ROCK SPRINGS – Proposed changes to the Rock Springs sewer and plumbing ordinance were tabled after Councilman Clark Stith requested the council investigate it a bit more before approving it.

The motion to table the changes passed by a 5-3 vote. Councilors Rose Mosbey and Jason Armstrong and Mayor Carl Demshar voted against tabling the changes. Councilman Rob Zotti was absent from the meeting. The proposed changes would add language back into the ordinance which would allow private sewer systems within the city.

The reason for the changes came about after staff noticed that a change made by the Rock Springs Council in 2013, which removed language allowing private sewer systems in city limits, caused the ordinance to contradict itself. This was discussed during the early readings of the ordinance but Stith looked at it a bit different.

Right before the third reading of the ordinance, Stith made the motion to table the changes telling the council he believes it warrants further review and there was not a rush to get this done. Stith said while he understands clerical errors, he again pointed out these changes would allow private sewer systems within city limits.

Stith went back a bit in Rock Springs history when discussing the ordinance. In 1973, the city of Rock Springs made it a law that any sewer system constructed in the city limits would have to be dedicated to the city. He followed that information making the point in 2013 this council approved the change which removed the language in the first place.

The city is discussing a possible workshop on the changes.