SUBLETTE COUNTY – Big Piney’s vacancy on the Big Piney-Marbleton Airport Board was filled at the town council’s Jan. 16 meeting, with councilmember Sierra Banks appointed to fill the seat.

Mayor Shane Voss informed the council that Big Piney had an obligation to fill one vacancy; Marbleton’s councilman B.J. Meador represents his municipality on the airport board.

A short discussion took place before Banks was nominated, with town code officer Greg Eiden explaining that Sublette County has been interested in buying an 80-acre parcel owned by the airport board close to the county fairgrounds.

“The county wants to buy some land from the airport board,” he said. “But once you’ve lost that land, it’s gone.”

Town attorney Doug Mason further explained that the airport board has been unable to use that parcel for its original purpose of a cross runway because of its lower elevation.

The council – Tawnya Miller, Voss, Lindsey Voss and Dalin Hughes – unanimously voted “aye” for Banks’ appointment.

For staff reports, recreation manager Eddy Delgado and parks-streets manager Kara Losik weren’t present. Voss gave Delgado’s report that new bleachers were installed in the Big Piney Rec Center and school sports and classes from Junior Punchers to archery are underway.

Eiden reported that catching stray cats is off the table for now, with “nowhere to go.”

“We can’t take them; Pinedale can’t take them,” he said, even of kittens. “Bad as I hate it, there’s nowhere to take them.”

Water-sewer manager Mike Wagstaff reported that design work continued on the planned municipal chlorine generation facility. Its final design and vendor will need to be reviewed by the Wyoming State Engineer’s Office before a construction schedule is set.

Wagstaff said he and Losik are trying to take pictures of all locations where municipal water lines come into homes and businesses with Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality rules that all lead fixtures or pipes must be removed.

“If we don’t do it, we’re out of compliance,” he said.

At the previous Big Piney Town Council meeting, Losik presented two bids for a new sprinkler system in Centennial Park, one from Cheeney Landscaping for $20,000 and one from Great Gannett Landscaping for $14,000.

Mayor Voss previously asked the council to consider them and asked for feedback. They were positive after asking around about Great Gannett, who they weren’t familiar with before.

“We’ve heard good things about them; it’s a good way to go,” Banks said.

The council unanimously approved Great Gannett’s $14,000 bid.

The town council moved to adjourn into executive session with Mason for legal and personnel issues; no action was taken.