PINEDALE – It took two weeks, but an airport hangar lease was approved at the Feb. 12 Pinedale town Council meeting and Mayor Bob Jones didn’t vote on his own lease.

Two weeks ago, the council tabled the lease agreement to ensure there would be no conflict of interest. In November, the mayor nominated himself to serve on the Airport Board, and the council approved his term. Only three months later the council was asked to approve a lease agreement; however, Jones would have signed the contract as a person paying the lease, as a representative for the Airport Board and also as representative for the town. Jones was absent from that meeting.

On Monday, Airport Board Chairman Jim McLellan said this is the first time in his 25 years on the Airport Board that the council did not follow its recommendation. He added that four of the five members on the airport board have hangar leases. In addition, he said there has been a precedent with previous council members serving on the board going back to Mayor Rose Skinner.

Council member Tyler Swafford defended his motion to table the action, saying he wasn’t questioning the airport board’s recommendation, but he wanted to ensure everything was legal and proper. “That’s our right; that’s our duty,” Swafford said.

Ed Wood, the town’s attorney, agreed there had been prior precedent and he said he did not feel there would be any legal ramifications.

Council member Matt Murdock was approved to sign the agreement for the town – an action typically completed by the mayor. The vote was approved, 3-0, with Jones abstaining and Nylla Kunard absent. Jones abstaining from any votes associated with

Also during the public comment period of the meeting, resident Dottie Bentley questioned the town’s schedule for the upcoming council election, saying the dates for candidate filing until voting are too close. The first day to file as a candidate is Wednesday, March 14; the last day is Friday, April 27. The municipal election will be Tuesday, May 8.

She said there is barely time for ballots to be printed. Anyone requesting an absentee ballot would be unable get a ballot, vote and return it by the U.S. Postal system, especially if they were out of the state.

Most of the council members agreed, but said the procedure to change the town’s election ordinance, which includes several readings and publishing notices of the change, could not be completed before the upcoming elections. However, they agreed changes should be a priority for the newly elected council members.

A consensus was made that the town clerk could email a ballot to anyone requesting one. However, email cannot be used to submit completed ballots back to the town clerk.

County Clerk Mary Lankford said there are problems with voter confidentiality with emailed ballots. She added, all three municipalities in Sublette County chose years ago to use the charter provision in the state statutes that allows municipalities to set elections in the spring, rather than be placed on the November ballots. She added, because there are federal candidates on the November ballots, the county follows the 40-day minimum rule for notification and posting of ballots.

Lankford said she has always encouraged the towns to change the election process and be on the November ballot to save money.

The town agreed to email ballots, but in some cases with absentee ballots being returned from out of state, an overnight delivery service may still be required to get the ballots back to the town clerk in time to be counted.

Ana Cuprill spoke, asking if the high cost to use an overnight delivery service could be considered a poll tax? Wood said no, because people were not being charged to vote.

Critical access hospital

Laura Clark, vice-chairman of the Sublette County Rural Health Care District Board, gave an update on the proposed critical access hospital, saying an environmental report should be ready this week for submission to the United States Department of Agriculture.

She advised, if the USDA approves this loan, the agency “will almost control the project.” She added, one thing the USDA looks for before approving the loan is “skin in the game.” She encouraged letters of support to be sent.

In the past, the council had committed $1 million toward the hospital. If approved at the state level, Clark questioned if the town of Pinedale is still willing to contribute that money.

Jones agreed the money is in the current fiscal year budget. However, he said, it is unlikely the funds would be spent this year, so the decision would fall on the council elected in May.

“One council can’t commit another,” Jones said.

Clark polled the individual council members on their support.

Tyler Swafford said he was in favor.

Matt Murdock said he was not in favor because he had concerns about the rural health care board and he feels a movement to partner with ENDOW for fiber optics was a better community investment.

Jim Brost said he was in favor of the hospital and the Internet, but more discussion is needed.

Jones said his opinion is irrelevant, but he thinks the county needs a hospital. However, he doesn’t think it needs to be a $28-million hospital.

Other actions taken Monday included:

• The Wyoming Department of Transportation conducted a review of signage on Pine Street and has asked the town of Pinedale to remove some of the pedestrian crossing signs, saying they contribute to sign clutter and do not comply with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Jones said he did not feel comfortable taking them down and did not want to be responsible if someone was hit by a vehicle.

A map identified signs the WYDOT would replace and the others identified were the town’s responsibility to remove.

Jones said it is awkward when a main street happens to be a highway. The item was tabled until staff could talk to the school district.

• A permit was approved to the Feb. 14-18 Pinedale Winter Carnival events and the fee was waived.

• A permit was approved to use American Legion Park for a summer reading program, and fees were waived.

HANGAR

Continued from 1A