Byron council approves rural water extension, hires seasonal staff and green-lights park repairs

Mayor Allan Clark and the Byron Town Council on March 10 voted to accept an Office of State Lands and Investments grant (with accompanying loan terms) and move forward with a USDA rural water line extension that will extend municipal water to residents outside town bounds.

The council’s motion to accept the OSLI loan and agency grant passed after a motion by Councilman Shae Abraham and a second by Councilman Mikey Brightly; Councilwoman Karma Sanders abstained. Allan Clark said the grant “comes with a loan that will be re‑paid over 30 years by the residents outside of town, directly benefiting from this project.” The council record indicates construction and installation costs are not borne by the Town; prospective users will initially cover tap fees and repay the loan over time.

In personnel actions, the council approved hiring two seasonal public works employees and several as‑needed contractors. Karma Sanders moved—and the council approved—hiring Don McAllister as a full‑time summer public‑works employee from April 1 through Sept. 30, with an option to remain as emergency help afterward; the council also approved hiring Charlie McAlhany as a part‑time to full‑time public‑works employee on a school‑schedule basis and authorized Richard Horton to perform weed control on an as‑needed basis. The council approved Rocky Mountain Tree Service to remove dead branches in Jones Park and approved a temporary restroom at Jones Park to be arranged with Keele Sanitation.

For park facilities, Mayor Clark outlined a remediation plan for the park bathrooms, including pressure washing, interior bleach cleaning, sealing and repainting, and hiring Grizzly Plumbing to complete plumbing repairs after painting; the council approved a motion to hire Big Paw Masonry to perform the pressure‑washing portion.

The council also accepted a loan origination fee to the Office of State Lands and Investments tied to the water line extension (the fee was funded entirely by outside sources), confirmed acceptance of the State of Wyoming 2026 mileage and per diem standards, and approved proceeding with an Emergency Insect Management Program grant request for mosquito control.

Planning and capital projects updates included awarding a Comprehensive Street Survey/Master Street Plan project to J‑U‑B Engineers. J‑U‑B’s Dave Shultz thanked the council for the award and said agreements are due by April 1; the council scheduled a special meeting with J‑U‑B on March 18 at 8:00 a.m. to finalize the agreement. Zoning Administrator Richard Hawley summarized a response from Alan Bair concerning a paperwork error and said the property may proceed pending a corrected resubmittal and compliance with foundation, address, tap fee and skirting requirements. The Wyoming Water Development Commission will conduct a site visit on March 24 to evaluate Byron’s raw water ditches for potential Level II Feasibility Study funding.

During public comment, Hawley said he is applying for grants to revamp Riverview Park and asked the council to serve as the applicant; a resident asked for clarification about the Master Street Plan and Dave Shultz explained that the survey will document easements and rights‑of‑way, increase safety and prepare the Town for future projects.

The meeting concluded after routine approvals and was adjourned. The council scheduled additional work sessions, including a March 18 working meeting to continue Title 11 ordinance discussions and the March 18 special meeting with J‑U‑B.