Lovell council considers local business proposals

A pair of business proposals came before the Lovell Town Council during the regular November meeting at town hall last Tuesday, Nov. 11.

Willie Bridges of Pryor Mountain Engineering spoke to the council representing Don Davis, who owns land just west of town on a site known locally as the sugar farm and includes the large, white house currently being used as a bed and breakfast.

 Davis had come before the council two years ago to discuss a proposal to develop the land for housing and commercial property, asking the town to participate with him in the cost of boring under U.S. Highway 14A to bring water from the main on the north side of the highway to the property to be developed. At the time, it was estimated that the boring would cost around $60,000, and Davis was hoping the town would meet him halfway.

The subdivision is to be known as the Sugar Farm Estates, and Bridges said Davis is now planning to develop the land in two phases, the first being the half that abuts Wyoming Highway 32 and U.S. 14A. He said there would be 16 housing lots, plus commercial lots along the main highway.

Davis has financing in place, Bridges said, leveraging property he owns in Arizona, and he has Wilson Brothers Construction lined up to put in infrastructure for the lots starting in late January or early February. The lots would be approximately one acre in size, and in order to receive water from the town, Davis would need to sign an agreement to not contest any future annexation.

With no readily available sewer line adjacent to the property, the subdivision would run off a septic system, Bridges said. Questions also arose about whether the town could annex property not currently adjacent to land within the town limits.

Mayor Tom Newman said there are some aspects of the project to run by the town attorney, Alexa Rolin, but he said he likes the idea of expanding the town’s footprint.

The council had previously worried about committing money for the boring and then the project sitting undeveloped, but Bridges said the project is moving ahead, and town administrator Jed Nebel said the town could build in an extra amount per water tap, perhaps $1,000, that would pay the town back for the boring help over time.

Bridges said the estimated cost for boring remains $60,000, and when asked why Davis needs the financial help with that aspect of the development, he said it’s a matter of making the lots more affordable for prospective buyers.

The council did not make a decision during the meeting and was to discuss the matter further at a work meeting on November 19.

Purely Prepped

Earlier in the meeting during public comments, Madison Hecker and Riley Mickelson spoke to the council about using the kitchen at the Lovell Community Center for a take-and-bake business entitled Purely Prepped Take & Bake.

The business partners said they need a commercial kitchen for their product in order to be in compliance with State of Wyoming rules because their meals will include meat.

Perhaps anticipating a request like that from Hecker and Mickelson, Nebel and clerk/treasurer Colleen Tippetts approached the council one year ago with a proposal to establish the community center kitchen as a commercial kitchen that could be rented separately from the rest of the building. The council approved an initial fee and usage agreement they presented, but some aspects remained to be worked out. Nebel said.

Hecker and Mickelson propose to rent the kitchen one day per week to prepare and distribute the meals, which would then be baked at home. Their proposal is for “helping busy people eat well without the stress” of meal preparation, noting, “We prepare wholesome, home-cooked meals so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time where it matters most.

They said the meals would help busy families avoid serving fast food and takeout, which can be expensive and not very nutritious, adding, “Unhealthy options are often the most convenient. … Families spend a significant portion of their monthly budget on food that isn’t always healthy or affordable long-term. We believe we can change that by offering something both healthy and convenient here in town. Our take and bake meals are fully prepped, balanced and ready to pop in the oven.”

There may need to be some adjustments to and finalization of the usage agreement, Nebel said, including fees and agreement wording, and Rolin is working with the town on the language. The council was to discuss the proposal and the usage agreement at the November 19 work meeting.

Nebel reported on Lovell’s participation in the Wyoming Business Council Assessment to Action Group (A2A), a community driven process designed to identify and overcome challenges to building a strong, resilient local economy. Local members are Nebel, Cameron Miller, Jacob Newman, Bobbi Jo Senechal and Stacy Bair. He said the town needs a unified front on marketing and a tourism committee to move forward with ideas and projects.

Nebel also provided an update on the proposed Cottonwood Canyon Mountain Bike Trail project, saying that Wyoming Pathways has been extremely helpful in the process. He also said he would like to see the town increase its appropriation for the 2026 Mustang Days celebration, noting that the town has not increased its budgeted amount -- $2,500 – for many years.

In other action at the November 11 meeting:

• Rebecca Berner and Tommi Stewart of Interstate Engineering introduced themselves to the council in case the town would like to work with them on future projects, noting that they have 19 offices in five states including three in Wyoming in Sheridan, Buffalo and Sundance. Berner said the company focuses on small communities.

• The council decided to make public works director Adrin Mayes the contact for the Wyoming Dept. of Transportation on the agency’s Utility Company Contact Form as the person to contact if WYDOT has any questions about utilities.

• The council approved a boundary adjustment proposal with the Lovell-Kane Area Museum that would enable a subdivision of the property east of the Hyart Theatre and give the chamber of commerce building to the museum, though subleased through the Town of Lovell.

• Addressing a ballot for the Local Government Liability Pool board, the council voted for Jessica Weaver of Ranchester as a member of the board.