Torrington council approves Homeland Security grant application, zoning change and fire-pit rules; budget advances on first reading (4–1)

The Torrington City Council on May 19 approved a package of routine and policy items, including authorizing submission of a Wyoming Homeland Security grant application for $60,825 to buy six upgraded radios for police command staff, advancing the FY2027 budget on first reading (4–1), and enacting zoning and public-safety ordinances.

Mayor called the meeting to order and read the evening’s agenda before the council took action on resolution 2026-06, which authorizes submission of a Homeland Security grant application for the purchase of essential equipment for the city in the amount of $60,825. Emergency Management Coordinator Chuck Kenyon told the council the money would fund "six radios with accessories" for the police command staff and said, "We have received notification that they intend to fund this, although we have not seen the contract documents yet." The council voted to approve the resolution by voice vote; the mayor said he will sign it.

The council also approved an ordinance on second reading to rezone two lots in the DSI Subdivision, establishing I-1 zoning for Lot 1 and C-1A zoning for Lot 2. Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Estes said staff had "no comment" and recommended approval; the council approved the ordinance on second reading without further discussion.

On a separate land-use-adjacent matter, the council adopted an ordinance on third reading creating a new section of the municipal code addressing recreational backyard fire pits, barbecues and smokers. Estes told council members that Councilman Kelly’s suggested penalty provision had been incorporated into the ordinance text by the city attorney, and staff recommended approval; the ordinance passed on third reading by voice vote.

The council likewise approved an ordinance on third reading updating municipal cemetery rules. Estes reported he had no new updates since last meeting and that Cemetery Sexton Matthew Hickman and other staff had worked on the item; the ordinance passed on third reading by voice vote.

Clerk Treasurer Lynette Strecker presented the first reading of the FY2027 appropriation ordinance, which — if enacted after subsequent readings — will take effect for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. Strecker said several items remain to be finalized before adoption, including wage recommendations, health-insurance renewals, property and casualty renewals, and final cash and administrative-fee adjustments; she said she will track changes on a spreadsheet and reminded council of a budget work session set for Wednesday the 27th at 3 p.m. and the second meeting for further readings on June 16, 2026. A motion to approve the FY2027 ordinance on first reading passed by voice vote with one recorded nay (vote announced as 4 yes, 1 no); the transcript does not identify which council member cast the lone nay.

The council approved payment of bills presented by the clerk treasurer and heard brief public-safety and parks updates: Fire Chief Jeff Schick reported a mutual-aid deployment to Nebraska for a vegetation fire and said two personnel will attend structural firefighting training in Cheyenne in early June, saying his department had been "pretty uneventful" otherwise. Police Chief Matt Johnson publicly thanked Chuck Kenyon for his grant work, calling Kenyon "a walking, talking solution looking for problems to solve." Parks-related turf and dog-waste issues were reviewed by Mr. Estes, who asked residents to keep animals off sports fields and described deployment of dog-waste stations and rollouts at intersections.

After completing business, the council voted to leave open session and enter an executive session to discuss potential litigation per state statute.

Votes at a glance • Resolution 2026-06 (Wyoming Homeland Security grant application, $60,825): Approved (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Deal; Second: Councilman Viktren. • Ordinance (DSI Subdivision zoning map amendment), second reading: Approved (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Viktren; Second: Councilman Warren. • Ordinance (recreational backyard fire pits, third reading): Approved (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Deal; Second: Councilman Kelly. • Ordinance (municipal cemetery, third reading): Approved (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Deal; Second: Councilman Kelly. • FY2027 appropriation ordinance, first reading: Approved 4–1 (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Viktren; Second: Councilman Deal. (Transcript does not identify the member who voted Nay.) • Approval of bills (05/06/2026–05/??/2026): Approved (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Kelly; Second: Councilman Viktren. • Motion to enter executive session to discuss potential litigation: Approved (voice vote). Mover: Councilman Diehl; Second: Councilman Victor.

What’s next The council will continue budget work at the scheduled work session and consider additional readings of the FY2027 budget at the June meetings; the executive session will address potential litigation as authorized in the meeting.