Town Council supports budget requests

by Stephen Crane

As the new fiscal year approaches for Pinedale’s 2009-2010 budget, the Town Council heard allocation requests from a variety of local organizations at the meeting on Monday night.

This year’s requests total $94,140 from Pinedale’s annual budget, and range from $1,500 to $25,000. All received support from the council.

“We have all of the budget requests in written form,” said Mayor Stephen Smith to open the discussion. “So if you’d like to come forward and give a very brief summary of your budget request, the amount, and what you hope to do with it.”

Paul Jensen, representing Rendezvous Pointe, was first to take the floor, where he thanked the council for its continued support and requested $25,000 for future services.

The Rural Health Care Board, which provided $12,000 in financial assistance to Rendezvous Pointe last year for its blood draw, was unable to contribute to this year.

“So your contribution will be particularly crucial and very much appreciated,” said Jensen.

Terrie Swift, representing the Sublette County Chamber of Commerce, requested $4,000 to supplement the $1,000 from the chamber for the 15-minute fireworks display on July 11, during this year’s Rendezvous Days festival.

“We added fireworks to our programming last year,” said Swift. “And it ended up being a great family event. This year, we do not have enough in the budget to cover the entire cost.”

Forest Wakefield, who is the president of the chamber, followed Swift’s request with one of his own — a financial contribution to assist with the formation of a new local group called the Sublette County Economic Resource Council.

“The idea for this group came from the basic premise that Sublette County provides the state of Wyoming a disproportionate amount of revenue,” said Wakefield.

The group would facilitate the acquisition of that revenue through available state grants and economic programs.

A full-time grant writer would be hired to spearhead the process, which local small businesses, entrepreneurs and municipalities could utilize.

The Discovery Center was next, requesting $11,640 to assist the center with utility and transportation costs.

The Sublette County Sexual Assault and Family Violence Task Force (SAFV) requested $3,000 for administrative costs that are not covered by state and federal grants.

The SAFV has seen a 42 percent increase in its business this past year, underscoring the vital role it plays in the community.

The Pinedale Fine Arts Council approached the council, hoping to secure $11,500, which is the amount that was given in last year’s budget. The money will be used for the upcoming summer shows that are often free to the public.

Martha Ptasnik also came before the council on behalf of the Learning Center, requesting $10,000 that will be used for specialized training and other operations of the center, which currently has 93 children involved, including 53 with special needs.

The chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Wyoming, David Block, and local organizer Maureen Hutchinson, were on hand to secure $15,000 for the local volunteer office, which will be used to maintain and secure the infrastructure needed for disaster relief.

The local office has 17 volunteers, who have been trained in various disaster scenarios and are capable of providing essential services for up to 100 people.

This year will mark the 73rd year of the Rendezvous Pageant, which brought Dennis Fornstrom to the council requesting $1,500 in order to assist in the advertising campaign.

Not present, but also requesting funds from the council was the Sage and Snow Garden Club, which is hoping to secure $1,500 from the park budget.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters also requested $2,500.

Also:

— Resolution 2009-10, which is the new reimbursement and credit card policy for town employees, got unanimous approval from the Town Council.

The resolution details the type of expenses for which the town will reimburse employees, as well as the occasions when the town credit cards may be used.

It also clarifies the notification process for any emergency or inadvertent charges.

— Treatment Court Coordinator Kathy Anderson approached the council with a revised draft of the proposed Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance.

“Last time we were here, we presented a draft of chapter 5.04, Alcoholic Beverages,” said Anderson. “We thought we would give you a couple of weeks to review it and see if you had any questions on it.”

Members of the council verbalized their support of the proposed ordinance, which town attorney Ed Wood will now draft, specific to Pinedale.

— Mayor Smith will be traveling to Washington D.C. next week for meetings on the local environmental issues associated with energy development.

“Originally, I was scheduled to meet with some of the top federal officials, the Forest Service, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), to discuss the air quality and ozone (issues),” said Smith.

When news of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act surfaced in recent days, the mayor has gotten “a lot of people that’ve called me, sent e-mails.”

He therefore contacted Representative Cynthia Lummis’ office, and was invited to attend the hearing on May 5, where he will provide the congressional subcommittee with local comments and concerns.

— The council voted to approved resolution 2009-09, which will close a half-block section of Tyler Street, between Pine and Magnolia Street, every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

The closure will provide space for a Farmer’s Market, which will take place every Sunday from May 15 until Oct. 15.

— The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) donated a 2006 Dodge Ram to the town of Pinedale.

The SCSO also recently acquired two iris scanners that can be used as a faster alternative to fingerprint identification.

— The municipal court has seen a year-to-date decrease of 48 percent, and March in particular saw a year-to-date decrease of 69 percent.

— In a 3-1 vote, in which councilman Dave Smith opposed, the council approved $480,000 for the change order to replace the swales on the sewer project in southwest Pinedale.

— The council voted to provide a total of $2,004 for residents on Shanley Ave. who had to thaw their pipes this winter.