The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Pine Haven Town Council opens its first meeting of the year.
Kendra Meidinger updates the council on changes to the county lodging tax.
Pine Haven Mayor Bill Cunningham accepted assistance from his council to conduct the first regular meeting of 2019 last Tuesday night as the council discussed and approved nine resolutions, renewal of the town's contract with the Crook County Sheriff's Department and his appointments.
Second well
Public works director Sunny Schell commended the Pine Haven residents for their efforts during the water crisis last week, saying, "The whole community of Pine Haven pulled together when we asked them to ration water and all of the lift stations ran 50 percent less so everybody was awesome in town; they pulled together as a community and really helped us out, getting through that."
The secondary well cannot be cleared until spring and the second pump must be approved and installed before said well can be brought on line, according to HDR Engineering's Heath Turbiville.
Lodging tax
Kendra Meidinger, liaison between the town's council and the county's promotion board, shared possible changes in legislation governing the newly accepted four percent lodging tax in Crook County.
When the tax revenues begin, Crook County will receive the entire four percent with the board allocating part throughout the county to promote businesses with signage and other forms of advertising and keeping two percent respective to the municipal contribution in their reserves, dispersing the funds as reimbursement grants when the communities apply.
However, if the proposed statewide five percent lodging tax to fund Wyoming tourism passes legislation this year, the four percent will cease coming to local government after the four year life of the law and “things will change from there”, said Meidinger. “The way it’s written right now is three percent would go to the state and two percent would come back to the county.”
NEW YEAR
RETREAT
The council is planning to meet with staff at a “retreat” in Moorcroft on Friday, January 18 at 11 a.m. This workshop is to discuss priorities for the coming year. Though the meeting is called a retreat, it is open to the public if anyone is interested in listening to the discussion.
The location has not been confirmed by the clerk’s office at the time of this publication; please call Pine Haven Town Hall for further information.
