CHUGWATER – The Chugwater town council moved through a long list of items during their regular February meeting, making several appointments and discussing ways to best utilize the funds in their budget.
Public works supervisor Pete Delgado gave the council good news, that there has been progress by the town’s engineer, Coby Romig, who is half-finished with the process of analyzing the plans the town to come into compliance with an Environmental Protection Agency violation order issued in 2021. The violation is a result of changing regulations within the Environmental Protection Agency, requiring a down draft vent within certain specifications to be installed on Chugwater’s tank no. 2, after a Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality permit is obtained. Romig’s services are needed to obtain the permit.
“We’ve got the ball rolling, so the town doesn’t get big fines,” Delgado said.
Delgado reported estimates of a new SCADA system from Mission Communications came in at half the cost ($37,693 versus $65,000) of that of the town’s current contract holder, Timberline Electric and Control Corporation. The new system for which both contractors gave estimates will include more advanced features. “It is way more modern than the current SCADA system is. Ours is not modern, and is failing, so this is a necessity,” Delgado said.
SCADA is the monitoring and control system for the town’s water transmission system. The current SCADA in Chugwater has been failing, and parts have been impossible to find, though Delgado said at a meeting earlier this fall, Timberline is doing a good job of helping it continue to function, but they warned him it is nearing a stage of being unable to be fixed. The condition of the SCADA has prompted Delgado to seek options for the town to consider in replacing it.
Councilman Steve Kelley said the cost of the system will be able to be included in the cost of the town’s Wyoming Water Development Commission level one water study, which should open avenues for funding.
The council also appointed several people to special committees and held a swearing-in of town clerk Cindy Kahler. Eric Jones was appointed the town attorney; Steve Kelley was appointed to the Arbor Day committee; Ben Glenn was appointed to the emergency management committee, as well as the second member of the Planning and Zoning committee, headed up by councilman John Burns; Cathy Souza and Steve Woodard were appointed to the communications committee.

Tammy Hartung was approved unanimously by the council to be the part-time public building and events manager for the Town of Chugwater. She will operate out of the community center office.
The council gave unanimous approval to continue to support the cemetery district and equipment. “We appreciate the thankless work you do,” Mayor Josh Hopkins said.
Sealed bids were opened for the removal or disposal of town equipment not working and with parts either unavailable or too expensive to repair. Burns was awarded the bid for a 1987 dump truck for $1,682.78 and the Kawasaki ATV for $328.01; Tri County Small Engine Repair (Dean Webster) was awarded weed eaters for $30; and Kelley was awarded the lawn tractor for $100. Burns and Kelley abstained from voting due to conflict of interest.
With a desire to update a lease of 405 acres of ag land owned by the town, and after a January vote by the council to cancel the current contract upon proper notification of the lessee, the council agreed to end the current lease with Wayne and Jodi Larson on June 1 to coincide with how many months they paid in advance on the lease. The town intends to seek bids to contract for lease, with the Larsons receiving first right of refusal. After the contract is written, there will be three separate readings of the lease before it is officially adopted by the council.
The council approved the addition of three sub-categories (parks, streets and water) within the special purpose excise tax budget category, to reflect payment of the funds to benefit the town’s infrastructure.
Per counsel by attorney Jones, the line-item change to the town’s budget was reflected in ordinance 321, and the council unanimously approved it on the first of three readings.
At the request of the mayor, treasurer David Clough included a new column in the treasurer’s report to the council reflecting where the town sits currently with the annual budget.
After discussion regarding the high cost of electricity in the town and potential ways the town could lower their monthly cost, the council approved a motion to authorize the mayor to discuss rate -reducing options with Wheatland Rural Electric Association.
The town approved waiving the $100 permit fee for use of the park, concession stand and bathrooms to the Chugwater Chili Cookoff and Chugwater Roundup committees, and to agree to be a sponsor of the annual cookoff.
A lengthy discussion with several people weighing in with their thoughts regarding increasing the rates per gallon for bulk water, the council will be considering an ordinance at their March 3 meeting.
Mayor Hopkins also discussed with the council, he is discussing with CHED (Chugwater economic development) details of town lot contracts and expectations. He said the town will be hosting a workshop to discuss any requirements of the town’s potential roll in the sale of lots, and whether there needs to be any re-zoning of any of the lots.
He also said in the future, the council will be discussing agreements with communications franchises and updating agreements for rights of use of the town’s easements to serve customers via fiber optic cables or other means.
Cathy Wilson-Souza presented a healthy heart month proclamation bringing awareness to the issue of heart health, promoting a healthy lifestyle and regular medical exams.