TORRINGTON –The Torrington City Council convened on Tuesday, May 6, to conduct regular monthly business. In attendance were mayor Herb Doby, council members Rick Warren, Shane Viktorin, Dennis Kelly and Wayne Deahl. Doby called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by Warren.

Moving on to the mayor’s informational items, Doby commented on spring cleanup. Doby noted cleanup is from Saturday May 3 to Saturday, May 10 and he encouraged citizens to bring their garbage to the bailer from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. He also explained the bailer would be open Saturday, May 10, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. A city bill is required, with a sanitation charge, and a valid ID. Doby stated there was a limit to five tires without rims per household – no commercial tires, heavy truck tires or equipment tires are allowed. No hazardous chemicals or paints will be accepted. Doby also stated more information is available on the city website.

“Tonight, I’ll be asking council to approve my signing at three proclamations and related to services provided by the City of Torrington, in honor and support of the dedicated, skilled hard hard-working city employees who provide these services. I, as mayor, along with the city council, are charged by law with protecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Torrington and all who visit here. The city has approximately 100 employees and many more during the summer season. The different departments include administration, airport, ambulance, cemetery, city shop, electric, emergency management, engineering, fire department, golf, internet technology, buildings and grounds, maintenance, metering, museum, parks and sports fields, police department, purchasing, safety, streets and sanitation, swimming pool and water and sewer departments,” Doby stated. “The city is a big machine with a lot of moving parts that all work together for the benefit of the health, safety and welfare of all of us. I’d like to say that the city provides many of the services necessary to allow us to live a civilized life.”

The mayor went on to recognize Darren Yates, the executive director of the city’s emergency medical services and his dedicated staff. He also mentioned Tom Troxel, city water operations supervisor and Chris Powell, water/wastewater development foreman for their dedication and skills, further noting that he would also be proclaiming drinking water week for the city of Torrington.

“Tonight, I will also be proclaiming National Public Works Week, which covers all of our city employees. Many thanks to all of them,” Doby said. “As always, please slow down. Please drive carefully. Please watch out for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycles and scooters and please do not text while driving.”

“With sadness, I do announce the passing of former county commissioner, John Ellis, who has passed away last Friday,” Doby said. “Our prayers go out to his loved ones.”

Doby noted Ellis’ service would be on Wednesday, May 14, at 1 p.m. at the Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church.

A motion was then quickly made by Kelly to accept the consent agenda, which included the minutes from the April 14 council meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Deahl and the motion then carried by vote. 

An amendment was made to the agenda under item eight; to reflect a recent email, Victorian made a motion to accept the evening’s agenda and Deahl provided a second. Victorian clarified the email the council had received.

“Mr. Mayor, I would move to amend the agenda and subsequently approve with the corrected staff recommendation as delivered to us via e-mail,” Viktorin said. 

The motion carried by vote and the agenda was carried. 

The council moved on to public forum where non-agenda items can be brought to the council. Doby noted guests have a limit of two minutes and the speaker must sign up before the meeting. He also stressed the forum is a time for the council to listen and no action will be taken. With no public participants, the council moved on to the action items of the agenda. 

Under action item one, the council discussed official voting for a delegate and alternate for the 2025 Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) summer convention business meeting to be held on June 12 in Cheyenne. Victorian motioned to approve Doby as the official voting delegate and Deahl as the alternate voting delegate. Warren seconded the motion, which carried by vote. 

Under item two, the mayor appointed Bobbi Dockins to the health insurance committee, investment committee, wage committee and the performance management committee. Deahl made the motion and Kelly provided the second. 

“I want to congratulate Bobbi Dockins. She is our new deputy treasurer. She will replace Chris Nichol, who resigned. We do we have a new deputy treasure, Bobbi Dockins,” Doby said. “And these merely put Bobbi into those committees as Chris was.”

Under item number three, Leann Mattis with Go Goshen spoke to the council regarding a special event permit. Mattis requested the city approve the summer concert events which are scheduled to be held on May 28, June 11, June 25 and July 9 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the intersection of East A Street and East 21st Avenue. 

Torrington Police Chief Matt Johnson explained to the council Go Goshen was requesting the permit to hold their annual concerts on the courthouse lawn. Johnson noted the event has minimal impact but provides great entertainment. He further stated portions of 21st Avenue would be closed at 3 p.m. It was also mentioned food trucks would be on site. In total, Go Goshen would be spending $800 on the series of permits required for the event, Johnson stated. He expressed Go Goshen would be required to reimburse any extra hourly wages for city employees affected. He noted businesses had been contacted. He also explained this was the second year the concerts had been held in the requested location. Johnson also noted there would be a roped-off area where the alcohol was being sold. Mattis further explained the concert lineup up noting on May 28, Loaded Dice is scheduled to play. It was noted there were complaints about the food truck generators, but not the band. Mattis noted the concert series was the main fundraiser for Go Goshen. Mattis explained Go Goshen would like to begin an adopt-a-planter on Torrington’s main street with some of the proceeds. 

With a little bit more discussion, Viktorin made a motion to approve the special events permits with the stipulated fees. Kelly seconded the motion and then it carried by vote. 

Under item four, Doby presented a proclamation proclaiming May 4 -10, 2025, as drinking water week. Doby read the proclamation and Deahl made a motion to approve the order. Kelly provided the second. The motion carried by vote and the proclamation was signed. 

Doby presented another proclamation proclaiming May 18-24, 2025, as National Public Works Week. A motion was made by Viktorin authorizing the mayor to sign the order, which was then seconded by Kelly. The motion carried and Doby signed the proclamation. 

