YODER – Mayor Norm Feagler called the Monday, October 13 meeting of the Yoder City Council to order at 7 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance followed thereafter. In attendance were council members Jenna Krul, Josh Haffner and Amanda Fogle. Lillian Green, town clerk/treasurer and Matt Smith, town maintenance were also present at the meeting. Town attorney, Colby Sturgeon attended via Zoom and town maintenance supervisor Rod Weyrich appeared via phone. Council member Bob Oaks and Justin Burkart, grant coordinator were absent.
Fogle made a motion to approve the evening’s agenda, which was seconded by Haffner. The motion carried and the agenda was approved as presented. Next, Fogle made a motion to approve the September meeting minutes as presented. Krul seconded the motion and the motion carried. A motion was also made by Fogle to approve the bills for September, including Aflac, Timberline and Wyrulec. The motion was seconded by Haffner and then it carried by vote. Green noted there would be an insurance adjustment to the Timberline bill due to insurance.
Next, the council moved on to public comment where there were no participants.
Moving on to new business, the council discussed a counterfeit policy for the town. Mayor Feagler called on Green for an explanation of the agenda item.
“So, when I was at WAMCAT, the fall institute, they were going over counterfeits and how it’s popping up a little bit more in our communities,” Green explained.
I kind of look through some of our policies and we actually don’t have any of them right now for counterfeit. According to the laws, we do have to inform secret service and/or our local law enforcement. We cannot give that bill back to them, if we do get a counterfeit one.”
Green noted she was just wanting to get something in place for if the town does receive a counterfeit bill. The council agreed to add information regarding counterfeit bills to their non-sufficient funds policy regarding checks for the town. Green noted she does have the capability of a black light and a counterfeit pen.
Continuing on with new business, the council discussed a building permit at 303 Shuck Street.
“My question for this is why we even need to have a building permit for something that’s to do something for handicapped people?” Haffner asked. “In this situation, I don’t believe that it needs to have a building application, but I approve the building application for 303 Shuck Street. I don’t think, I don’t know if this is something we can do in the future for anybody that’s disabled. They should not have to come to anybody to build something for them to get into their home.”
After a brief discussion on what would be taxed through the county as an additional building, Feagler noted he would contact the county assessor’s office for more information.
Haffner made a motion to approve the building permit for 303 Shuck Street and Fogle seconded the motion. After a bit of discussion, Feagler called for a vote. The motion carried.
Next, the council moved on to old business the council heard a Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) update.
“I just want the council to know what we did,” Feagler said. “September 24, four of us met. Lillian, Rod and I went to the capital building in relationship to the WWDC. We have done different water projects in Yoder like a well, tower and waterlines. But we’ve never had a master policy plan that encompasses the entire water system. It was recommended that we do that.”
Feagler reported that Yoder’s town council met in Cheyenne to review water master plan proposals from three engineering firms. They selected the firm that personally visited Yoder and inspected the water system with Rod, demonstrating a hands-on approach.
The main concern is securing water for the next 20 years. Lightning recently damaged two wells, including Well #3, which taps the depleting Chadron Aquifer. Well #5, over 1,000 feet deep in the Lance Creek Aquifer, currently provides good water. The engineering firm will determine the most economical solution: continue using Well #3, develop a nearby test well, or drill Well #3 deeper into the Lance Creek Aquifer.
While the town also needs to address aging valves and fire hydrants, the priority is establishing a reliable water source first. The Level 1 study includes cost analysis, and depending on findings and funding, the project may advance directly to Level 3. The selected firm plans to hold community meetings and is highly engaged with the town.
Moving on to the old business item of the Chugwater wind energy project, Yoder officials are preparing to request impact assistance funding at a Wednesday meeting with county commissioners at 1 p.m. Town staff have compiled funding applications addressing various community needs and workforce concerns, drawing on information gathered at a recent WAMCAT conference.
Town representative Justin Burkart will present Yoder’s requests at the meeting. The applications have been prepared and are under final review by council members before submission.
A separate application for a road grader has already been filed under the town’s name and will be handled independently from this request.
Officials acknowledged uncertainty remains about funding requests that involve both the town and fire district due to overlapping jurisdictional responsibilities but expect to resolve those details with the fire district.
Town leaders expressed optimism about the process, noting that even if the full request isn’t granted, commissioners have discretion to approve partial funding. In a previous funding request, Yoder received most of what they asked for, with commissioners reducing only specific items they had concerns about.
The meeting is open to the public at the Goshen County Commissioners’ room.
Next, the council moved on to WyoClass account update, an old business item.
Haffner made a motion to move the WyoClass account, which was seconded by Fogle. Before calling for a vote, Feagler noted the account would require two signatures. In calling for a vote, the motion carried and the council approved moving the funds.
Next, Smith provided a town maintenance report in absence of Weyrich.
“Just that we closed up our summer projects last week, finishing the sewers and the lift station and we’ll be getting fall and winter projects here in the upcoming weeks,” Smith said.
Sturgeon also provided his report to the council.
Town officials finalized an easement agreement with a neighboring property owner that modifies previous deed restrictions. The original deed prohibited any construction on the property, but the new easement allows building with specific conditions.
Under the agreement, the town will maintain a five-foot setback requirement, retain authority over tree pruning on the property, and continue watering grass in the area – which may affect any structures built by the property owner.
Council members reviewed the easement language and confirmed it aligns with discussions held over the past several months. Town staff member Rod also approved the terms.
Officials noted that both parties will need to sign the agreement since it imposes limitations on the property owner. The council prepared to vote on the easement with no further questions raised.
A motion was made by Fogle to move forward with the easement agreement as presented which was seconded by Haffner. The motion carried in vote.
Under administrative items, Green spoke to the council about a grant report.
Haffner made a motion to close out the door installation grant, which Krul seconded. The motion then carried by vote.
Green also spoke to the council on the annual Trunk n’ Treat which will be held on Friday, October 31 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The meeting was then adjourned at 7:56 p.m. to reconvene on Monday, November 10 at 7 p.m.
