TORRINGTON – Torrington City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to proclaim September to be Hunger Action Month. 

According to the proclamation, 11.1% of Goshen County residents struggle with hunger or poverty and one in six children don’t know where their next meal will come from. 

“Whereas it is our responsibility as citizens of the City of Torrington to learn about hunger and do our part in reducing that hunger,” the proclamation reads in part. “Raising awareness for the need to devote more resources to hunger and food security issues.”

Local and statewide agencies spoke in favor of the proclamation, including Wyoming Foodbank of the Rockies, Land of Goshen Ministries and Goshen HELP.

“We just ask that you please take time during the month of September coming up to volunteer at our partner agencies here and be a hunger hero for your community,” said Samantha Maxwell of Wyoming Foodbank of the Rockies.

Executive Director of Goshen HELP Kyle Borger said the organization’s food pantry is in need of volunteers on Thursdays and Fridays. 

“Goshen HELP really does thank the community,” Borger said. “You have been awesome in helping us to serve on average between 160 to 200 families each month.”

A tabled conversation regarding former Torrington Municipal Airport manager Jerry Nash’s hangar space returned to council on Tuesday night. 

The council voted to give Nash until Nov. 15 to complete his plan to use the hangar, after which time the council will work out details of his removal if terms are not met.

Two weeks ago, the city elected to hold off on terminating the lease, provided Nash can show a plan and timeline as to when the charter service could get off the ground, before Tuesday’s TCC meeting.

Nash brought his five-phase plan to return his aircraft to the hangar to Mayor Randy Adams but was met with skepticism about timing.

“The reason this came to us is because for over two years, nothing has happened out of that hangar,” Adams said. “To me it seems like it’s almost an impossibility for you to get this done in six months or five months time.”

If Nash vacates the hangar, the Torrington Municipal Airport and the City of Torrington can collect rent from three or four airplanes and bring more planes in and out, which will help the community. Councilmember Bill Law also said it’s been two years since Nash has brought his plane in and out, meaning there haven’t been any fuel purchases.

In other business, City Treasurer Lynette Strecker presented the financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. 

While COVID-19 presented unforeseen expenses and state budget cuts, local sales tax was at 121.29% of what she budgeted.

“I don’t know if the majority of this is from the new legislation which allows us to get sales tax on online purchases, I believe that’s part of it,” Strecker said.

The City’s long-term debt is approximately $4.5 million. The state of Wyoming’s distribution was cut 10%.

“I did expect that,” Strecker said. “Hopefully, it doesn’t go down much more than that. Hopefully, the state’s revenue starts looking up.”

In public hearings regarding property variances, the council reminded residents to get council approval before making required adjustments, according to city ordinances. 

“I would hope that people would choose to come to the city first, before they start, and show us their plan and do it the correct way,” said Councilmember Ted Kinney. “We have ordinances for a reason.”

The Moose Lodge had its fee for a special event permit waived and a malt beverage permit approved for its annual horseshoe tournament to be held on Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Pioneer Park.

In information items, Adams acknowledged rising COVID-19 cases in the county and city. As of Aug. 18, Goshen County accounts for 35 cases, according to a release from Goshen County public health. He said the council will continue to wear masks at their meetings and that city staff will wear masks “whenever they are in danger of compromising their safety.”

“We’re stressing that people wear a mask, especially in the time that our social distance is compromised,” Adams said.