YODER – The monthly Yoder Town Council meeting was called to order by mayor Norm Feagler a few minutes after 7 p.m. on Monday, May 12. In attendance were town clerk Lillian Green, maintenance supervisor, Rod Weyrich and council members Amanda Fogle, Bob Oaks and Jenna Krul. Legal counsel, Colby Sturgeon, appeared via Zoom. Josh Haffner, council membe,r was absent. 

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, a motion was made to approve the evening’s agenda, which passed and carry. A motion was also made to accept April’s meeting minutes which was quickly seconded and the motion carried. 

The council moved on to the approval of April’s bills which included AFLAC, community building refunds and Pinnacle Bank. Fogle motioned to accept the bills, Krul provided the second and the motion carried by vote. 

During public comment, there were no speakers so the council moved on to new business.

The council approved the second reading of ordinance #176, dealing with the burning of garbage and waste, formally ordinance number 37. Oaks motioned to accept the second reading which was seconded by Fogle. The motion carried by vote.

Under new business, the council heard from Deb Grandy of Wyoming Child and Family Development. Grandy had submitted information to attend April’s meeting but was unable to attend. 

“We are here to ask that you consider giving us your traditional amount of $500 to support our match funds,” Grandy said. 

“Basically, last year, we served 105 children with developmental services including speech and any OT/PT that they might need. We go out into the community and serve those needs in LaGrange, Yoder, Lingle, Fort Laramie. We just got our May count numbers and our numbers are going up to 205 right now for next year that are going to be needing services so any and all funds that you’re willing to share are very helpful for us to meet our federal match,” Grandy said.

The council then moved to donate the traditional donation to the center last month, when it appeared on the agenda. 

Next, the council heard from TextMyGov. 

Members of the council listened to the information provided regarding a texting company. It was noted the company was about six years old and they had been working with government municipalities since. It was noted more and more people are using texting as a method of communication. The representative noted one thing municipalities like about the company is it is easy to use, noting residents won’t need to download an app or create and account. The presentation continued for some time before Feagler thanked the representative for his presentation.

The council then moved on to the second budget reading. Green noted there was a change made an adjustment to work on the water tower. She noted she budgeted in extra in case repairs be needed. She also noted she adjusted places in the budget which were not calculated correctly. Green further explained the WAM information would be adjusted at the final meeting. Green noted a special meeting date be set in June. A date of June 23 was set and a motion was made to approve the second reading of the budget. 

Under new business, the council also discussed a building permit. Weyrich noted he had shown the homeowner where the property line is. The owners are wanting to move their fence. A motion was made, second and carried by vote to accept the building permit.

Next, Feagler spoke to the council on the Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) report. 

“Well, to start with, Rod had a question about the long-term integrity of the entire water system of Yoder. That includes our wells and pipes and the whole bit and so in November of last year, the council approved a resolution to follow up on that study to see what can be done,” Feagler explained. 

He further continued, it was discovered the town never had a water masterplan. 

“We’ve never had a masterplan to go over our entire system to see whether we had weaknesses or if it was okay. Because we’re looking at 20 years down the future, or 25 because of the school and the residents,” Feagler said. 

Feagler and Weyrich agreed to approach the WWDC to seek a level one study of the entire system. Feagler noted it was a multiple-year study. Feagler explained the WWDC voted to give Yoder the funding for the study. Fealger noted the WWDC will provide them with a list of engineers to do the study. Feagler explained there would be a cost share with the study. 

“Only if we do a project later on,” Weyrich noted. “Right now, we already paid like $1,000 to do this study. Now they’ll do a study for us and if it looks like we can fix one of the old wells that’s out there or that one new well that didn’t have anything in it, we might look at that. They’ve got to go through that level one study.”

After a bit more discussion, the council then moved on to old business where Green spoke about Wyoming Class. Green reported she had researched other towns who use the services and they are pleased with it.

Krul made a motion to move the town’s accounts in WyoStar, due to interest rates, to Wyoming Class which was seconded by Fogle. The motion carried.

Next the council discussed spring clean-up. Feagler noted the dates would be May 30 through June 2. It was noted the dumpsters would be in the same location as last year. 

Green also presented an update on the town’s welcome packet. The council noted once those minor changes were made, Green could print them off. 

Under maintenance items, Weyrich noted the only big project would be on the water system. He noted he has been mowing. 

The council then heard form Sturgeon. Sturgeon explained there had been a letter about public records request from a law firm in Cheyenne. He noted the request had been sent to many different municipalities. Green and Sturgeon don’t believe the town was connected to whatever they are searching for.

“Lillian [Green] had done her homework. I guess they had sent that to all 99 municipalities,” Sturgeon noted. “I don’t think that we have done anything with them. But I tell you, I’m kind of covering our bases.”

Sturgeon further explained he had told Green and any other town employee tracking down information to keep track of their time so they could submit a bill to the law firm. 

Sturgeon also spoke to the council on dirt bikes in town. Sturgeon noted he had spoken to the county attorney and Goshen County Sheriff’s Deputy Herb Irons about the issue. According to their conversations, Sturgeon advised the council driving dirt bikes in town, without a license, was driving without a license. 

“It’s unlicensed drivers from unlicensed vehicles on public streets,” Sturgeon explained noted the county attorney and sheriff’s office would help however needed.

Sturgeon further noted he would suggest cleaning up the proposed letter to town residents and sending it out. 

In absence of Justin Burkart, emergency manager/grant coordinator, the council moved on to administrative items. 

Green noted the office will be closed for Memorial Day on May 26. Weyrich and Green noted the other city employee should have access to a debit card. 

A motion was made to give the other employee access to the charge account through certain businesses and access to a debit card, with a limit, by Fogle which was seconded by Oaks. The motion carried by vote. 

Green noted the town would be testing the tornado warning siren on Wednesday, June 11 at 11 a.m. and Wednesday, July 23 at 11 a.m.

With no further business, Feagler adjourned the meeting. The next Yoder Town Council meeting will be held on Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m.