ROCK SPRINGS – Discussions took place on water and sewer billing and the recent Wyoming Association of Municipalities meeting during Tuesday night’s Rock Springs Council and board reports.
Councilwoman Glennise Wendorf reported the Water and Sewer Committee has had several meetings in the past few months discussing water and sewer bills and the best way to address many of the delinquent accounts the department is facing.
Wendorf said the past due accounts are not only residential accounts but businesses, landlords and others.
Rock Springs Mayor Carl Demshar said there are “quite a few” delinquent accounts and was surprised to see who was on that list. He said the city is looking for a way to work with these folks and bring those accounts up to balance.
Demshar also spoke about a recent trip to Cheyenne with several other members of the council to the annual WAM conference. He said Rock Springs was able to discuss several things and will use some of what they learned as a “spring board” on several items.
The first thing Demshar spoke about was the downtown. He said they were able to talk to the city manager of Fort Collins, Colo. about what they did to enhance its downtown area.
Demshar said they wanted to know what they tried, what tools they used and other things to really get things going here in Rock Springs.
“We came away with some good ideas,” Demshar said as he explained they will be sharing this with staff to see what can be done.
The second big meeting Demshar spoke about was a meeting with Governor Matt Mead about the Bitter Creek and upgrades the city has wanted to do for several years now. The 15 minute meeting turned into almost an hour long meeting on the subject.
Councilman David Tate was able to show Mead maps from 1925 which showed the original channel of the creek and where it had been moved to. Demshar said Mead received a good history lesson on the Creek.
The Mayor felt Mead was open and honest at the meeting. Demshar said the Governor responded that the $61 million price tag would be a heavy price tag. Mead shared several funding ideas with the city representatives.
Demshar said they invited Mead to stop by Rock Springs anytime to take a closer look at the creek and discuss enhancements.
