LINGLE – The Lingle Town Council met at the Community Center Wednesday night for the discussion of ongoing community issues and new business.

Present at the meeting was Mayor, Al Unverzagt, as well as the entire council without any absentees.

The main item up for discussion on the evening’s agenda was community safety regarding local water safety. According to town maintenance staff, Jeremy Ochsner and Logan Dailey, federal government regulations has required small towns like Lingle to be in compliance when it comes to possible lead or copper traces in local water.

Both Ochsner and Dailey spoke before the council, requesting reliable computer software known as 120Water to help ensure compliance with said regulations.

“This has to happen,” Ochsner said. “We are going to have to subscribe to this company for their software to be compliant, as well as all the fun things we have to do for the next five, six seven years. It’s supposed to be free funding available, which didn’t happen. It should go down every year afterwards. The first portion of this is evidence gathering. If there is any way we can get verified for what is there, we can compile and build a list. We are going to have to start budgeting for this basically and will be an every year occurrence. They want all the copper out. Every service line from the main to the curb stop is copper. Then from there it’s mostly plastic. We are going to be the bad guys ultimately because if we can’t prove what it is, it’s going to take a lot of time.”

Dailey concurred with his colleague stating, “The EPA came out with a lead and copper rule the Biden administration pushed through. They all want lead and copper out of the water to promote safe draining systems. We have to have this done with established inventory of every water connection we have. It has to detail what type of connection they have, and whether there’s any lead or copper from the main line to the houses. From the middle of the street all the way to the house, the EPA has said they would audit this inventory. So, if we were to have bad water they would audit us we would have to prove the information. This is something that was integrated into this plan which would have information as far as the residence connection material. We would have to have proof of how we maintain that information whether it be photos, or documentation of the owner. We will have to contact every home and business owner in Lingle.”

Dailey went on to explain in detail a brief history of lead and copper traces in Lingle’s water that dates back to 1989. As both Dailey and Ochsner elaborated, houses built before that particular year have a good possibly of having traces of both minerals.

Both maintenance staff explained the situation is not cause for serious alarm or panic, but merely to stay in compliance with federal safety rules and regulations.

“The lead ban started in 1989, and every home built before has a strong chance of having lead in it,” Dailey said. “After which it would be either copper or plastic. 2027 is when we would have to start working out the replacement project and getting those lines changed. If we don’t establish this inventory, the EPA can fine us. It’s going to be a cooperative effort with the whole community to figure this out, while the inventory has to be done by October. The best thing would be for residents to contact us so we may come find out what you have. Most of it would be taking pictures then sending it to us so we can say, ‘Oh yeah that’s copper.’ We have the money in our water budget right now and there’s a lot of information. It can be flagged so it will tell you these are the priorities.”

Council member, Brandie Cook, expressed appreciation for maintenance efforts stating, “When dealing with the EPA, you have to have everything you can plug into. It’s expensive, but this would be as good as it gets to show what you’ve done and you’ve done it correctly.”

The council continued with Lingle Fire Chief, Kasey Bangerter, reminding all in attendance the upcoming Coyote Hunt Fundraiser this weekend.

The event will begin with a mandatory rule meeting at the Lingle Fire Hall Friday, Feb. 23, at 6 a.m.

“We will do the chili feed and Calcutta for the teams,” Bangerter said. “The public is welcome to come to the chili feed, and the Calcutta starts at 6 p.m. Everybody is welcome if they want to come. We’ve had donations from Cool Customs and the 2-Shot crew. There’s been quite a bit of talk of people coming out. We have a team from Casper, Harrison and a couple local teams. It could be overwhelming. We think it will be a pretty good deal.”

It should be noted two community resolutions were passed during the meeting. 

The first being the second reading of Ordinance #365, concerning the de-annexation from the corporate limits of Lingle known as the Scott Addition. The council read over the resolution once again in which the item carried.

The second was Resolution #142 dismissing the Lingle Guide as the official town newspaper. The item carried with a unanimous decision, without any further discussion or disagreements.

Shortly before the adjournment of the meeting, council member Kathy Wilhelm spoke with mild concern regarding a recent increase in property tax along with ongoing discussions of local infrastructure projects.

“There are several things out here that are impactful to our small community and county,” Wilhelm stated. “One that is very sensitive is the property tax reduction. I just encourage everyone to look at both sides of what you are saving now and in the long run. The other is the solar farm south and west of us, which could have an both positive and negative effects. Do your research before you weigh in on it. There is a lot going on right now. Now that I’ve been put in this lovely position, I think it’s scary and impactful. Don’t take everything at face value and do your own research.”

The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. and will reconvene March 6, at 6 p.m. at the Lingle Community Center.