Four bidding for two seats on Basin Town Council
Perhaps the most competitive of all races on Tuesday’s general election ballot is the one featuring four candidates looking to fill two seats on the Basin Town Council.
Just 29 votes separated the three declared candidates — Linda Weeks, Stuart DesRosier and Carl Olson — in the August primary. Since then, a fourth candidate, Mike Dellos, has entered the race; Dellos received the most write-ins in the primary and accepted the nomination.
The top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s primary will earn four-year terms on the council starting in January.
Why are you running for town council? If you’re an incumbent, why are you seeking another term? If you’re a newcomer, what prompted you to enter the race?
Mike Dellos: I feel that running for the council can give me the opportunity to apply some of the knowledge that I have experienced as an employee that can benefit the town. I was prompted to enter the race because of enough write in votes and encouraged from town residents to put my name into the race.
Stuart DesRosier: I am running for office to see through several of the projects the council has initiated. Specifically completing the sewer project and continuing to upgrade the infrastructure of the town. It is my belief that the current town council has made great strides during the last several years. For example the saving of the swimming pool and old gym, creating a community center complete with a room for retired people to gather and play cards or pool or just enjoy company. The sewer system has been greatly improved as has been the electrical department. There have been several improvements in the streets in town and this year’s budget is the most balanced in the last several decades. The reason I am running is to see through the completion of the sewer system, help out the reinvigoration of the electrical department (shout out to you guys) and continue to try to do my part to make this a great place to live.
Carl Olson: I am seeking reelection because as a council we have started a few projects that I would like to see completed. I feel my work background could help in these projects. The projects I would like to see through are the sewer lagoon, Third Street water line and the parking lot at the new town hall.
Linda Weeks: It’s important to me to give back to the community I love by contributing my time and expertise to the Basin Town Council. I think change is good and it’s vital that new voices with a variety of business experience serve on our town council.
Please tell us about your background. How would your personal and work experiences make you an asset to the town and its residents?
Mike Dellos: I was born and raised in Basin. I graduated from Basin High School in 1976. I’ve been married to my wife Pam for 43 years and have three children and 8 grandchildren. While the kids were growing up I helped with reffing ballgames and was on the school board for 24 years. I have worked for the Town of Basin the last 41 1/2 years. I obtained my licenses in both water and wastewater systems. I feel I can be a great asset to the Town council because of my experience working in the Public works area for the town and have great knowledge of how the town operates.
Stuart DesRosier: I have been living here for the past 27 years and am currently employed as a teacher at Riverside High School where I teach social studies. I am divorced with two adult children, one of whom is a wildland firefighter and the other is attending Northwest College. Aside from teaching I also am a captain in the Basin Fire Department and am currently on the town council. I have been serving on the council for the last six years. Before that I served on the Manderson Town Council. I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana in political science with minors in military science and history. I have a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University in education (social studies broadfield) and a master’s degree from University of Phoenix in educational administration. I have served in the United States Army and Montana National Guard both as enlisted and commissioned officer. As an enlisted soldier I was a 19 Delta Cav Scout. After I was commissioned I branched infantry and eventually served as a platoon leader, scout platoon leader and executive officer. Although I am not currently licenced I tried to help the community working for Atwood’s Ambulance for about 10 years starting first as a driver but then working through the levels from basic EM to advanced, finishing my career as an intermediate EMT
Carl Olson: I was raised in Basin and graduated from Basin High School. We raised our family here and my mother still lives here. I have worked in construction for 45 years. I have experience in bidding jobs and then I work with a crew until the job is finished. I know how to stay within the budget that was made for each project.
Linda Weeks: About 30 years ago I visited the Big Horn Basin and Yellowstone for vacation. I fell in love with the area and was determined to live here one day. Ten years ago, my husband Charlie and I had the opportunity to move to Basin from South Carolina and we’ve never looked back. We both love it here! I have over 35 years of marketing and business experience working as the Director of Marketing for large national retail organizations managing large teams as well as multi-million-dollar budgets. Over the past eight years working as a marketing professional for a local internet company, I have developed an understanding of our rural communities - their strengths and their challenges. I believe my background would be a beneficial contribution to our wonderful town of Basin should I be elected to town council. I graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Art Education.
If elected, what would be your top priorities / goals for the town for the next four years?
Mike Dellos: I know that the sewer system upgrade needs to be completed and working properly to meet our permit parameters. I really haven’t thought about what goals and priorities are needed but I know that working with the mayor and other council members as to making the best decisions to improve our town and serve the needs of the citizens that elect us.
Stuart DesRosier: In my opinion the most important issues facing the Town of Basin are the sustainment and improvement of the infrastructure. Specifically the completion of the sewer project, which we are entering the last phases of, and the maintenance and replacement of particular water mains throughout town. My intent for the council is to continue to work on the town to make it an inviting place for both new families and long-term residents. To do this we need to continue to hold ourselves and various contractors accountable.
Carl Olson: I would like to see the town continue with the infrastructure improvements; get the remote water meters in use; work on keeping utility bills reasonable for residents while covering the cost from our suppliers; evaluate employees’ wages and benefits annually to make sure they are competitive with the job force, and hire employees to fill vacant positions.
Linda Weeks: My priorities would be the following: A strategic plan for the future of the community. A preventative maintenance program for our vehicles and equipment. Management of our budget so that we don’t have an increase in rates each year. The development of a plan for grant writing to generate additional revenue to make town improvements. Increased transparency so we can build trust with the residents of Basin. Improved communications to our residents so that they are involved and aware of council decisions.
In what areas could the town improve the way it does business and serves its residents?
Mike Dellos: I think we need to remember that we serve the residents. We are public servants who listen and respond to those who have put us in charge of making our town better, that is a responsibility that we shouldn’t take lightly and make decisions that improve their lives as residents of this town and serve and treat each other with respect.
Carl Olson: Be more accessible during the workday to cover the town’s and residents’ needs, a budget billing system for residents to help when paying their utility bills, encourage residents to come to the council meetings and the special meetings so they get information firsthand, start a monthly newsletter for the Basin town residents letting them know what is happening.
Linda Weeks: I believe it is important to communicate with the people you serve. I would advocate for quarterly town hall meetings where the community would have an opportunity to ask questions of their council members, suggest new ideas and participate in the future of Basin. This kind of interaction and communication between the council and the residents would foster transparency and accountability. I’d like to be that council member that always reminds those that run this town that the funding of the town is based on the taxes we as residents pay to the state of Wyoming, Big Horn County and the Town of Basin.
Do you have any closing thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?
Mike Dellos: I have had the opportunity to serve this community for many years as an employee of this great town. In retirement I want to continue to serve you the citizens as a councilman and together we can make Basin a great place to live.
Stuart DesRosier: I am most thankful for your support in the past and would like to continue to help serve you for the next term.
Carl Olson: We have a council that is able to work together. The budget is closer to balance than it has been in a very long time. I don’t believe this will be sustainable for long due to the shortage of employees in three out of four departments. With this shortage will come extra expenses and a lack of preventative maintenance.
Linda Weeks: I promise to be a fiscal conservative, focused on accountability and an involved representative for the residents of Basin.