Manderson council appoints new mayor pro tem
At the Manderson Town Council meeting on Sept. 16, Mayor Rod Patrick appointed Councilwoman Judy Bury as mayor pro tem. Bury replaces Troy Chambers, who resigned as a councilperson.
Also in attendance for the council were councilpersons Julie Williams and Tim Patrick, Town Clerk Michelle Freitas, Court Clerk Janet Reasoner and Officer Darold Newman.
Freitas, in the clerk/treasurer report, said that as of that morning, the general account balance was $10,368.52, the police account balance was $62,822.40, the community account balance was $60,624.54, the court account balance was $71,987.94 and the enterprise account balance was $15,092.13.
She went to Wyoming Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers training in Casper the previous week and said the training went well. She learned a lot from the other clerks and classes.
Councilman Patrick asked if the town had made the payment for the sewer loan from the state. Williams noted it was for around $18,000. Freitas said she had not seen that bill yet.
Later in the meeting, the mayor said Freitas would now be the office manager as well as clerk/treasurer. He thanked Williams for all that she had done for the town as office manager. He added that if anyone needed anything, they were to contact Freitas.
COURT/POLICE REPORT
Reasoner presented her report to the council. She explained that in August, the court received $49,688 which includes citation deferral and bond payments.
A collection report was given as well. It included a transfer request that was submitted to Freitas that morning. Officer Newman was asked if there was anything from the police department to report. He indicated no.
After an executive session the council voted to give a Reasoner a $2 an hour raise and Newman a cost-of-living raise. Councilman Patrick suggested the raise be 3% at this time, saying “Once we get through the books (town financials) and everything, we can increase it at another meeting.”
Reasoner respectfully asked that Newman’s raise be the same as hers. Councilman Patrick responded that that would mean the council would have to go back into executive session and Reasoner is hourly, Newman is salary.
Major Patrick added, “We didn’t say this was the end of it. We’ve got to go through and see what our year was and if our year was good enough then we can do a step raise or increase the value of the cost-of-living raise. We don’t want to leave Darold out of the process. So, this is a good place for us to start. Then we can discuss it after we get more information on what we have in the cop shop. You know, our expenses and everything like that.”
Addressing Newman, the mayor said the town didn’t want to give him the raise he deserves. “We’ve just got to see where we are at. If we don’t, we are not doing our job.”
MAINTENANCE REPORT
Councilman Patrick gave the maintenance, water, streets/alleys and sewer report. He said things are going well and that the town purchased a new tractor for $25,000.
Work was done on First Street. Patrick said he received a lot of gratitude after the potholes were fixed. He plans on watering heavy this week prior to the irrigation water being turned off. Upcoming work will include sludging sewers, fixing some valves and pumping a sewer.
OTHER BUSINESS
• The council voted to accept the resignation of Chambers.
• Aleta Driver provided information about the Guardian Flight Air Ambulance membership. She is the new membership salesperson for this area. Driver presented individual and company/municipality plans. She told them she could be reached at 307-431-6679.
• During the council comment section of the meeting Williams expressed concern that an official motion was not made to purchase the tractor. As she recalled, the council OK’d looking for a tractor that was under $30,000 but not the actual purchase of it. She believed that Councilman Patrick was approved to look for one and was to bring back the bids to the council to vote on. The minutes from that meeting were reviewed and they reflected that a motion was made to purchase the tractor.
Other comments by Williams were concerning comments about her that were allegedly said by Councilman Patrick. She said “I know I don’t always get along with people on the council and that’s life. I can live with that. But I’ve had someone in town tell me that Councilman Patrick told them that they were looking at me to be investigated for embezzlement. That’s my livelihood.” Councilman Patrick responded “That is an absolute lie. If I had a concern like that, I’d come right straight to you with it.” Williams stated that once rumors start going around, people start talking. Patrick replied, “You know how this whole town is. There are a lot of little things that go around that are not true about all of us.”
Williams noted that is why she brought it up in a public forum. Patrick stated that there are things said about Bury, Rod Patrick and himself all the time. He added the Williams has done a great job.
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