PINEDALE – Several days after the Pinedale Town Council discussed possible penalties for not completing a delayed access road on schedule, the council held a special meeting and voted to proceed with it immediately.

At the regular meeting Oct. 30, councilmembers Tyler Swafford and Jim Brost with Mayor Bob Jones reviewed an extension proposed to landowner Mary Ann Menster, who sold the town a pathway easement. This road would provide the only access to some of Menster’s property.

The drafted agreement would give the town until June 30, 2018, to complete the access road.

Menster returned it with an added penalty clause that the town would pay $1,000 for each day the road was not finished after the new deadline, records show.

Jones explained at that meeting that the town was unable to build the access road this year and the “no dig” date of Nov. 15 was quickly approaching.

The council tabled the topic until the next Nov. 13 regular meeting but midweek, Jones called a special meeting for Friday, Nov. 2, at the Pinedale Fire Hall.

With councilmember Nylla Kunard on the phone and Matt Murdock present with Brost, Swafford and Jones, they discussed an estimated cost of $25,600 to complete the access road as “soon as possible.” Piles of topsoil and gravel are already stored on the pathway easement.

Murdock made the motion to approve “spending not more than $25,600 to get the road done and begin by Monday or as soon as possible and allow the mayor to sign the contract” with Teletractors.

Town engineer Hayley Ryckman Ruland said she contacted the Wyoming Department of Transportation, which is funding much of the pathway, and was told the access road could be completed without compromising the grant process.

“This would get that done right away, right,” Kunard asked. “I’m in favor of that.”

The council voted, 5-0, to approve the motion and adjourned the meeting.

After they adjourned, the Roundup asked about using the town’s stored dirt and rock piles at the pathway easement and at the old KOA site, now Jackson Avenue Park.

Jones said materials stored on the easement would be used for this access road and the Jackson Avenue materials would not be needed for it.

Citizens complained of breathing problems to the Roundup last week after they said serious winds blew dirt from the new park throughout the neighborhood and questioned why it was not watered or planted.

When asked if they were satisfied with the situation, Brost replied, “No exactly” but the dirt would be used next spring. Jones said he drove by during high winds and did not see any dirt. Swafford said he did not get calls about it.

Jones also explained that the dirt had been watered during the summer and the irrigation system was winterized and drained. Murdock also said the remaining materials will be used next spring when WYDOT gives the town the go-ahead