Possible Motocross

Public meeting set Feb. 27 for track discussion

At the Feb. 13 Basin Town Council meeting, Mayor CJ Duncan asked the council about holding a work session/public meeting to discuss a possible Motocross track. The meeting is set for Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. prior to the regular meeting at 7 p.m. Members of the council, the rec center staff/board and public are invited. 

Prior to setting the meeting, Duncan said he wanted to make it perfectly clear that the town is not building the track.  “There were lots of concerned letters, questions. I just want to make it clear: the town of Basin is not building a motocross track. We were approached by an individual and a potential club about leasing them some property. So they could build the motocross track.” 

Council members Linda Weeks, Chuck Hopkin, Brent Godfrey and Mike Dellos were each given a map that showed potential sites within the town. 

Duncan said he heard concerns from property owners who would not like the noise, dust and traffic generated by the track. The idea of the track was well received by council members in December, but two new members have joined since.

He asked council members if they were still in support. If so, there could be a discussion about a different location or a different avenue of access to the original location. 

Godfrey, Weeks and Hopkin said they are still in favor of it. Dellos said he doesn’t like the original proposed location; there are concerns about the utilities that go through that site, concerns about noise and traffic. He is not against having a track, but that site is not the right location. 

He also said he apologized for skipping over the Motocross agenda item at the last meeting.  

SPECIAL MEETING/SEWER  

Duncan explained to those in attendance that on Jan. 29, the council held a special meeting regarding the town’s financial for the sewer upgrade. “The original documentation that the town of Basin had stated we had five years before we had to start paying back the loan. Once the loan documentation was put
together and finalized it was stated in that documentation that we only had three years.” 

He continued that once the town discovered this, they had the special meeting. The town refinanced the loan through USDA. The funding is no longer considered interim funding. 

Duncan added that if people had questions or would like to see the paperwork, they can come to the town to do so anytime the office is open. 

LIQUOR LICENSES    

The town held a special meeting on Feb. 13 at 6:50 p.m. The meeting was to approve liquor licenses for Homax Oil (Overland) Lost Boyz LLC (Stockmans) Basin Grub (Wheeler’s Basin Market) and Big Horn Co-op. All were approved with Big Horn Co-op’s license approved as a one-year non-operation status.  

OTHER BUSINESS 

• Duncan said the town has entered into litigation regarding a claim from town resident Gene Grose. The complaint was sent to the town’s insurance (Local Government Liability Pool), which denied the claim. 

• The town’s Activities Committee will take on a semi-quincentennial project for the town. The committee will also be working on the town’s annual clean-up day. 

 • Duncan clarified that the South Big Horn County Joint Powers Board owns the pipeline that transports the town’s water. The town has two seats on this board. Town foreman Tony Harrison will bring updates from that board to the town. Duncan sits on the Big Horn Regional Joint Powers Board. The board is over the water that the town purchases. 

• Weeks reported on the WAM (Wyoming Association of Municipalities) conference. She found it very educational and beneficial. She would like a committee to work on town beautification projects as well. She gave some ideas to the council of potential projects including flower containers, a welcome billboard, repairing the walking path, a group of residents to start working on a plan. The council made a motion to form a committee. 

• A building/demolition permit for Swanstrom on South Third Street was approved. 

• Town engineer Jesse Frisbee said the Third Street project should start this month. After that project is done, they will work on the raised road on South Fourth Street. 

• Resolution 2025-1 WWDC Application-Reconnaissance Study passed. 

• An executive session was held for contract negotiations. 

• Town resident Nicole Lindgren asked for clarification on the town’s tree removal when the trees are in the power lines.