Town moves ahead with water shut-off

Lyle Austin, owner of the 12-plex on North Little Horn, has still not complied with Moorcroft’s ordinance regarding meters to measure water to each of the apartments within the almost two years’ variance allowed by the council.

Mayor Pro-tem Dale Petersen reiterated the deal formerly made with Austin at last week’s meeting: “He was supposed to come back with a plan and he had to have it accomplished a certain number of days after the plan.”

Austin has not as yet moved forward, according to Public Works Director Cory Allison.

“He’s been talking to a couple people, trying to get scheduled so they can come in and give him a price and do the work. He has not had anything as of yet,” he said.

“I told him the council was probably going to vote to shut him off and probably send him a certified letter.”

Allison reported, after speaking with the property owner via phone, “He has no plan, nothing scheduled and there is no action.”

Council members present at the meeting moved ahead at that point, ensuring the legal means of shutting off Austin’s water with Town Attorney Pat Carpenter including a written letter and email with a 30-day official grace period starting August 10.

Councilman Austin Smith explained the requirements to be met to prevent disconnecting service to the building: “At least the work started. Not just a plan, the work should be physically started. If it is started within the 30 days, we won’t disconnect the water, but if the work is not started in the 30 days, the water will be shut off until the work’s completed.”

The motion was unanimously approved and the letter subsequently sent.