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Byron council approves 4% sewer rate increase, orders no‑cost smoke test and expands clerk hours; planning appointment fails
Summary
At its July 9 meeting, the Byron Town Council approved a 4% sewer rate increase, authorized MAP to smoke‑test sewer lines at no cost, and approved increasing Clerk‑Treasurer Misty Turnupseed’s hours to 40 per week; the council rejected Pam Hopkinson’s appointment to the planning and zoning committee.
Byron, Wyo. — The Byron Town Council on July 9 approved a series of actions affecting sewer operations and town staffing while rejecting a proposed appointment to a planning body.
Mayor Allan Clark called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the council first completed routine business, approving the agenda, minutes from prior meetings and bills for June 10 through July 5, 2024.
The council then rejected a nomination to the planning and zoning committee. Councilwoman Karma Sanders moved to appoint Pam Hopkinson; Councilman Brandon Hessenthaler seconded. The motion failed 2–3 (Yeas: Councilwoman Karma Sanders, Councilman Brandon Hessenthaler; Nays: Mayor Allan Clark, Councilman Shae Abraham, Councilman Richard Horton).
In infrastructure business, Councilman Richard Horton moved to contract with MAP to perform smoke testing on the town’s sewer lines to identify infiltration points at no charge to the town; Councilman Shae Abraham seconded and the motion carried. The council also voted to increase the sewer utility rate by 4 percent after a motion by Councilman Horton, seconded by Councilman Abraham; that motion passed 3–1 (Yeas: Abraham, Hessenthaler, Horton; Nay: Sanders). These actions were presented as measures to address sewer system issues and funding for future work.
Councilman Shae Abraham moved, and Councilwoman Karma Sanders seconded, to increase Clerk‑Treasurer Misty Turnupseed’s regular workweek to 40 hours; the motion carried. Separately, the council reviewed emailed recommendations from ARDURRA (represented in the record by Carson Rawley) for an emergency sewer project and agreed to allow ARDURRA to proceed with project planning and next steps.
Resident Linda Neville submitted a proposed Town Hall use form; the council asked Mrs. Neville to amend the form before implementation.
The council recessed into an executive session at 8:21 p.m. and reconvened at 8:52 p.m.; the meeting record indicates no action was taken in executive session. Councilman Richard Horton moved to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.; Councilman Shae Abraham seconded and the meeting ended.
Votes at a glance: Approval of agenda/minutes/bills — motions carried (procedural votes; no roll call tallies provided). Appointment of Pam Hopkinson to planning and zoning committee — failed, 2–3 (Sanders, Hessenthaler yes). Contract with MAP to smoke‑test sewer lines — motion carried (mover: Councilman Richard Horton; seconder: Councilman Shae Abraham). Sewer rate increase (4%) — approved, 3–1 (Yeas: Shae Abraham, Brandon Hessenthaler, Richard Horton; Nay: Karma Sanders). Increase clerk hours to 40 per week — motion carried (mover: Shae Abraham; seconder: Karma Sanders). Executive session — convened and reconvened with no action taken.
The council recorded agreement to let ARDURRA continue work on emergency sewer recommendations and asked a resident to revise a Town Hall use form before implementation. No ordinances or resolutions with numbers were presented, and no specific funding sources or effective dates for the rate change were specified in the meeting minutes. The council did not take action during executive session.
The council is expected to carry these items forward to staff for implementation and follow up; the minutes do not list specific deadlines or required approvals beyond the motions recorded.
