Mills council approves land vacation for Louisville Concrete, advances utility-billing changes and collection contracts

The Mills City Council, meeting in Mills, Wyoming, approved the first reading of Ordinance 8-19 to vacate a 0.63-acre parcel of the former Wyoming Boulevard and transfer it to Louisville Concrete, advanced Ordinance 8-20 amending Title 13 (Public Services) on utility billing and collection on first reading, authorized contracts with a collection firm and a community education/alternative custody center, held a public hearing on the 2024 Community Development Block Grant with no public testimony, and approved administrative actions including squashing old warrants and entering executive sessions for property and legal matters.

The council opened a public hearing on the 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), noting the hearing had been advertised in accordance with state statutes and Mills council procedures; no one spoke in favor or opposition and the council closed the hearing. The hearing record was noted as set and advertised under applicable law.

After returning from an earlier executive session on a property matter, the council took up Ordinance 8-19, described in the meeting as an ordinance vacating a 0.63-acre parcel of the former Wyoming Boulevard in the City of Mills and transferring the parcel to Louisville Concrete. Councilmembers approved the ordinance on first reading by unanimous vote (5–0). The council then advanced Ordinance 8-20 on first reading, described as amendments to Title 13, Public Services, Chapter 13.03, Utility Billing and Collection; that motion also passed unanimously (5–0).

Separately, the council approved an agreement related to a local community education/alternative custody center referenced in the meeting as “CEC.” Meeting discussion showed some uncertainty about the center’s exact name and role; council members described it as a community facility intended as an alternative to jail for certain penal sentences. The council also approved a contract with AIM Corp to provide collection services; council discussion noted AIM Corp will handle ambulance and utility-billing collections. A staff member advised that assigning municipal debts to a collection agent is an assignment of debt the municipality already holds and said that the council need not add an explicit reference in the ordinance for such assignments, though the council could specify it if it wished. The AIM Corp contract and the CEC agreement passed by unanimous voice votes (recorded as ayes by all five members present).

Council members also voted to squash municipal warrants older than 10 years; that motion passed unanimously. The council entered and later exited an executive session on a property matter and, later in the meeting, an executive session on a legal matter; in both cases the council reported no action was necessary upon return.

The meeting included a ceremonial swearing-in: Nathan Romrow (recorded in the minutes as deputy clerk) took the oath of office administered by the presiding official.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda — Approved (voice vote recorded as unanimous). - Public hearing: 2024 Community Development Block Grants — Hearing opened and closed; no public testimony. - Executive session (property matter) — Motion to enter executive session approved; council later reported no action necessary. - Ordinance 8-19 (vacate 0.63-acre parcel, transfer to Louisville Concrete) — First reading approved, outcome: approved on first reading; tally: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. - Ordinance 8-20 (amend Title 13, Chapter 13.03: Utility Billing and Collection) — First reading approved; tally: 5 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. - Agreement with CEC (community diversion/education center) — Approved; tally: unanimous voice vote. - AIM Corp collection contract (accounts, including ambulance and utility billing) — Approved; tally: unanimous voice vote. - Warrant squashing (warrants older than 10 years) — Approved; tally: unanimous voice vote. - Executive session (legal matter) — Motion to enter approved; council later reported no action necessary.

Why it matters: The land vacation and transfer formalize a property change involving Louisville Concrete; amendments to Title 13 and the new collection contract could affect how the city collects unpaid utility and ambulance bills; approval of the community diversion center agreement signals local investment in alternatives to incarceration for certain sentences; squashing aged warrants affects municipal accounting and records. The CDBG hearing fulfilled a statutory notice requirement; because no members of the public spoke, the council made no changes based on public testimony.

Council members closed the meeting after reporting return from the legal executive session and taking the listed votes. No further public comment was recorded in the meeting transcript.