[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6345058,"mediaKeyId","2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205","parentId",2249883,"title","Rawlins city attorney briefs new council on open meetings, public records and conflicts-of-interest","audioSeconds",2764,"startMs",3518000,"endMs",6282000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205&start=3518&end=6282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205/thumbnail_3518000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345058/Wyoming/Rawlins-city-attorney-briefs-new-council-on-open-meetings-public-records-and-conflicts-of-interest","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345058-7c1772d18a5e313e583e657b90c9e521/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154702&Signature=ewNhZNB0lEqa8Dz4Bon1XPtpyBHNuNanKncY3YOW9tVXk4fAp14gK8g8CUOeZc2vaQX4lugwP25y7qovMfEGxfSX4yt0Bzm4IB3jexkxjqOmywKUO8NVFj3eF5PcMGo1BUt0TLXdsq8cZgkpOv-Mf0QyWu~whQNOyAoyiF06yy1Fx7jdjuY4KOzGGHQnwIe6~yGsiAhE~V~ffUZr5LxIxY1ziObCaQzN1odP46gpuSVb931k5KY7Of29BcDikXkiTOyuSVnRdzfVmeX1CR2eGu7SQCc5k858GdMjzmKBw76UL-JmlJ3ZnBZ5UrKxqYNlTKa4nGNrIJjskjEs5M8rdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Rawlins","date","2025-01-02T00:00:00Z","article","City Attorney Penita Midbury told newly elected members of the Rawlins City Council that the city uses the council-manager form of government and that \"the legislative and policy making powers are vested in the city council.\" She reviewed relevant Wyoming statutes and municipal practices for meetings, ethics, and public records.

Midbury emphasized that a majority of a council constitutes a quorum and that deliberations about public business among a quorum outside a public meeting can violate open-meetings law. \"You can't discuss business in an informal setting if there's a quorum and you're deliberating,\" she said. She walked attendees through the differences among regular meetings, special meetings, emergency meetings and executive sessions and noted that executive sessions are restricted to specific subjects listed in statute.

She also reviewed the Wyoming Public Records Act and warned council members that electronic communications about city business on personal devices are subject to disclosure. Midbury covered the prohibition on using public office for private benefit, recusal practices when a council member has a personal or financial interest, and gift rules under state law.

Ending: Midbury invited council members to ask questions and offered to provide legal research and advice; she said the city attorney's office will share relevant statutes and guidance and encouraged new members to attend WAM training.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Work Session for January 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Attorney Penita Midbury led a training module reminding council members of their legislative role, open meetings and public records obligations, rules for executive sessions and conflict-of-interest limits under Wyoming law.","taxTitle","Rawlins City Council, Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming","taxId",68776,"location","Wyoming","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345062,"Rawlins outlines $48.5 million water system needs; secured grants total about $3.64 million",142,2505000,2647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205&start=2505&end=2647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205/thumbnail_2505000.jpg","/articles/6345062/Wyoming/Rawlins-outlines-485-million-water-system-needs-secured-grants-total-about-364-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345062-c8826bd9269893daaee3892b65030d22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154702&Signature=TF1H6m5hcVKN9vM3YbJhQNPO2zG-DqIdRFNmfJob8QVXycMJBu68pRzob8X~dguGzA~NMbe12JGPI2mIqgdjrBst0fKStTt0FHUvdvad6xdKxNqkocMLkCFUk6z~dQvktdFq3LGl1CNSERp3DJqC~hmwTWa8OqgrKTY9i47sgTcvW1ubeti1ahOyyn8CWNHAFLPAM4sIyOpD9z1t7FwkEXzkJVRvnrXpyPorPH-i-cRT8Ic9NtGn7fjT2KhwCkEpET2HhvFzCj9SiIioghlfSycJTx8vEvANkApX7Bemb3kBonfN~wMuyt8-Y00Ih2uBgGrSF-jT3zrvjTW0uWB1NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Tom told the Rawlins City Council that the city's water master plan lists about $48,500,000 in transmission, storage and treatment projects. \"Between the two (priority tiers), you can see the total right now is estimated at 48,500,000,\" Tom said.

Tom explained that priority 1 projects total just under $30,000,000 and include transmission-line repairs, water storage at the tank farm, and SCADA upgrades; priority 2 projects total roughly $18,000,800. He said the city had secured approximately $3.637 million in grant awards to date, including a $2,300,000 grant from the Wyoming Water Development Commission for the transmission line, a $1,000,000 allocation for SCADA work, and ARPA-awarded funds for spring boxes.

Why it matters: Tom said the system generates about $3,000,000 in annual revenue but that replacing the full scope of planned projects will require loans, substantial grant-seeking, and multiple years of effort. \"We're gonna have to go get loans and grants and everything that we can possibly do to get there,\" he said.

