Thayne council agrees to contractor inspection after residents say spring blocks Franklin and Wright street paving

Mayor A.D. Lainhart opened a July 11, 2018 Thayne Town Council work session and introduced a resident request about unfinished paving on Franklin and Wright streets. Homeowner Debbie Merica told the council the spring under the roadway has prevented completion of paving and that "a lot of money was spent in engineering fees in the beginning of the land development."

Merica said the subdivision’s original plan included a cul-de-sac that then-Mayor Don Aullman would not approve, insisting Franklin remain a through street to Wright. She told the council that the spring was not known during initial plans and that, because of the groundwater, the Merica and Stoker families have not paved the portion they had agreed to; she said the cost has increased "significantly" since the original estimate (the transcript does not specify updated cost figures).

Resident Brett Merica and other property owners discussed possible responses. Councilman Lorell Woolley said he "believes that the water belongs to the State of Wyoming" and suggested the state might help cover some corrective costs. Woolley also noted ditches that previously carried water are largely gone and said "possibly moving the road would be the least expensive solution." Brett Merica proposed buying a northern lot from homeowner Jimmy Stoker and shifting the road south to avoid the spring; Stoker said his lots are currently listed at $55,000 each.

Resident Kevin Paul urged that the Lincoln County School District should pave its half of Wright Street; Councilman Heward countered that paving only half a road complicates snow removal and that the Town will not accept a half-paved road as a town road. Paul suggested creating a town pond to hold the spring water and said he could "possibly make a donation to the Town of Thayne to build a park/pond to help store the spring water."

Council members asked whether local contractors such as Kilroy Construction had been consulted about simpler fixes, including installing a culvert. The Town, the Merica and Stoker families, and Kevin Paul agreed to have a contractor inspect the spring and begin evaluating solutions.

Procedural items: the council adopted the finalized agenda at the start of the session (motion by Councilman Lorell Woolley; seconded by Councilman Heward; motion carried). The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn (moved by Councilman Woolley; seconded by Councilman Wicks; motion carried). The transcript does not include roll-call vote tallies or a timeline for when corrective work would begin.

Next steps recorded in the session: a joint agreement to arrange a contractor inspection of the spring and to report back with options; funding sources and specific remedies were not decided during the meeting.