Investment fees

When Moorcroft’s council convened Monday night, the governing body was joined again by mobile home park owners to further discuss the town’s legal and fiscal obligation to follow the ordinance and charge property owners water investment fees for each lot.

The ongoing issue is that the owners do not want to pay on vacant spaces, though said spaces are actively attached to the municipal water and sewer lines. This point of contention was reiterated by Bill Manke, who said, “I still contend that if that empty chair is not bringing in any income, why do I have to pay [for] something that’s not being utilized?”

Mayor Ben Glenn asked a comparative question in response, “When Powder River has a meter sitting on a pole, even though you’re drawing no electricity, do you pay for that meter?” Manke acknowledged the point.

The town had previously not enforced the municipal law in an effort to help these property owners, but then dealt with a question of actual occupancy. However, while this endeavor did not work, council still wants to mitigate cost to the business owners.

Glenn clarified, “By trying to lessen the fee, we’re trying to avoid just charging you the full load… We’re trying to work with everyone here and see what the best thing is.”

The town would be willing to amend the investment fee ordinance to allow the owners to pay a percentage of said fee, but the details will be decided at the next meeting with the input of the owners for the amended law. The property owners plan to meet together prior and have a couple viable options regarding percentage to be paid, etc, to share with the body by then.

Council is currently beginning the process of drafting an amended ordinance. Glenn explained to the owners the process, “We’ll have three readings of it so we have three times to change it.”