Evanston council approves WYDOT property sale, awards park retaining-wall contract and orders three police trucks

The Evanston City Council on Monday approved the sale of two small city-owned parcels to the Wyoming Department of Transportation and moved forward on several infrastructure and procurement items, including a change order for the 2026 street overlay, a parks retaining-wall contract and the purchase of three police trucks.

At a public hearing the council heard from Damon Newsome, Evanston’s city engineer, who said WYDOT will acquire two adjoining parcels to accommodate signal upgrades and Americans with Disabilities Act ramp work at Front Street intersections. Newsome said the two parcels total about 640 square feet (358 square feet at 6th & Front; 282 square feet at 9th & Front). Mister Harris read the hearing notice and cited Wyoming statute 15-1-112 as the statutory authority for the sale. Newsome described an appraisal that placed the property value at $3,200 and said WYDOT’s proposed purchase price was $5,200, which includes $2,000 for damages; the council closed the hearing and later approved a resolution to authorize the conveyance.

Councilors also approved Resolution 26-16, a change order for the 2026 Street Maintenance Overlay project. Newsome told the council the street overlay bids came in low enough to add an additional section of Prospector within the existing budget; the council introduced and passed the resolution by voice vote.

Kim Larson, representing Evanston Parks & Recreation, recommended awarding a slope-repair/retaining-wall ("rockery") contract to the lowest responsive bidder, Precision Earthwork. Councilors discussed the bid spread, mobilization fees and staging logistics; Larson said the project will stabilize a slope behind the recreation center, move an electrical transformer out of a buried location and improve drainage. The council approved the contract award.

Chief Ranish presented the low bid for three half-ton police trucks from the local dealer Uinta County CDJR at $47,298 per truck—a total of $141,896—and recommended the council accept the bid. The council approved the purchase and discussed likely delivery timing; Ranish said these are special-service-package vehicles and delivery could take several months.

On public participation, Cathy Cook invited residents to two upcoming Historic Preservation Commission events. A question from a resident prompted confirmation from Mister Harris that the city’s current ordinance banning smoking in public places does not cover vaping; two councilors indicated interest in sponsoring an amendment to address vaping. Resident Kane Piat urged the council to force cleanup or issue citations for a repeatedly burned hotel property; Chief Ranish said violations exist and that city staff have discussed pursuing citations if compliance is not achieved.

Chief Ranish and Mister Harris also described work toward an MOU to formalize dispatch fees with neighboring jurisdictions; Ranish said the proposed MOU would record a contribution of about $411,000 covering FY2027–28 and the council directed staff to include that amount in the drafted agreement and pursue formation of a joint powers board for longer-term dispatch governance.

The meeting concluded after approval of other routine items, including a consent agenda of street closures and event permits and the appointment of Mister Schmidt as the city’s voting delegate for the WAMs convention with Mister Sellers as alternate.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the agenda (as amended), approved the bills and consent agenda, passed Resolution 26-16 (street overlay change order) and Resolution 26-17 (WYDOT conveyance MOA), awarded the parks contract to Precision Earthwork, approved the police truck purchase from Uinta County CDJR and approved the dispatch MOU draft to reflect the $411,000 figure for FY27–28. The council adjourned without further business.