Safety near park called to council’s attention

Safety was on the mind of Lovell citizen Tyler Angell at the September 12 Lovell Town Council meeting as he spoke to the council about a concern he has for children at Armory Park.

Angell said he has noticed throughout the summer that, with increasing use of the park due to the addition of the new skate park and other facilities, kids are flocking to the park while drivers travel up and down Oregon Avenue. He said kids aren’t always paying attention in their excitement to get to the park on Sixth Street, and drivers are often in a hurry and may not see a child hurrying across the street.

He wondered if it would be wise for the town to put in a crosswalk or a flashing light, noting, “I’ve seen some pretty close calls.”

Councilman Bob Mangus agreed, saying, “It’s a big problem. Kids are coming down Sixth Street to get to the park and just run out there. They get to the intersection (at Oregon) and don’t look.”

Some drivers are speeding, too, Angell pointed out.

Town Administrator Jed Nebel said the town has a number of options including adding a stop sign, painting a crosswalk, putting in a crosswalk light like the light on Main and Shoshone, educating students and the public and decreasing the speed limit. He said there may be some grant money available for lights, and he will work with Chief of Police Dan Laffin on the issue.

The council passed a budget resolution to correct a line item in the sewer fund for electricity from $1,600 to $16,000, adding a line item in the police budget for cleaning and maintenance at the new police station and adding a new light pole at First and Big Horn.

Nebel discussed the use of remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds the town has remaining – around $55,000 – and mentioned various options. The council voted to use some of the money for a new salt shed for the public works department and use any remaining funds on an overage for the Armory Park Project.

Fall cleanup set

Town clerk/treasurer Colleen Tippetts presented a request for the fall cleanup, saying she has already seen lots of interest in the item at town hall. The council voted to hold the fall cleanup from Monday, Oct. 2, through Thursday, Nov. 30.

During the cleanup, residents may obtain a voucher at the police station for fees at the county landfill in an effort to encourage citizens to clean up their yards. Landfill rules must be followed, including a prohibition against disposing of hazardous materials.

The fall cleanup generally coincides with the fall open burning period during which people may burn leaves, limbs and other vegetative material on weekends after notifying the dispatch center. Residents living east of Shoshone Avenue may burn on even number numbered calendar days, while residents west of Shoshone can burn on odd numbered days. 

Open burning has already begun and continues through Nov. 30.

Tippetts presented a proposal from Consentus Technology for a software update, noting that the town’s Caselle government accounting software using Windows 12 will no longer be supported after the month of October without an update. She said the town can still use the software, but updates will not be possible. Tippetts and Ed Allred presented various options, and Tippetts noted that the cost can be spread among various town departments.

The council will mull the options and make a decision at the October meeting.

With planning underway for Phase 2 of the Armory Park Project, Nebel presented proposals for engineering on the project. He said three companies submitted three proposals, and a five-person committee used a grading matrix to rate the proposals. The matrix had Pryor Mountain Engineering of Cowley with the highest score, and the council voted to approve the committee’s recommendation.

In other business September 12:

• The town held a 25-minute closed session near the beginning of the meeting.

• Nebel noted a utility easement granted by Fire Protection District No. 1 for a new fence to protect the radio tower and generator at the new police station.

• With no public comments made at a hearing at the beginning of the meeting, the council voted to renew all liquor licenses in town.

• Nebel alerted the council that he is recommending that the cleaning contract for the parks restrooms be terminated and the restrooms closed for the fall and winter. He said they can be opened and cleaned by a town staff member for special events. The council voted to terminate the cleaning contract.

• The council voted to approve the Town of Lovell being a sponsor for the Shoshone Municipal Pipeline application for an ARPA grant through the State Loan and Investment Board as a member of the pipeline’s joint powers board. Town of Lovell representative Don Richards said the project will be a benefit to all pipeline users.

• The council tabled an agenda item for an agreement with Justice Escrow while the town’s legal counsel reviews the agreement.

• Nebel informed the council that the time is nearing to terminate the agreement with Big Horn County for use of the county annex building, with the move to the new police station nearly completed.

“If all goes well, we should be out of there by the end of September,” he said, noting that the agreement calls for a 30-day notice. The council voted to authorize Nebel to write a letter of termination as soon as the move is completed.