Council considering late night bar hours for Mustang Days

The Lovell Town Council breezed through a number of agenda items during the council’s regular monthly meeting on March 11.

The meeting began with a public hearing regarding the transfer of a retail liquor license from Janice F. Hillman and Debra Nordenstam, doing business as the Diamond J Bar and Lounge to Silver Spur Bar LLC, also doing business as the Diamond J. There were no public comments, and the council voted to approve the liquor license transfer.

With Mike and Audry Bay in attendance, town administrator Jed Nebel reported on the Bays’ request to allow extended hours and an early morning closing of local bars on the Saturday night/Sunday morning of Mustang Days, a practice in town for many years that was recently discontinued. The Bays had approached the council about reinstating the policy in 2025 on behalf of Aud’s Four Corners, and the policy change would apply to other establishments in town, as well.

Nebel said town attorney Alexa Rolin has been working with the language of a possible ordinance revision and that there should be something in place for the council to consider at the April 8 meeting.

Aud’s Four Corners also was considered for catering permits for three upcoming events at the Lovell Community Center, and the council approved all three: the FFA Banquet on April 5, the Ducks Unlimited Banquet on April 19 and the hospital foundation Evening with Friends event on April 26.

Nebel presented a request from the Lovell Lodging Tax Board for the 2025-26 budget for an allocation of lodging tax funds in the amount of $25,000. Nebel said some clarification was needed on certain line items to make sure the money would be used for area promotion.

Mountain bike trail

Nebel informed the council that he will be scheduling a public meeting in April about the proposed mountain bike trail east of Lovell in Cottonwood Canyon, noting that the town received a micro grant for construction documents and the project could be shovel ready by 2026. He also said he will be looking for people to serve on a committee for the Blueway water trail from Thermopolis to Bighorn Canyon that would work with the Big Horn Basin Outdoor Recreation Collaborative.

Nebel said he is also looking to establish a beautification committee in town.

In other business March 11:

• Tim Winland gave a report about the 2025 plans for the Foster Gulch Golf Course and presented a budget request for the 2025-26 fiscal year. (See story in the March 13 Chronicle.)

• A proposal from TextMyGov for a citizen texting service was discussed by the council, with members and the administration saying they didn’t see a need for the service. The agenda item died for lack of a motion.

• A request from Dylan Banks for a private fireworks show at Armory Park on July 4 was discussed and died for lack of a motion, with the council worried about holding a private event at a public park and setting precedent. Concern was also expressed about adjacent property catching on fire.

• Councilman Bob Mangus informed the council that the Hunt Canal Board is dealing with the need to cut trees along the canal on the north side of Lovell that are on private property but would create a hazard if they fall. He said the canal board plans to alleviate the problem gradually, working with landowners.