Late night bar opening for Mustang Days may return

With a request for the Lovell Town Council to allow the raising of chickens within city limits filling the council chambers with interested spectators on April 8, most of the nearly 40 citizens left after the council scheduled a public meeting on the matter for April 29 (see story on April 10), but a few remained as the council went about its regular business.

One of those who stayed was Audrey of Aud’s Four Corners, who had proposed and was monitoring the progress of an ordinance reinstating one late-night opening for liquor establishments during Mustang Days.

The late-night opening in Lovell was allowed and held in Lovell for many years but revoked a couple of years ago. Bay then approached the council recently about allowing the practice once again, and an ordinance was drafted.

Passed on first reading April 8, Ordinance 1020 would add a subsection to the Town Code to allow holders of a town liquor license to extend hours of operation until 4 a.m. and the bar cleared of people other than owners and employees by 5 a.m., once a year during Mustang Days. A written application must be presented before June 1, and once approved, the application would apply to all license holders in Lovell.

Second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, with a third reading to follow.

Arbor Day

The council on April 8 noted two proclamations issued by Mayor Tom Newman. The first declares Thursday, May 1, as Arbor Day in Lovell as part of the Tree City USA program of which Lovell has been a part for many years.

The proclamation reads, in part, that “trees can be a solution to combatting climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling costs, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing life-giving oxygen and providing habitat for wildlife.”

Lovell Elementary School is planning a special tree planting on May 1 to commemorate Arbor Day.

Mayor Newman also issued a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. The proclamation stresses that effective child abuse prevention activities succeed “because of the partnerships created (among) child welfare professionals, education, health, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies and families,” adding, “We acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and contribute to promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable and nurturing environment.”

Budget time

The council and administration have begun the process of forging a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, holding meetings and working on numbers. The council on April 8 passed two budget ordinances by title: Ordinance 1021, setting the annual tax levy of 8 mills for the next fiscal year and Ordinance 1022, the annual appropriation for ’25-26.

The council also passed Budget Resolution 2025-2 to reallocate funds in the current budget to needed areas. The resolution reallocates funds in the Parks, Streets, Garbage, Sewer and Water budgets, taking money in certain areas that are operating under budget and shifting them to other areas within departments so that funds can be expended in the current budget for equipment purchases that now will not have to be carried over to the next fiscal year budget, town administrator Jed Nebel said.

The needed equipment includes some fleet vehicles and a utility vehicle.

Surplus property

Nebel presented a list of surplus town property to be sold on a bid basis. The list is being advertised for three weeks, and sealed bids will be taken until noon on Friday, May 2, at town hall. All of the items are sold “as is” and have no warranties.

The list includes three vehicles, a garbage truck, welding trailer and welder, a backpack blower, fiberglass picnic tables and more. See the full list in this week’s newspaper.

Park project change order

The council considered a change order request from Phase 2 of the Constitution Park Project with Midway Construction and Dirt Work in the amount of $19,670 for five items: an ADA parking area and a sidewalk from the splash pad to the parking area; a large concrete walking path from the picnic pavilion to the skate park; a sidewalk from the walking path turnaround to the restrooms; a sidewalk from the asphalt walking path to the soon-to-be-built amphitheater; and gravel between the softball fence and the walking path that reaches the west dugout.

Nebel said the town has the money available for the change order under the grant, noting that the project is well under budget. The council voted to approve the change order.

In other action April 8:

• The council voted to accept the Northeast Park Concession Stand Use Agreement with the local Little League Baseball organization, which allows Little League to use the facilities at the Northeast Little League Baseball Complex.

• The council voted to approve continuing a cleaning agreement with Madison Hunder for town parks for 2025.

• Clerk/treasurer Colleen Tippetts presented an application for crime insurance through the Wyoming Association of Risk Management program. The council voted to approve the application.

• Nebel presented an agreement with the Western States Fire Protection Co. to provide an annual inspection of the Lovell Community Center alarm system. The council voted to approve the agreement pending review by legal counsel.

• The council approved a credit application to be submitted to Dana Kepner Company, LLC for Sensus water meters and supplies.

• Nebel reminded the council of the public meeting regarding the mountain bike trail system project set for tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. at the community center.

• Public works director Adrin Mayes informed the council that TCT West and Grover Construction were to begin fixing alleys that need to be repaired following the installation of fiber optic line.