WHEATLAND – A drone footage video of the Black Mountain water tower demolition was played for the public to start out the Wheatland council meeting last week.
Town Clerk, Candy Wright, said she was worried about the new scoreboard and fencing at the Little League baseball field near the site of the demolition when the roof slid away from the main body of the tank after it hit the ground, “But they didn’t even touch the fence – it was amazing to watch those guys work.”
She added, the crew anticipated where the debris would go and put up a barrier to stop it, “It worked great!”
With the tower down, Anderson Construction Co., is working with the Department of Environmental Quality to stabilize the ground that has been compromised from two decades of leakage from the water tower. The work is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 30. Bids for constructing the new welded steel tank will be accepted in September, with an award date by Oct. 1 to keep the project on track.
Wright said the engineering firm overseeing the whole project has said the project will need to be completed by June 30, 2025, which is the end of the town’s current fiscal year.
Following the briefing and approval of the agenda, the council appointed Doug Dumont as interim municipal judge for a six-month term. There are two new police officers on the Wheatland police force, but the open position of a building inspector has not been filled.

Answering inquiries from the council on the status of the project to upgrade 16th Street and overhaul utility systems along its path, Wright said the town has obtained agreements with all but a couple landowners to tie in the new utility lines to the existing hookups. There are a couple owners who have not responded to the town’s request, and they have not been returning calls from either the town or the Wyoming Department of Transportation, who will be the general contractor for the 16th Street project.
Councilman Tony Montoya asked if the hesitant homeowners are holding up the project’s timeline. Wright said, “Not yet.”
In a special meeting on Thursday, the council approved agreements with Black Hills Energy to lower the main gas line at 16th and Mason Streets, and to eliminate two lines on the east side of 16th Street and at a crossing point near Bomgaars. The council also voted to accept the Wyoming Intertie Community Investment grant that was awarded to the town for $10,000. The funds will be used to make improvements at the Little League Field.
At last week’s regular meeting, the final readings of ordinances 851 and 852, setting increases in water rates and wastewater surcharges were passed by the council. The rates will be incremental over the next few years and is in response to suggestions by Wyoming Water Development Commission and required by grant funding accepted by the town to assist in the emergency demolition and replacement of the Black Mountain water tower. The goal is for the town to become self-sufficient in funding future repair or replacement plans for its infrastructure systems.
The council approved a change order for Bar Engineering on the Black Mountain phase II to finish out payments for landscaping after electric lines were upgraded in the subdivision in southwest Wheatland. The council also agreed to a contract renewal for five years with Landis+Gyr to provide software management for the town’s water meters.
An FAA grant agreement to improve the apron design of the airport was approved to authorize the mayor and town attorney to sign an agreement with ratification after the fact by the council.
Lastly, the council passed resolution 11-2024 authorizing submission of a Wyoming Water Development Commission grant application for replacement of Wheatland’s well number three.
Councilman Willie Allison expressed thanks to the volunteer fire department for their quick and tireless responses to grass fires around the area. He also complimented the community on a good parade.
In public comments, Phyllis Gapter brought up issues with properties near her mother’s home on West Ponderosa which are violating health, safety and use ordinances within the town. The council was given photos of the properties demonstrating buildup of refuse over time, and a property that is supposedly vacant has had people residing on it off and on.
Town Attorney Doug Weaver said he was familiar with the properties, and the town will look at the notes left behind by the previous building inspector and pick up with contacts with property owners where he left off.
Kelly Mixson requested permission to pursue an idea he had to obtain a cemetery plot and turn it into a vault for ceremonially retired American flag ashes. Earlier this year, when requesting donations of flags to ceremonially retire, Mixson and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association received hundreds of U.S. Flags, which will be a huge undertaking. He explained at the meeting, each damaged or worn flag is to have a ceremony performed before being respectfully burned, the ashes collected and buried in a cemetery. Mixson has discussed the possibilities of locating a flag vault near the Vietnam memorial at the cemetery with Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel, and he was seeking direction from the council on whether they would support the endeavor.
“You’ve got my support,” Mayor Brandon Graves said.
The rest of the council said they could get behind the idea.
Adjourning the public portion of the meeting, the council moved into executive session to discuss potential mitigation at 8:07 p.m.