Third reading of utility rates passes council

At the Basin Town Council meeting on June 25, the council passed the third reading of Ordinance 720 – Utility rates. Mayor Pro-Tem, Chuck Hopkin zipped through the agenda resulting in a meeting lasting less that 20 minutes.  

The appointments for the vacant council position and a board member position on the Joint Powers Board were not filled. Mayor CJ Duncan was unable to attend. Hopkin noted that the appointments are to be done by the mayor, so they were tabled until the next meeting. 

Building permits were approved by Christopherson on South Eighth Street and Fielder on Crescent Drive. 

Committee reports were given. Councilman Mike Dellos from Planning and Zoning explained the committee is down to three. There are ads out to replace the member who recently moved. 

Hopkin gave the Rec District report. He said that the district had hired Jill Lorash for the director’s position. She will start July 6. 

Councilwoman Linda Weeks gave reports for the activities and beautification committees. The activities committee will start working on Home for the Holidays in August. 

The beautification committee has started Yard of the Month. The Mural is finished except for varnishing and sponsors logos. They will be discussing the next meeting what new projects they want to take on. 

Hopkin received a copy of Big Horn Regional Joint Powers Board meeting minutes from Duncan. The board is waiting on a waiver from the BLM for the Lucerne tank. They are waiting on easements for service lines by the South Big Horn County Airport 

  Town Foreman Tony Harrison gave an update on the South Big Horn County Joint Powers Board. He explained that the pipe between the well and the Manderson storage tanks needs to be replaced. The board is working on getting grants for the cost of the project, which is over $600,000. If the district is unable to find grants the cost of EDU’s may go up for users on the line. 

Harrison also discussed the SRF potholing project. He explained that service lines must be inspected to determine what they are made of copper, plastic, or lead. The customer lines have all been inspected, now the town side of the line must be completed. Harrison would like to put in an application to the DEQ State Revolving Loan program by August 3. He anticipates the project will cost around $500,000 for a contractor to do the project. There are over 400 lines to test.