TORRINGTON – The Torrington City Council convened for its second October meeting on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. In attendance were Mayor Herb Doby and council members Wayne Deahl, Dennis Kelly, Dr. Richard Patterson, and Shane Viktorin. Mayor Doby called the meeting to order, and Deahl led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

During the time allotted for the Mayor’s Informational Items, Mayor Doby reiterated his previous admonition regarding the right, responsibility, and privilege of every citizen to vote. Early voting has already begun in advance of the general election on Tuesday, November 5. He reminded attendees that Goshen County voters will decide whether to continue the 1% county sales and use tax, which added over $1.25 million to the city’s general fund last year.

The consent agenda, with a correction for a small error, was approved after a motion from Viktorin and a second from Kelly. The agenda for the meeting was also approved after a motion from Patterson and a second from Deahl. There were no comments made during the public forum.

Scott Prusia, lodging tax board president, spoke to the council regarding the ballot measure to continue the additional county lodging tax. This tax is voted on every five years and was most recently approved by voters in 2020. The state lodging tax is currently set at 5%, with 3% retained at the state level and 2% given to counties. Last year, Goshen County received approximately $50,000 from the lodging tax. This vote is for an additional 2%, all of which will remain in Goshen County, accounting for an additional estimated $50,000. Prusia informed the council lodging taxes were up more than 20% this past year and are on track to continue increasing. With its budget, tax revenue, and additional grant funding, staff was able to update tourism literature and improve its online presence. The tax is typically paid by visitors from out of town, in contrast to other taxes largely borne by Goshen County residents.

Moving on to action items, the council first considered proposed updates to the special event permit application. City staff recommended streamlining language for clarity and adding bullet points to the top of the application clarifying the three fees associated with a special event permit: the application fee, the special event fee (which can be waived), and reimbursement for the cost of city services. After discussion, Patterson made a motion to accept the updated application. Viktorin seconded the motion, and the council passed it.

The second action item was a special event permit application submitted for the Trunk or Treat event scheduled for October 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Torrington Police Chief Matt Johnson and Leann Mattis reviewed the changes from prior years, including adding time to the event and a second entrance to aid with crowd flow. It is estimated that 800-1,000 children will attend the event. The council approved the application after a motion from Deahl and a second from Viktorin.

The council then moved into a public hearing regarding a request from Celine Rentas for a conditional use permit to operate a commercial daycare at 1765 West C Street. The property had previously been used for a daycare with a different operator, but the conditional use permit does not transfer to subsequent operators, so Rentas was required to request a new permit. The council noted the need for daycare options in Torrington. The public hearing period was closed after no comments for or against the permit. Patterson made a motion to approve the permit, which Deahl seconded, and the motion passed.

A brief second public hearing was held to address a request from the City of Torrington to approve the preliminary plat acting as the final plat for a vacation and re-plat of the East P Street second filing. City staff had met with affected property owners and informed all stakeholders of the changes. There had been some confusion over the details of the plat, but a survey had been conducted, and city staff was confident in the accuracy of the plat. There were no public comments opposing the request. The request was approved after a motion from Viktorin and a second from Kelly.

Next, the council heard the first reading of the proposed update to the ordinance regarding sanitation fees.

The council had conducted a work session with city staff to review the initial proposal, and the reading included those updates along with additional changes resulting from feedback during that session. 

Proposed changes include charging $8 for additional roll-out trash cans, $40 for bulky item pickups beyond one per year, changes to the fees for roll-off containers, prohibiting other trash collection vendors from providing any services within city limits unless an emergency has been declared, changes to landfill tipping fees, codifying a 6% increase for all fees for 2027, and a 3% increase every year thereafter, as well as clarifying fees for tire disposal and crushed concrete delivery. 

The council then discussed the changes. 

Mayor Doby clarified the fees were generated by a software program called Waterworth, which assisted city staff in forecasting future revenue needs considering projected inflation, current assets, and future projects, including a significant project of moving baler services to the landfill. 

Concerns were raised that the community does not understand city sanitation is funded by an enterprise fund, meaning funds cannot be shifted from one department to another. Therefore, the revenue collected needs to be sufficient to sustain the sanitation department without coverage from other parts of the city budget. 

Mayor Doby asked when the 6% increases would occur, and city staff responded that the first would go into effect upon approval of the updated ordinance on January 1, 2025. The second 6% increase would occur in 2026, and the 3% increases would start in 2027, continuing automatically and indefinitely. 

Regarding the prohibition of outside vendors providing services within city limits, Kelly asked if there was a law protecting free enterprise the city would be violating. City staff responded there was no such law and that current ordinances and state statutes protect the city’s ability to provide services such as waste, sewer, and sanitation. 

There was discussion regarding the current arrangement where outside vendors are permitted to provide roll-off containers within city limits, while the city may provide roll-off containers within city limits and up to five miles outside of city limits. 

After the discussion period, Patterson made a motion to accept the first reading, which Deahl seconded, and the motion passed with a vote of four to one, with Viktorin voting nay.

The council then accepted a resolution to approve a municipal lease/purchase agreement, for which a request for financial services had been awarded in the previous city council meeting. The City of Torrington is taking out a loan from the West Leasing Company in the amount of $1,103,870 to reimburse itself after the purchase of a new Peterbilt trash truck and a new Caterpillar landfill compactor, which had been purchased and delivered in August 2024. Clerk/Treasurer Strecker stated that the financing was necessary to “fund those items because they don’t have enough money to pay for them outright.” 

The resolution was approved after a motion from Viktorin and a second from Kelly and was read into the minutes by Attorney Eddington.

The council approved the bills from October 2, 2024, through October 15, 2024, after a motion from Kelly and a second from Deahl. The public comment period was opened. Fire chief Luis Correa discussed school presentations made in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, upcoming fire alarm training, and a recent call to the middle school. Otherwise, he stated there have been relatively few calls. There were no other public comments.

The council then adjourned.

The next meeting for the Torrington City Council will be Tuesday, November 5 at 5:30 p.m.