ROCK SPRINGS — During the Rock Springs City Council meeting tonight, residents voiced opposition against the recent COVID-19 Coronavirus public health orders put into place and other actions that have taken place since then.

Resident Justin Hilton claims Governor Mark Gordon and Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo bypassed the constitution with the recent public health orders.

Hilton also called for the resignation of Rock Springs Mayor Tim Kaumo and Rock Springs Police Chief Dwane Pacheco for arresting Harold Bjork for expressing his first amendment rights at a recent protest.

“Chief Pacheco stomped on the constitution as he saw fit by letting a man be arrested for speaking his mind,” Hilton reinforced.

He also claimed school mask mandates were forced indoctrination from a socialist way of life.

“These mandates were made so school systems could go back to work while violating our children’s constitutional way of life for eight hours a day without reprieve,” said Hilton.

“There are certain things that were written in the Constitution for the people,” he said. “We are doing the right thing right now by coming and grieving to you, that might not always be the case one day.”

He said all elected officials should abide by the constitution.

“You are all replaceable in some form,” explained Hilton.

Derek Van Brunt, another resident who voiced opposition, said he served time in the military and while in the military he had to understand what’s a lawful order and what isn’t a lawful order.

“Right now, we have a police chief who is enforcing an unlawful command from a Governor that issued an unlawful command,” said Van Brunt.

Van Brunt said he believes the basic right of our own medical rights is being violated and so is the constitution. He said the government must uphold the constitution. He said the city is opening itself up to a lawsuit.

“I’ll handle the Governor myself with an action of civil nature,” Van Brunt said. “I don’t really want to tie up legal expenses for my town and my community.”

“Just because you pass something, it doesn’t make it lawful…,” Van Brunt said. “You can pass anything you want, that doesn’t mean it’s enforceable.”

Resident Dustin Aragon also spoke at the meeting and didn’t understand why they were following orders without questioning them.

He said he called the Wyoming Department of Health and no one could tell him why bars and restaurants have to stop selling and serving items at 10 pm. He wanted to see the data to support that order.

He said everyone has a right to make their own health care decisions under the constitution.

Mayor Kaumo Responds

Mayor Kaumo said he appreciated their comments and stated he is also a business owner and knows what kind of financial problems businesses are facing.

“The City of Rock Springs is left with having to deal with the orders brought down through the state and deal with them in a common sense fashion. I can assure you no one in the city wishes to see our businesses suffer more than they have,” Kaumo said.

He said the city does discuss the order and issues and give direction on how to deal with and address them.

“This issue isn’t something that we asked for, it’s something that was handed handed to us on our table and I would suggest you also make your statements known to the county and state,” Kaumo said.

“I can tell you we’ve taken a beating over the last couple of weeks,” Kaumo said. “Some of you who don’t even know us, or me personally, have made threats on not only my life. I have thick skin it doesn’t bother me.”

However, he said they should not be threatening family members or the police chief.

“There’s no one on this bench that doesn’t understand Constitutional rights….” Kaumo said.

Once again, Kaumo encouraged the residents to give their statements at both the county and state levels.

To see the Council meeting in its entirety, watch the video below.