Ending: Tom said staff will present more detailed project-level schedules and funding plans in future meetings; the discussion flagged a multi-year capital funding challenge for council and staff.","City Manager Tom reviewed a recently completed water master plan that identifies roughly $48.5 million in needed water system projects; the city has secured about $3.637 million in grant funding, including a $2.3 million Wyoming Water Development Commission award for the transmission line.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345066,"Rawlins officials say 6p tax can't keep pace with inflation; Edinburgh Street project delayed",337,1650000,1987000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205&start=1650&end=1987","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205/thumbnail_1650000.jpg","/articles/6345066/Wyoming/Rawlins-officials-say-6p-tax-cant-keep-pace-with-inflation-Edinburgh-Street-project-delayed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345066-090f800fc6039e929e2a7d1c288c20fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154702&Signature=YIeXFf2JYxn04DNva2a-T5YEmDkb5WUADWj7hv2ptFKTETp2Bczw3Uix0~Bv4RtSd4DvAZP67g8PuUNDIU9FLWz6-4S-qzP4qJ9qwGF2pa067CXR7XxSibVPoePvEI-AiqhfNcMTOcqEXvP34wIm~YwC5dkdznRcl9cUAz~KK2CVg0yTJ3bcczqoHVBeUW3Bnf6Fjbm9oxka9TODYco3XbyN2sOWrc~cjf71IN2nOaLL5EVTEnDpP4mfmJkLGxtDiq81hBVG45ZQ6Mfl6B3R93DsWk8uTu29rYorGJd-tEv~TY2DzehccZWHJIWMDdJ3HHRrE01LvXMo6-fGGRMJVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Tom told the Rawlins City Council that the city's voter-approved \"6p\" (fifth-penny) capital fund is collecting roughly $1,300,000 a year but is insufficient to cover the inflation-hit cost of the ballot's listed projects. \"We collect in there roughly about 1,300,000 a year...we did not bond, so over time inflation has gone up,\" Tom said.

Tom said the original 6p ballot listed about $12,110,000 of projects but that rising construction costs mean the city cannot complete all items. He cited the Edinburgh Street replacement as an example: an original estimate near $2,300,000 has been updated to an estimated cost that is \"upwards of $7,000,000, if not even higher than that.\"

Council's approach: Tom explained that the city did not issue bonds to finance the work when the 6p tax was approved; bonding would have front-loaded funds but created interest costs and other constraints. He also noted logistical limits: contracting and traffic impacts make doing many large projects at once unrealistic. For now Rawlins plans staged spending as funds accrue and will consider limited transfers or loans from other funds where permitted.

Ending: Tom said the 6p fund balance was about $5,200,000 as of Dec. 31 and that the council's strategy at budget time was to collect one more year of tax revenue and use a portion of the impact-assistance fund to advance work while delaying lower-priority items.","City Manager Tom told council trainees that the fifth-penny (6p) ballot projects can no longer fully fund planned capital work because inflation and project costs rose sharply; the city elected not to bond when the tax was approved and now plans staged spending.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345069,"Rawlins city manager outlines FY25 finances, warns of revenue shortfalls and frozen positions",3112,321000,3433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205&start=321&end=3433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249883-1fa574063d1d69f6243a6760217b9205/thumbnail_321000.jpg","/articles/6345069/Wyoming/Rawlins-city-manager-outlines-FY25-finances-warns-of-revenue-shortfalls-and-frozen-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345069-fe76b67267ba138c021e6490a94db15c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154702&Signature=K-RiVrTDx7jD~KeztXrfP2ojfl5OZ6Xm-VJMukquqv3ff80oTy~1KqPAHxEttnpkhhGxRLJ-yN7j4rH1jDIIU38AARJ6~BufDH~1SmkrMi18krKaN34Qqv~hq3xr89MI4e2vMEba6IWa-keMYxlH-xGhG-UxKQHd22bc1jJbuVuGWehdjI3LNO7Gb0WXzniIWb0Aer7Cio4JCcYaC1bWd-FNSD0Pi-mSHPdEcp6IAfKWvkBu8OjP1DSzX1N7uBFH0jwNnsRIq7fOIEAclWdGxJGvpxv0tmxJOYd1sZo4cbiaraN9qT4zHrz3Ueenz2v7~PNkVsYfHkaboy~epNNXpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Tom told the Rawlins City Council at a new-member training session that the city's general fund is about $12,000,000 and that roughly 89.66% of that comes from taxes and assessments, including sales, property and lodging taxes. \"It's right at about $12,000,000 and 89.66 percent of that or roughly 90% is taxes and assessments,\" Tom said.

Tom said the council currently counts about 87 general-fund positions (as recorded in the presentation) and that enterprise funds add staff that raise the total employee count; he said the city had frozen five vacant positions to balance the FY25 budget. \"To the right, in order to accomplish this, we have frozen 5 different vacant positions ... 3 police officers, parts technician, and a project coordinator at the DDA,\" he said.

Why it matters: The briefing emphasized how Rawlins depends on tax revenue that can fluctuate with major projects and one-time grants. Tom noted revenue has declined from a 2021 high tied to local wind projects and said council made specific cuts to present a balanced budget: capital outlays were capped at $1,000,000 and some street work was deferred. \"We just figured all the street projects would have to be pushed off till we could bring the budget back in,\" he said.

Supporting details from the presentation: intergovernmental revenue has fallen since COVID and ARPA funds, interest income has risen with higher market rates, and miscellaneous new sources (including increased receipts from horse racing) have been recorded and will be reflected in the next budget. Tom said the fiscal team aims for more council engagement during the coming budget season and expects to circulate department budget work papers next week.

Ending: Tom invited questions and told council members he is available during the budget process. Mayor Weichem and City Attorney Penita Midbury attended the training and participated in later legal and meeting-procedure modules.","City Manager Tom briefed newly elected Rawlins City Council members on the city's financial structure, reporting roughly $12 million in general-fund resources, heavy reliance on taxes, and budgeting choices that froze several vacant positions and cut capital to present a balanced FY25 budget.","actionData","errors"]

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Rawlins city attorney briefs new council on open meetings, public records and conflicts-of-interest

Rawlins outlines $48.5 million water system needs; secured grants total about $3.64 million

Rawlins officials say 6p tax can't keep pace with inflation; Edinburgh Street project delayed

Rawlins city manager outlines FY25 finances, warns of revenue shortfalls and frozen positions