Town council expresses concern about scooters

Among the items discussed at a short July meeting of the Lovell Town Council last Tuesday, perhaps the most consequential was a discussion item: scooters and the dangers they pose to their young riders when not operated properly.

The item came up during the last listing on the agenda, where council members have a chance to bring up something on their mind, and for councilman Bob Mangus, that “something” was scooters.

Mangus said on that very day, July 8, he nearly had a collision with a scooter while driving in town.

“We need to do something about scooters. I about got one today,” Mangus said. “He never slowed down and didn’t stop at a stop sign. We need to talk to the chief about some public information.”

Councilman Dan Anderson, a retired Lovell police officer and current officer in Cowley, said scooter riders must obey traffic laws like a car driver would.

“It is very concerning,” mayor Tom Newman said. “Kids can go 20 miles per hour. Some of them don’t wear helmets, and they’re short enough that they can’t see over cars (when they enter a street).”

Ordinances

The council passed two ordinances during the 11-minute meeting. The council first passed on second reading Ordinance 1023, which lowers the time by which minors age 18-21 must vacate certain liquor establishments. The town code currently allows minors age 18-21 accompanied by an adult to be in an establishment that operates a commercial kitchen until 11 p.m. The ordinance would lower that time to 9 p.m.

Later, the council passed on first reading Ordinance 1024, which supports the posting of certain signs in town, especially in parks, such as “no smoking” or “no trespassing” by giving the stated prohibition “some teeth so we have something to enforce them with (in the form of a citation),” town administrator Jed Nebel said.

Nebel reported that he is in the process of forming a street rehabilitation process through which street projects can be prioritized by need. He said he has been working on a proposal with Pryor Mountain Engineering to study the streets for chip sealing and also address funding for the projects. He said there is a line item in the budget for the study to the tune of $7,000. The council voted unanimously to proceed with the study.

Nebel presented for review a memorandum of agreement between the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lovell Police Department allowing officer Shantel Coleman to be a field agent and serve on the Regional Drug Enforcement Team. The council voted to pass the memorandum contingent upon review by the town’s legal counsel.

Nebel reported that Phase II of the Constitution Park (now Armory Park) Project is all but completed, with the town simply waiting on a final electrical inspection.

Councilman Michael Grant asked how the town is being affected by the Wyoming tax reform process passed by the legislature. Nebel said he’s waiting to see since the lower property taxes just kicked in, but estimates are about a 15 percent loss in revenue.

The council did not schedule a work or special meeting, and the next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12.