Under item six of the action items, Doby presented the third proclamation, which would proclaim May 18-24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week. A motion was then made by Deahl to accept the proclamation. Warren seconded the motion and the motion then carried and the proclamation will be signed. 

Moving on to item seven, the council heard a pond number one cleaning request. Chris Powell spoke to the council regarding the request. 

“Tonight, on the agenda, I wanted to get your approval for moving forward with the budget amendment for our pond cleaning. You all had a chance to read my email in reference to that. Our plans, the initial plan was to clean that later on this year,” Powell explained. “Anyway, we are going to move forward but we would like to move forward a little sooner so we can get it on schedule a little faster with the cleaning company.”

Powell noted there is between 18 and 24 inches of sludge in the pond, which is interrupting the diffusers and starting to affect the treatment of the pond. Powell noted the costs would be approximately $300,000. Powell requested the expense be moved to this fiscal year. 

“Because we were putting it in the budget anyway this year, we were going to put it – but we’d like to move forward faster to spend that money and get a contract set up now with a company to do it,” Powell said. “So, a lot of times there are three or four months out on scheduling so we wanted to get moving forward a little faster with that schedule work now.”

After a bit more discussion on the age of the pond, a motion was made by Deahl to approve the cleaning request which was seconded by Kelly. With no further discussion, the motion carried by vote. 

Under item eight of action items, the council discussed addendum number three to the agreement for professional services with M.C. Schaff and Associates. The item was previously amended to include information from an email the council members received. Mayor Doby read the amended item for clarification. 

“Addendum number three to the agreement for professional services with M.C. Schaff and Associates. Staff recommends approval of addendum number three to the agreement for professional services with M.C. Schaff and Associates in the not-to-exceed amount of $135,015 for engineering services. The material testing costs are estimated to be $13,717 during the design phase and $8,80 during the inspection phase for a total cost of $157,612,” Doby read, calling on the director of public works, Jeff Harkins.

Harkins, director of public works, spoke to the council, providing some background information regarding the project. 

“Addendum number three is for the design, bidding, construction, oversight and closeout services for the Torrington airport apron and taxiway C pavements. This project is a mild overlay of the existing asphalt areas on the general aviation footprint and taxiway C pavement,” Harkins explained. “It will also include new aircraft tied down with pavement markings and a sketch of the area is provided in your packet on the map. As part of the FAA’s requirement, we had to perform an independent fee estimate.”

Harkins noted the estimate was from a company in Lincoln. He also explained they were able to negotiate with M.C. Schaff and Associates.

“As you can see on the memo that I attached, the breakdown of the project cost funding is 97.5% reimbursable. FAA will contribute 95% of the cost. WYDOT will contribute 2.5% of the cost,” Harkins explained. “And the city will contribute the remaining 2.5% of the cost, which is just under $4,000 for the engineering part of it. The current construction project estimate is about $1.4 million for this project, which is also 97.5% reimbursable. So, the city’s share of that would be approximately $35,000 and a $1.4 million contract. Funds are going to be requested obviously, in the fiscal year 26 budget. The proposed schedule is project bidding will probably take place this June 2025.” 

Harkins anticipated construction work to begin in the spring of 2026, with a final acceptance in the summer or fall of 2026. 

“These are the ones I can’t help but like because the FAA is paying the lion’s share of this, along with WYDOT. Those two together are paying 97.5%, right of what we’re doing tonight?” Doby asked Harkins.

“Correct,” Harkins responded. 

With a brief discussion, a motion was made by Viktorin to accept the addendum number three to the agreement for professional services, which was seconded by Deahl. The motion carried by vote. 

Moving on to item nine under action items, the council heard the second reading of an ordinance relating to the City of Torrington’s employee compensation management process. Lynette Strecker, city clerk/treasurer, noted there were some words cleaned up in the policy. Dealh made a motion to accept the second reading, which was seconded by Viktorin. With no further discussion, the motion carried.

Under item ten, the council heard from Stricker, who presented two sets of bills to the council for approval. After a brief discussion on a few items listed, the council moved on to approve the bills from April 16, 2025, to May 6, 2025. Kelly motioned to accept the bills, which was seconded by Dealh.

The council moved on to the public comment portion of the meeting.

Torrington Fire Chief, Luis Correa, spoke to the council, stating the department had been fairly busy. He further noted there had been grass fires due to the dry conditions. The department also assisted in a motor vehicle accident. Correa mentioned the state fire convention would be held in June in Torrington. 

Johnson also spoke to the council regarding International Firefighter Appreciation Day, which was May 4. 

“Our partners in the fire service, frankly, get cheated because they get one day of the whole year and other first responders get a whole week. Frankly, they deserve our appreciation every day, not just one,” Johnson told the council. “We are so fortunate in our community and our county to have volunteer firefighters who provide amazing professional service.”

Johnson thanked Correa and his department.

Dennis Estes, buildings and grounds superintendent, provided a report on the city pool. 

“Just to give you an update, [the] pool is finished. Mikes [Lira] got everything pretty much working. They’ve been working on the heater for the last two days,” Estes said.

Estes further noted the heater was having the same issues as it had before with a sensor. Doby commented on how quickly the crew moved, noting they worked through the wind and winter. Estes explained the city should be able to open the pool Memorial Day weekend.

“That company just seems amazingly well organized and knowledgeable,” Doby said.

With nothing further to discuss, the council moved on to item 12, where they entered into an executive session to discuss possible litigation. The meeting adjourned thereafter.