TORRINGTON – The Torrington City Council met for their first September meeting on Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. Present were mayor Herb Doby, councilmembers Dennis Kelly, Shane Viktorin, Dr. Richard Patterson and Wayne Deahl. Viktorin led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Policy Chief Matt Johnson gave a tribute for fallen police lieutenant Harley Mark, who was killed in the line of duty while pursuing a violent offender. This week marks the 31st anniversary of his death. Chief Johnson gave remarks recognizing Lt. Mark’s legacy in the community, read a transcript of his final radio call, and presented Lt. Mark’s wife, Joanne, and his three daughters with flowers. 

Mayor Doby then made informational remarks, first reminding those in attendance that as summer ends there are still many nice days to enjoy Torrington’s gardens, golf course, trails, and walking paths. He remarked that “when individual properties are beautiful, the city is beautiful” and thanked the community for its diligent work in weeding, mowing, and other outdoor efforts. 

Mayor Doby also reminded attendees Constitution Day is September 17, and that he would sign a proclamation declaring the week of September 17 to be Constitution Week in Torrington. He noted the Constitution is important because it passes down a political theory directly from the Founding Fathers protecting the individual rights of all Americans and provides for a government that protects and defends those rights. 

Finally, the Mayor emphasized the importance of safe driving habits including slowing down for pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and scooters, and to refrain from using cellular phones while driving. 

Following the informational items, Kelly made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 20, 2024 council meeting. Viktorin seconded the motion and the consent agenda was approved. The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting was also approved after a motion from Deahl and a second from Dr. Patterson. 

The meeting then opened for non-hearing items to be raised by the public. 

Henry Wheeler of Torrington presented before the Council an issue he had experienced regarding electric disconnection and connection fees being charged despite his electricity not actually being disconnected in his apartment. He claims that, following a missed payment, he was not sent a late warning and given no notice of a missing payment until he went to pay the bill and was notified that he was being charged a fee for the disconnection and connection of his electricity. Mayor Doby thanked him for bringing the issue to the Council’s attention.

The Council then moved on to action items. 

The first action item addressed a request to transfer the Retail Liquor License currently held by Pamela Delgado-Garcia DBA Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant to Adrian Garcia DBA Thirsty’s effective October 1, 2024, at which time Thirsty’s will meet the requirements for a Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Marshall and the City of Torrington and be able to open to the public. Currently, Thirsty’s Certificate of Occupancy is pending completion of ADA complaint bathrooms and the posted address on the outside of the building. Delgado-Garcia and Garcia spoke for the item and no one spoke against. 

Viktorin asked what the nature of Thirsty’s business would be when fully operational, and Garcia stated it would be an entertainment space with an upscale bar area, a large stage where bands and DJs could perform, and a game room. 

Chief Johnson stated he and his staff had met with the owners regarding additional police resources that would be needed and there was no significant concern prohibiting the license transfer. 

After some discussion, Dr. Patterson made a motion to accept the action item with the contingency that Thirsty’s does, in fact, receive its Certificate of Occupancy from the Fire Marshall and the City of Torrington. Kelly seconded and the motion passed.

The second action was related to the first and involved approving Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant for a Restaurant Liquor License, which is more limited than the Retail Liquor License it currently has in that the majority of sales must be for food and alcohol cannot be sold during times that food is not being sold. Deahl made a motion for the action item to be passed, the motion was seconded by Viktorin and the motion was passed. 

Next, the council approved retaining Old Glory Engineering of Saratoga, Wyoming for engineering and grant writing services. Old Glory Council will prepare and submit grant applications requesting funds for two projects, FY25 Sewer & Manhole Lining Improvements and FY25 WTP and BPS-2 West C Generators, from the Community Development Block Grant. 

Jeff Harkins, Director of Public Works, stated the projects are estimated to cost $1.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively, and if the city was able to secure funding for those projects from the grant it would alleviate a tremendous cost to the city and help to keep utility rates low. 

He also noted the Community Development Block Grant, which is a federally funded grant administered by the Wyoming Community Development Authority, ranks projects on a point system where one category of points awarded is for “Local Commitment and Leveraging,” so the city should consider committing to paying, or obtaining outside funding, for a portion of the project in the grant application. 

Old Glory Engineering has been used in the past by the city and has a proven track record in securing grant funding. City Clerk Lynette Strecker also noted Old Glory Engineering would assist the city in completing the substantial paperwork necessary required for a federal grant. 

A motion was brought by Dr. Patterson to approve hiring Old Glory Engineering for an amount not to exceed $3,650.00. Kelly seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. 

Agenda action item four involved city project FY25 Well #5 Submersible Pump and Motor Replacement. Only one bid had been received, and that bid was from Sargent Drilling of Broken Bow, Nebraska in the amount of $63,362.00. 

Viktorin asked if the replacement was due to a scheduled replacement or if the unit was inoperable, and Harkins responded that motors of this type are typically on a 15-year replacement schedule and this unit is at the end of that period. He also stated this well was one of three wells on the golf course and the other two had also been replaced in the last few years. 

According to Harkins, the city’s budget for this year included $62,000.00 for this project and the remainder could be absorbed with additional funds in the water budget. 

Viktorin made a motion to accept the bid from Sargent Drilling. Deahl seconded the motion and the motion passed.

Strecker gave the financial report for the city’s fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, 2024. 

The financial reports showed that the city was able to fund multiple large projects and purchases during fiscal year 2024. Funding from sales tax and the optional sales tax was the highest in the city’s history and overall expenses were below anticipated which resulted in a successful budget year for the city. 

Strecker noted the Optional Sales Tax is an additional 1% above the sales tax, supports all localities in Goshen County, and represents approximately 13% of the city’s general fund revenue. 

That amount of revenue available for use in the general fund is,  Strecker stressed, “imperative” to the functioning of the city. The Optional Sales Tax is voted on every four years and will be on the ballot this November. The financial report was approved by the Council after a motion from Deahl and a second from Dr. Patterson. The council then approved the bills from August 21, 2024 through September 3, 2024. 

During the public comment section, Fire Chief Luis Correa stated the Fire Station had responded to eight calls since the previous City Council Meeting. He stated some of the calls were the result of individuals not complying with the burn ban. He reminded attendees to call the dispatch line before conducting a controlled burn so his staff will not respond unnecessarily to reports of smoke or fire. Mayor Doby asked if the burn ban included residents burning in contained fire pits, and Correa requested that even residential fire pits be covered when used during burn bans due to the risks of spread with high winds.

The council then adjourned for the executive session regarding personnel.