Budget requests made at town council meeting

by Trey Wilkinson

The Pinedale Town Council dedicated time at its Monday meeting for budget requests and seven organizations and businesses used the allotted time to speak to the council.

Among those present were representatives from the Recycling Board, the Discovery Center, Sexual Assault Family Violence Task Force (SAFV), the Learning Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rendezvous Pointe and the Fine Arts Council.

The Recycling Board requested $7,500 from the council, relaying that the money is needed for salaries and concerns.

Representatives from the Discovery Center requested $5,000. The requested amount is to help pay for the cost of a new 27-passenger school bus. It was mentioned that the current bus is not safe for the children to ride in. The total cost of the bus is $45,000.

The SAFV asked the council for $1,155, which is the same request as last year.

Representatives from the Learning Center requested $4,000 for matching funds toward grants.

Big Brothers Big Sisters asked the council for $1,500, an increase from last year’s request, due to the fact that the program is “growing and serving more kids.”

Rendezvous Pointe requested $25,000 from the council in addition to a one-time grant study amount of $5,000 for senior citizen housing.

The Fine Arts Council requested $10,000 from the council as well as an additional $2,500 to go toward a residency for the Chris Johnson Music Ensemble to be held during the Fourth of July picnic.

The requests will be taken into advisement and discussed during the town’s next budget workshop in May.

According to Town Clerk and Treasurer Patty Racich, the budget has to be in place by July 1.

In other town action:

• Wendy Schwartz spoke to both the town council and local law enforcement about her concerns with vehicles not obeying posted signs in Pinedale.

Schwartz asked the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) what they were doing to solve the problem with traffic and asked the town if a study regarding signs had been discussed.

Mayor Smith informed Schwartz that a study had been discussed, but not yet approved.

Undersheriff Jim Whinnery told Schwartz and the council that two officers run a shift during the day and night (7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) in town.

“That’s about an hour too late in the morning,” Schwartz said, adding that it’s at about 6 a.m. that she sees these vehicles speeding and ignoring posted signs.

Patrol Lieutenant Hayes Randol informed Schwartz and the council that the SCSO “keeps pumping more people into town making the county less safe.”

Schwartz said she was looking for signs and that it was councilman Gary Heuck who was looking for more enforcement.

“I think enforcement is part of the issue,” councilman David Hohl said. “Stop signs would probably be more effective, but they aren’t going to entirely solve the problem.”

Whinnery said he had made other officers aware of the intersections that had been pointed out by Schwartz in which she has seen vehicles disregarding posted signs.

Hohl also mentioned to the SCSO that another problem was citizens who fail to stop at crosswalks on Pine St.

• The town council appointed Rozlyn Leslie to the town planning and zoning board.

• Animal control officer Julie Early gave her report for the month of March.

Early reported seven dogs being picked up, five of which were claimed. According to Early, the department received $165 for impoundments and $270 for dog tags.

• Municipal Court Judge Ruth Neely reported to the council that 56 tickets had been issued by the SCSO from Jan. 1-March 31, 26 of which were parking tickets.

“The Sheriff’s Office is doing a great job with parking tickets,” she said.

Neely also said 12 speeding tickets had been issued, nine of which were on Pine Street.

• Whinnery gave the Sheriff’s Report and informed the council that a juvenile male serial burglar was apprehended last week.

Whinnery said the juvenile was caught due to footprints in the snow leading to his home.