eddington. And so we've had no comment. So we would recommend approval for third reading.

All right, gentlemen, we're on third reading on this ordinance. Any questions for Mr. Estes? I don't see any questions. I would entertain a motion on the municipal cemetery ordinance.

Mr. Mayor, I move to approve the municipal cemetery ordinance on third reading.

I have a motion from Councilman Deal on item four to approve the municipal cemetery ordinance on third reading. Do I have a second?

Second. Second, Councilman Kelly. Any further discussion, gentlemen?

Hearing none, item four, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of approving the ordinance on third reading relating to the municipal cemetery, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, item four, ordinance on third reading relating to the municipal cemetery is approved. All right. We are down at the bottom of page one, item number five on our agenda. Ordinance on first reading relating to the 2027 fiscal year budget. Mr. Eddington, would you again please read that ordinance by title?

Excuse me, an ordinance providing for the appropriation of money by the city of Torrington, Wyoming to meet its general fund requirements and obligations to meet its enterprise fund requirements and obligations for the 2027 fiscal year commencing July 1, 2026 and fixing the sum to be raised by taxation.

Thank you, Mr. Eddington. And with that, I would call on Lynette Strecker, our clerk treasurer.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. So this is the first reading of the fiscal year 27 budget ordinance. As always, there's still quite a bit to be done before the final reading, the second meeting of June, which is June 16, 2026. I am collecting data. and getting more information. The best information is always best for the budget year. And so pending items still left for second and third reading include the wage recommendation or wages, health insurance renewal, property and casualty renewal insurance, and then final adjustments to cash and administrative fee revenue. So I'd be glad to answer any questions. We've had several work sessions, but I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have.

And just as a reminder to all, we have another budget work session on Wednesday the 27th at 3.

Correct. All those things I mentioned earlier will be discussed, as well as the IT recommendation for the year. So. And so from this point forward, I track every change to the budget. So I will update those on a spreadsheet so you have an idea of what's changed since the first reading of the ordinance. Just thought that would be helpful so you know everything that's done since this reading.

All right. Thank you, Mrs. Strecker. Gentlemen, do you have any questions for our clerk treasurer? I don't see any, hear any. We are on item 5, ordinance on first reading, relating to the 2027 fiscal year budget. Obviously, gentlemen, you know we have two more readings on this ordinance. So I would entertain a motion regarding the ordinance on first reading and item 5.

Mr. Mayor would move to approve the ordinance on first reading for the 2027 fiscal year budget.

All right, have a motion from Councilman Victim Victorine in item number 5. To approve the ordinance on first reading relating to the 2027 fiscal year budget, do I have a second? Second Second Councilman deal. Any further discussion gentleman? Hearing none, item number five, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of approval of the ordinance on first reading relating to the 2027 fiscal year budget, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay.

Nay.

That is 4-1. It passed ordinance on first reading item number five, 2027 fiscal year budget. All right, we're now on our second page of our agenda, approval of the bills from May 6, 26 to May 19, today, 26. And I would call on Mrs. Strecker, Clerk-Treasurer.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Attached to your agenda were a list of bills for your approval. I also handed out an additional set for you to consider tonight. Please, I open it up for questions you may have on either set of bills. Thank you.

If there are no further questions, Mr. Mayor, I would make a motion to approve the bills as presented.

All right. We are on item number six. I have a motion from Councilman Kelly to approve the bills as presented. Do I have a second? Second. Second from Councilman Victorin. Any further discussion, gentlemen? Hearing no, further discussion. Item six, I'll call for vote. All those in favor of approval of the bills as presented, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, those bills are approved. Thank you. We are now on item seven, public comment. And I see Fire Chief Jeff Schick back there. Could you give us a report, Chief?

Evening, Mayor, Council. Pretty uneventful in my firehouse. We did get called upon from Nebraska last week for a mutual aid vegetation fire up north. Moral requested help. My guys spent about five hours up there with two rigs. That's about all we've had. I am sending two personnel down to Cheyenne the first part of June for some intense structural firefighting, 4th, 5th, and 6th of June. So they'll be down there training and bring back some new techniques to the city. So that's all I have. Any questions?

I like those short reports. Yes, sir. That means good news. There you go.

All right. I'm glad to see some rain for you, too, Chief.

Yes, sir. We like it, too.

All right. Appreciate it, Chief. Thanks, Mayor. All right.

Police Chief Matt Johnson is approaching the podium. Thank you, Mayor and Council. I just wanted to take a moment to express our great appreciation for Chuck Kenyon. I'm sorry that he's not still here, that I wouldn't have the opportunity to embarrass him a bit. We are so grateful for his efforts related to the grant work that he does. Our agency has benefited amazingly from his efforts. And I know that every other part of our city or virtually every other part of our city has as well. The work that Chuck does on those grants makes a radical difference in our capability and our ability as a city to survive tough situations. And he is literally a walking, talking solution looking for problems to solve. And I just wanted to call that out because his work is really, really beneficial. So thank you.

Well, I appreciate that comment, Chief Johnson, and I agree. He's very instrumental in finding and being successful in applying for grants. So, yes. Mr. Dennis.

Thank you, Mayor. We're having a few issues with the parks this year. We've noticed up at Jordan Ball Field, especially up on 27th Avenue, we lost a lot of grass from the weather. We have reseeded that. We are reseeding the other parts of the Jordan Field down by the warming house. So we're doing that as we go. We lost some mini park grass. We call it mini park walking trail path. We are seeing more and more as the spring gets going animal waste on our sports fields. We'd like to ask the public to not put your animals on the sports field unless they're on leashes and you're with them. We have a dog park. It's not in good shape because we lost a lot of grass there, too. Just so everybody knows, that dog park is being sprayed on a regular basis by a third-party contractor, so there should not be any sandbirds in there. We're trying to keep up with it. That sand is horrible to keep those sandbirds out of up there, and then it just gets tracked. But we are seeing a lot of dog waste in the walking paths, especially around Jordan and the Jordan ball fields, and I haven't heard anything at the sports complex yet. But we just can't have those animals on there. The golf course is the same way.

So yes, I appreciate your bringing that to the public's attention. Please clean up after your animals.

And we provide, Dennis, if you could, we provide a waste station for dog waste for folks to dispose of at when they're out walking there.

Correct. We've even put rollouts out because people weren't using the dog waste containers. So we've actually moved rollouts out to some of the intersections. But they can't be on the sports fields at all. That's against city ordinance. We are going to start finding people if we see them. We do not want to do that. We just ask for their cooperation and just keep them off the sports fields.

Thank you. All except for the service animals. What's that?

Oh, except for the service dog? Correct. But yeah. But I mean, if they want to play catch or something like they're doing, we have avenues for that.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Estes. All right. We are in public comment section, item seven on our agenda. Are there any further public comments? Gentlemen, do you have any comments? All right. Well. We are now getting to item number eight, so I would entertain a motion to leave regular session and enter into executive session to discuss potential litigation.

Mr. Mayor, as per state statute, for purposes of discussion of potential litigation, I would move to move into executive session.

All right, I have a motion from Councilman Deal per state statute to leave regular session and move into executive session to discuss potential litigation. Do I have a second? Second. Second, Councilman Victor. Any further discussion, gentlemen? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of leaving regular session and entering into executive session to discuss potential litigation, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, signify by saying nay. Hearing no nays, we will leave regular session and enter into...