From the pages of
Sublette Examiner
Volume 2, Number 24 - September 24, 2002
brought to you online by Pinedale Online

Cowboy statue discussed at Pinedale meeting

by Rhonda Swain

Sublette County Commissioner Gordon Johnston attended the Pinedale Town Council meeting Monday night to discuss the green cowboy that currently resides in the park next to the courthouse.

Johnston said his attendance, "as a commissioner, but not representing the county commission," was to express his feelings about the "abomination, the ugly cowboy on the courthouse lawn." He said that although the cowboy was placed there with the county's permission, "it was not a unanimous decision."

Johnston expressed his interest in having the town take possession of the statue, and maybe placing it in one of the town's parks. He informed the council that "if you will take this, I will try to convince Betty and Bill to have the road and bridge department saddle up" and move it, to which Miriam Carlson jokingly remarked that maybe it could be moved to the Daniel Schoolhouse.

Mayor Rose Skinner cautioned the council that the statue is a Pinedale Fine Arts Council project that pleased some people and didn't please some. Skinner wondered about the possibility of enhancing and expanding the lower park on Tyler Street and placing the statue there. She said PFAC would like to have an amphitheater and outdoor staging area complete with sound system, and the cowboy could possibly be part of that project.

The council advised Johnston to return for the Sept. 23 meeting, at which time they will make a final decision regarding the cowboy.

The council approved requests made by Lil Penton of the Pinedale Airport Board. They approved the rental rates of 15 cents per square foot and $400 for sign spaces, and the transfer of the Country Lane sign from the Retels to the new owners, Rick and Rhonda Greene of Rock Springs. Penton asked the council to approve several lease renewals and lighting improvements, which it did, and acquisition of lot 5. After executive session to discuss the purchase, the council approved it.

Town Council Briefs

Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland informed the council that in the near future, Deputy Tom Elmore is moving to Alaska and Deputy Toby Terrell will be attending the academy for 12 weeks.

Public works department head Ron Brown told the council members that the footings for the new town shop had been poured, but were not acceptable because the rebar wasn't tied correctly. He said that new forms were being laid and new footings were to have been poured Tuesday. Council Member Ann Holman remarked that she would like to see a town representative onsite when the footings were re-poured.

Mark Eatinger of Rio Verde Engineering advised the council that the town intake project at Fremont Lake will consists of 16,500 yards of rip rap placed on the water line for 300 feet. He said the council "may want to put a sidewalk on the rip rap".

The council approved a "Walk to School Proclamation" request by the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

The council members agreed to Skinner's request that they write a letter of support for a new Pinedale Post Office.

The council approved the $144,050 sewer rehabilitation bid from Jackman Construction of Rock Springs.

Council members approved resolution 2002-8 which authorizes applying for a 50-50 grant for completion of phases 2, 3 and 4 of the sewer line rehabilitation. They also approved resolution 2002-9, which authorizes applying for a 50-50 grant for the water loop project to loop a dead end waterline on the west side of Pinedale. Both grant applications are from the State Loan and Investment Board.

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