LUSK - Mayor Doug Lytle called the regular meeting of the Lusk town council to order on January 7 at 5 p.m. The agenda, bills, treasurer’s report and minutes were all approved as presented. 

Visitors:

Laura Waldock approached council regarding the ordinance of animals at large. Ms. Waldock alleged that her cat had been picked up by animal control and been rehomed in a rural location. She stated that she had contacted animal control at the beginning of December when her cat disappeared and was told that animal control had not seen the animal nor were they trapping in the area of her home. Chief Krein expressed his condolences and reiterated that unless an animal is registered with the city per city ordinances then after the initial 48 hour holding period no animal will be retained by the city shelter. Additionally, there is no way to track if a particular animal has been retained at the shelter. 

Following Ms. Waldock’s concern regarding the process used by animal control to capture and rehome at large animals, animal control officer Doug Jergensen sought out funding and a partnership opportunity for the city to obtain a scanner for several models of animal ID chips. A scanner has been gifted to the Lusk Animal Shelter by another organization that Jergensen frequently works with. 

Using a scanner will hopefully alleviate problems with unregistered, un-collared at large animals in the future. Chief Krein also reiterated the importance of registering animals stated that compliance with the registration ordinance is lower than 10% for the town fo Lusk.

Department Updates:

James Santistevan reported that tree trimming had been finished in November and that the department will be budgeting for more tree trimming next fall. Several trees in Washington Park need trimmed. His department has been assisting with snow removal and will now begin to focus on maintenance for then summer months. The governor has required all emergency management coordinators to pass a DCI background check and his fingerprints and paperwork have been submitted. The EOP is due for renewal by December 2020 and Santistevans will begin reviewing this.

Rec department coordinator Jessica Yeager reported that out of the surveys that were sent home as backpack fliers from the grade school the department only received seven back. Youth soccer and little league will begin practices sometime in mid-April and T-ball will start later in the spring.

Royce Thompson reviewed his department’s progress on the new airport building stating that the very first preliminary sketches are done. On the electrical side they continue to work on what maintenance they can do during the winter.

Chief Krein said that his department received 198 calls for service in December. This is up eight percent from the previous December. The department is reviewing how the additional population from the pipeline and the highway contraction project will impact the town from a law-enforcement stand point.Officer Finks is currently attending the academy and canine Sasha will go for another evaluation on January 19. The department is working through performance evaluations. Animal control received 44 alls.

Town clerk Linda Frye reported that the FY 2018-2019 audit is done and  the final numbers will be available on record. She also discussed the process of finishing up the in-kind matches and paperwork for the homeland security property acquisitions.

City manager Todd Skukrud stated that he had met with Anderson survey regarding the water tank hill project. John Eddy has been working with the EPA to correct the deficiencies from the  2018 survey. The building sold via bid has not been moved yet due to weather but the city has been paid for it.

Old Business:

Ordinance 6-5-370 and 6-5-380 both passed on third reading.

New Business:

Airport and business park hay contract with Louis Hammer. The contract has been suspended for the previous two years since Hammers had paid for an aerial spray of the weekds. Contract was approved.

Robyn Jefcoat’s livestock permit renewal was approved.

Resolution 20-1 designated Lusk State Bank, Bank of the West and the Sate of Wyoming as depositories of the town of Lusk. 

Mayor Lytle reminded council members of the work session for the one percent request and of the WAM workshop coming up in February.