CHUGWATER – The August 6 meeting of the Chugwater Town Council saw its representatives postponing a vote until its September meeting, whether to accept a petition to de-annex 174 acres of agricultural land that is separated from the platted portion of the town by the interstate. Petitioners say they do not have services – and there is no plan for services from the town to be connected to their properties– and the county’s rules are more appropriate for governing their agricultural land; opponents assert the de-annexation a dangerous proposition for the town financially, since the small town would lose more than it can afford in population-based funding from grants, sales-use tax distributions, and even optional sales-use tax funds.
During heavy rains in July, it was revealed the drainage pathway to the holding pond is not functioning properly and is instead flooding private property. Mayor Ash asked if the council wanted to entertain hiring the engineer who designed the drainage to determine what needed to be done to fix it. It was suggested the issue with the drainage may have been caused by dirt from a nearby lot’s construction project being placed in the drainage space.
Councilman John Burns responded to the suggestion of hiring an engineering study, expressing his surprise the council wants to spend thousands of dollars of the minimal funds the town must pay engineers who would then tell them what can be discovered by looking at it “ourselves.” Maintenance supervisor Pete Delgado said the town doesn’t have all the tools to determine elevation and distance; Burns disagreed, stating more simple tools that he has available will work.
It was determined Burns and Delgado would look at the drainage the same week to determine what was causing the blockage of the drainage. A report of progress will be given at the next council meeting.
One item added to the agenda was a discussion of museum repairs. Mayor Carol Ash explained her understanding is there were $800 worth of repairs authorized to stabilize the building. She further explained the contractor says he was told to look for anything else that needed to be fixed structurally, which including testing various points along the stucco walls. He then submitted a bid for repairs totaling almost $17,000.

“The repair between the Quonset and museum building, unknown to the council, destroyed the hand painted mural. We were told $800, not $16,950. So now we have a building that looks like what you see, and don’t have the budget to fix it,” Ash said. Speaking to the council, she asked how they wanted to move forward from this point, as the damage is already done. “Because we do not have a game plan for this. I am personally really upset because this was a hand painted sign from people in our community,” she added.
After further discussion and supposition on the how’s and why’s the stucco was partially removed from the building, the council suggested there be a meeting the same week, at a time contractor Randy Rapp could be in attendance, so they can get the straight story of what happened, and what he found.
Delgado suggested the council make sure they have a contract in writing to spell out the work that is authorized in the future to avoid such confusion. He also said the going rate for stucco is $4,500 per 600 square feet.
“I agree something did need to be done so we don’t lose the whole building,” councilman Joe Schirmer added.
Mayor Ash told the Record-Times the proposed workshop was cancelled, and the council decided to address the issue at the next meeting. She added, she understands there will be other bids for the council to consider at that time as well.
In a report submitted to the council by Delgado, a list of work and repairs to the town was itemized. Some of those were repairs to lagoon fencing after cattle got in; a dump trailer was transported from Aim High Rental in Wheatland to clean out the ditch draining into the retention pond; at the Community Center, a new air conditioning unit was installed, a bad valve on the water softener replaced, and new door handles installed on bathroom doors; A surge protector was installed at well no. 5; chlorine tanks were filled, and one chlorine pump was replaced; the town will need to replace a meter pit because of a leak on the inlet after a resident repaired a water break on their side of the line; and the antiquated SCADA system which operates the water system has continued to need technicians assist with repairs, who warned the parts are getting difficult to find.
Delgado said he will present a quote for a new SCADA system at the next council meeting.
The council approved a building permit for Chugwater Chili to allow them to put in a second Conex box for storage behind their office building.
The mayor signed a proclamation declaring the month of August a time to observe the U.S. Coast Guard’s 234th anniversary on August 4, and to recognize its contribution to American history. The U.S. Coast Guard has been protecting our shores since 1790. Librarian Cathy Wilson said she is working with the school to highlight the coast guard when school begins.
The next meeting of the Chugwater town council will be 7 p.m. Monday, Sept.1 at town hall.