WHEATLAND – The Wheatland Town Council held its January meeting on the 10th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:10 p.m.
The Council meeting began with a Pledge of Allegiance followed by a roll call. All councilmen and Mayor Brandon Graves were in physical attendance.
The first order of business was to approve the minutes of the last Town Council meeting on December 13. The minutes were approved unanimously.
After the previous agenda was approved, the council voted five to zero to reappoint Pat Mitchell to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a three year term. The third item to be discussed was the consent agenda.
The council made notice that only two citations were made during last month. Police Chief Willadsen explained that there were only two because of uncertainty with Judge Harris’s transition into a new schedule.
Willadsen said that the police were short three cars for repairs. Councilman Race noticed that the day before the meeting was National Law Enforcement Day, and the council gave a combined thanks.
After this, an intense discussion centered around the council’s spending habits and if it was spending enough on local businesses was held. Mayor Graves had to call order to the meeting.
The consent agenda had to be temporarily tabled at 7:30 for public hearing about a Community Development Block Grant for the 16th Street Program.
The program aims to improve 16th Street with better infrastructure and amenities including sidewalks, new sewage, and better lighting. The program is supported by the Platte County Economic Development organization.
Funding for the program mainly comes from the Wyoming Community Development Authority, but other sources include $2 million from WYDOT and a $2 million match from the town council.
The meeting was open for public comment, yet none was offered. After ten minutes, the public hearing for the grant ended. Discussion then returned to the consent agenda.
After the public hearing, talk resumed about spending for a short while. The consent agenda was then passed five to zero.
After the approval of the consent agenda, next was the period for petitions, memorials, proclamations, and other public comments. None were presented, so the council moved on to unfinished business.
The first item of unfinished business was a second reading of Ordinance 834. The ordinance’s propose is to amend WMC Title 18 concerning light and heavy industrial zones.
The second reading assessed the impact on Phifer Airfield, industrial permits, and accessory storage. With some changes for clarity, the ordinance passed five to zero.
The second item of unfinished business was Ordinance 835, which is a rezoning of 1554 and 1556 Gilchrest Street.
The focus of 835’s review was on the definition, criteria, and legality of the current spot zone and consistency with previous spot zone permits. The second reading approved unanimously.
After Ordinance 835 was finished, a small summary of economic development was given. School enrollment was slightly down, but the report did not include numbers about homeschooling or remote learning. Business was similarly steady. Next came new business.
The first item of new business was Ordinance 837 which was designed to amend the building codes of WMC.
New building codes are drafted by the state on a three year cycle. These new codes are drafted so that townships have a six month notice. However, anything which the state adopts, towns must adopt as well.
The first reading of Ordinance 837 was approved five to zero. Next new business item was Resolution 1-2022 regarding the schedule of building permit fees.
Afterwards came 2-2022 for the appoint of attorney Doug Weaver to the WMPA Board. Both resolutions passed unanimously.
After the resolutions was a review of a service agreement with Superior Contracting. This deal was shorter than previous ones. After some changes for more clarity regarding items like fuel costs, the council fully approved.
The last two council matters were designations for 2022. First State Bank, Rolling Hills Bank, and Platte Valley Bank were designated as depositories. The Platte County Record-Times was designated as the newspaper of record.
No other announcements were made. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. for an executive session. The next Town Council meeting will be February 14, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
