The Town of Lovell would like public input concerning a proposed ban on texting while driving that was brought to the town council’s attention during last Tuesday’s September council meeting.
Chief of Police Nick Lewis came before the council at Tuesday’s meeting saying that he is growing increasingly concerned about people texting and talking on cell phones while driving.
“As chief, my obligation is to see something that’s a hazard to public health brought to your attention,” he said. “It’s extremely dangerous.”
He said he knows of at least two accidents in town where texting while driving likely played a role.
Lewis said he would like the council to consider an ordinance banning texting while driving or both texting and speaking on a cell phone while at the wheel. He passed out information about cell phone and texting laws across the country and noted that several states have banned the use of cell phones and/or portable electronic devices.
“Wyoming hasn’t addressed it successfully yet,” he said, although he passed out copies of ordinances enacted by both the cities of Cheyenne and Rock Springs, both of which allow hands-free devices, use of devices during an emergency and use at traffic lights.
Lewis called the danger “a known issue” and said he would like to see it addressed in town before a tragedy forces the council’s hand. At the very least, he said, he would like to see a texting ordinance, noting that texting forces the driver to look down at the screen on a phone to make sure words are correct. It’s a “far greater danger,” he said.
He noted that the federal government might ban the use of hand-held devices in the future and withhold federal highway funds if states do not follow suit.
Lewis said he has been asking around town about the idea of banning texting and has received a favorable response, but he said he knows enforcement will be a key.
The chief asked the council to consider at least starting the process and obtain public input.
Salvia ban
Lewis also asked the council to consider a ban on the hallucinogenic herb Salvia A, which is becoming increasingly popular across the country. He said he has been researching the effects of the plant and noted that the City of Worland has passed a ban on the use or possession of the drug, known as Salvia Divinorum or Salvia A.
Lewis said salvia produces effects that are like LSD in short bursts, and he said he was able to buy the product locally. He said the drug is often smoked but can be used in other forms, as well. He said salvia impairs driving.
“I equate this to (using) canned air,” Lewis said. “It follows along the same lines. Young adults are using it, along with some older adults, though not as frequently.”
He said the effects – people “not functioning at all” -- can be viewed on YouTube.com. He said people he knows have said their kids had obtained salvia, though it has mostly been an issue that is “under the radar.” He said it is becoming “more and more popular” and that teenagers are being targeted.
Lewis said the drug is so new that he has a lot of questions about it such as how to test for it, adding that he wants to see what the state crime lab knows about it. He said he also wants to check with Worland to see what they are doing.
“I need to educate myself and then educate you folks,” he said.
Disaster plan
Councilman Scott Allred, who is also the North Search and Rescue Squad captain, told the council that Big Horn County Emergency Management – as explained in a letter from county Emergency Management Coordinator John Hyde – has requested assistance from municipalities to re-do the county pre-disaster mitigation plan, which expired in 2008.
The county was not aware of the consequences of the plan expiring, Allred said, and is now in a “Catch 22” situation: the county needs money to develop the plan but because the plan has expired, it cannot apply for grant money to perform the work. He said it will cost from $15,000 to $20,000 to develop the new plan, and once in place, the plan would make the county eligible for federal money to mitigate the effects of local disasters.
Either way, he said, the county could use a better plan and is asking local towns and agencies to assist with the funding. Once the new plan has been developed, it would be easy for the Town of Lovell to modify the plan to suit Lovell’s needs, Allred said.
Lovell’s share would be $2,500, he said.
Town Administrator Bart Grant said the money would have to come out of the special projects budget, which would bump some other projects.
“I think it’s well worth it,” Councilman Bruce Wolsey said and made the motion to appropriate up to $2,500 for the pre-disaster mitigation plan. The motion passed unanimously.
In other business Sept. 8:
• The council passed Resolution 2009-16 stating that the Town of Lovell understands and will comply with the state law regarding the town’s responsibilities for cleaning and maintaining storm sewers and streets in town, including snow removal. The Wyoming Dept. of Transportation will contribute $20 per citizen in the town limits to help with the effort.
• The council voted to authorize Mayor Bruce Morrison to sign a letter stating that the town has no concerns with a proposed simple subdivision east of town if it is found that the subdivision is further than one mile from the town limits.
• The council passed on second reading Ordinance 897 authorizing the sale and issuance of general obligation water and sewer bonds in the principal amount of $3.3 million for the town water and sewer infrastructure project and Ordinance 898 authorizing the issuance and sale of water and sewer revenue bonds  in the principal amount of $548,000 for the same ongoing project.
• Grant reported that he had reviewed various pavement mixes for the community center parking lot and recommended staying with the higher quality design mix specified in the bid because, although it is more costly, the parking lot would last much longer with the better mix. He said Mountain Construction expressed concern about the drainage once the paving is completed. The council discussed drainage improvements and directed Grant to work with the Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality to obtain the necessary permits.
• Grant reported that work at the East Little League Baseball complex is progressing, with the restroom building roof nearly finished, doors to be installed soon, the sprinkler system up and running, parking lot work under way, the pavilion finished, roofs on the dugouts to be done soon and work about to commence on the fence next to the canal.
• Grant said curb and gutter in the Legacy Subdivision would be completed soon and that paving should begin around Sept. 21.
• Frank Page of DOWL/HKM reported on the progress of the Southwest/Transmission Line water and sewer project and noted that the Shoshone Avenue water line from Main to Seventh had been pressure tested and that bacteria testing was also under way in the new line. He noted that the public might want to see a section of ductile cast iron water pipe removed from Shoshone Avenue with large holes in it – evidence of the condition of the town system, necessitating the water and sewer project.
Page said bids for the Safe Routes to School portion of the project were to be opened Monday at 2 p.m. with construction to be done next summer. He said Shoshone Avenue parking would be back to normal at the school soon, but in the future, Chief Lewis noted, the curb in front of the school would be a pick-up and drop-off zone only, with parallel parking.
The council set a special meeting and work meeting for Monday, Sept. 28, following a public hearing on the renewal of liquor licenses, which is scheduled for 7 p.m.