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Rawlins council approves outside counsel for PFAS litigation, signs off on project costs and routine items
Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the Rawlins City Council authorized the city manager to sign a legal‑services agreement to participate in national PFAS/AFFF litigation, approved a WYDOT pedestrian‑underpass cost increase and several routine motions including an HF Sinclair donation.
The Rawlins City Council on Dec. 16 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a legal services agreement with a national law firm to participate in litigation over per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and it cleared a handful of routine measures including a donation for the junior golf program and an amended city cost share on a WYDOT pedestrian underpass project.
City Attorney Mayberry told the council the PFAS litigation is part of a broad national effort against manufacturers and suppliers; "This is a large national litigation involving PFAS... AFFF, which are nasty things that are hard to remove from the water and have been shown to be hazardous to humans," Mayberry said, describing the proposed agreement as a way for the city to seek recovery of remediation costs while state testing under DEQ continues.
The resolution authorizes the city manager to execute the agreement with the firm named in the record (transcript variants appear as "Stagg Luiza LLC," "Stag Luisa LLC," and "Stegley"). The measure passed by council vote.
Council also approved an amendment to the city share of estimated construction costs for the WYDOT pedestrian underpass project (B221008) at McKinley Boulevard, raising the previously discussed figure to a not‑to‑exceed $423,946 to be funded from general reserves. Staff member Cody said the increase reflects updated bidding since the February engineering estimate, calling it "the reasoning for the... $14,000 increase." The motion passed 5–1, with Council member Derek Elliott recorded as the lone nay.
Other formal actions taken at the meeting included:
Votes at a glance
- Approval of the Dec. 16, 2025 agenda — passed (6 yays). - Approval of the consent agenda — passed (6 yeas). - Appointment of Dr. Christy Magana to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (term to 12/31/2028) — passed (6 yays). - Acceptance of Holly Hopkins' resignation from the Downtown Development Authority and direction to advertise the vacancy (term to 12/31/2028) — passed (6 yays). - Acceptance of a $6,000 donation from HF Sinclair Oil Refinery to the Rawlins Junior Golf Club — passed (6 yays). - Authorization for council members to sign city depositories under the cited Wyoming statute — passed (5 yeas, 1 nay; Council member Derek Elliott recorded as the nay). - Amendment to the WYDOT pedestrian underpass city share (not more than $423,946) — passed (5 yeas, 1 nay; Elliott nay). - Resolution authorizing a municipal half‑day closure beginning at noon on Dec. 24, 2025 — passed (6 yays). - Resolution authorizing execution of a legal services agreement to participate in PFAS/AFFF litigation — passed (6 yays).
The meeting record does not show detailed contract language or contingency terms for the PFAS engagement; the council's action authorizes execution of the agreement so long as terms are consistent with the resolution. No vote tallies conflicted with the record of who voted; the lone recorded nays were on the depository authorization and the WYDOT cost amendment and were cast by Derek Elliott.
The council adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
