November 8 is Poppy Day in Basin

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 29 member Jerilyn Hall and Cindy Schlattmann asked the town to proclaim Nov. 8 Poppy Day. Hall said the Auxiliary will be out that day collecting donations. The money collected will be used to help veterans. 

A motion was made and passed by the council. Mayor CJ Duncan read the proclamation. 

Hall mentioned that there is more response from the public for the Stop Veteran Suicide Rallies on the 22nd of each month. More people are honking and waving as they go by. She thanked the town for allowing the rally at Russell Park. 

Gina Wrigley and Tony Thompson appeared before the council to ask for a payment plan for utilities. The utilities have been off for some time and there is a substantial outstanding balance. 

Thompson told the council he wanted to explain his case to them. He and Wrigley want to move back into the home. They are currently doing work to make it livable again. He said his mother and ex had lived there; he was unaware that the electricity had been turned off. 

He proposed a financial plan to get the utilities turned on and to catch up the bills. 

An executive session was called by the council for contract negotiations to discuss a financial plan. Upon return from the session, Thompson was given a plan that the town found agreeable. 

Town resident John Suiter asked for information and clarification on two matters. One was when the speed signs on Big Horn Avenue would be put up. Public Works Foreman Mike Dellos said after the locates were done. The second matter was about the town expanding the public right-of-way on South Seventh Street. Suiter asked what that verbiage meant. Duncan said it was semantics, that is all. He told Suiter that he could continue to maintain it like he has been, the town can spray it for weeds, etc. Duncan added that the change gives the town the right to use the strip of land as a utility easement and make the street wider, but in reality, it takes the strip from being a single parcel and added it to the street. 

OTHER BUSINESS

• Town Engineer Jessie Frisbee noted that the DEQ permit for the Third Street project was approved. 

• Building permits were approved for Liberty Ranch, Hill Family Revocable Trust, Tawni Zier and Aggin Enterprise, LLC. 

• Ordinance 714 -Water Tap passed the second reading. The council is still reviewing the policy for machine rates that will go with that ordinance. 

• Resolution 10.24.2024 – Sale of Eagles Building passed. Town Attorney Kent Richins informed the council that the Water District would like the closing for its purchase of the Eagles Annex to be Nov. 22. 

• Kathy Smith Stephens approached Duncan about donating an organ to the town, possibly for the Senior Room. The council appreciated the offer but declined as they were not sure it would get much use. They would rather see it in a location where it would be used. 

• In the executive session for contract negotiations the town parking lot bids were discussed. Upon returning to the regular session, the contract was awarded to Big Horn Redi Mix. Councilman Carl Olsen recused himself from the vote.