Town accepts land donation next to senior center

After discussing the pros and cons of allowing chickens to be raised in Lovell (see story May 22), the Lovell Town Council turned to other matters at the May 13 meeting.

Early in the meeting, Mayor Tom Newman issued a proclamation designating May 6-12 as Nurses Week in Lovell. Six local nurses attended the council meeting: Deborah Salyer, Amber James, MarKay McIntosh, Kaycie Mangus, Rita Unruh and Sarah Leonhardt.

The council passed three ordinances on second reading May 13. Ordinance 1020 would add a subsection to the Lovell 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.

The council set a special meeting for May 28 to consider the ordinance on third reading.

Also passed on second reading were Ordinance 1021 setting the annual tax levy of 8 mills for the next fiscal year – July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026 -- and Ordinance 1022, the annual appropriation for ‘25-26.

The council considered a “release and hold harmless agreement” presented by town administrator Jed Nebel for a landowner in town whose land is adjacent to a land drain that the Town of Lovell maintains.

The agreement would allow the town to perform maintenance on the land drain and correct any water issues for the landowner.

The council tabled the agreement until the special meeting.

Nebel then presented the council with a list of bids for surplus property the town advertised for three weeks, noting that the bids came in higher than usual. The council voted to approve the highest bid for each item, and councilman Bob Mangus abstained as one of the bidders.

Under new business, the council passed a memorandum of understanding between the North Big Horn Hospital District and the Lovell Police Department for the town to provide dispatch and emergency services. The motion passed contingent upon review by the town’s legal counsel.

Nebel presented to the council a preliminary modified street sweeping schedule for the summer, explaining that the public works department plans to sweep the entire town during the third week of each month. Public works director Adrin Mayes said the schedule does not limit the town to just the one week each month, with more sweeping to be performed as needed.

Land donation

Nebel presented the results of a title search and a quitclaim deed for land adjacent to the North Big Horn Senior Center that was proposed to be donated to the town. The council voted to accept the donation from a now dormant development group contingent upon review by legal counsel. Ideas for the land include using it for senior housing.

The council discussed at length a request for an extension allowing a resident to live in a camp trailer in town on residential property. The request for a site on Lincoln Avenue is for one year, but it would have to be approved by the council every month.

There is a house on the property, but it is unoccupied. The council voted to approve one 30-day extension to allow the property owner to come into compliance and the property to be examined by the building inspector.

Before adjournment, Nebel informed the council that the Town of Lovell is still in the running for a Harvard Growth Lab study for rural economic development. He also said the town is in a review process for a State Loan and Investment Board mineral royalty grant that would help fund a remodel of town hall.