Treasurer announces interest-rate cut and Town outlines water repairs, meter upgrades and seasonal SMO hire

Town Treasurer Mason told the Star Valley Ranch Town Council on June 25 that the interest rate on a Town loan had been reduced from 2.5% to 1.5%, retroactive to December 2023, a change Mason said will save the Town approximately $38,000 annually.

Administrator Aitken updated the Council on several water-system items. He said the Town has a quote from Neptune for water meters that appears to be within budget but that a cellular/radio study will be required before purchasing to ensure reliable meter communications in the service area. Contractors are assisting with grant paperwork and longer-term planning, Aitken said.

The Green Canyon water-tank relining project is out for bid, with the bid opening scheduled for July 8 and a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting on June 26. A separate emergency repair was required after spring runoff exposed a section of pipe in Prater Canyon; Aitken said the U.S. Forest Service granted permission for emergency maintenance and that the pipe and road were repaired as of June 23. The Town will report the incident and repairs to the Environmental Protection Agency while the USFS updates a maintenance agreement that could allow routine and emergency work without prior approval.

Aitken also told the Council the Town submitted an EPA Level 1 Assessment and is awaiting feedback. He said the Town is discussing voluntary chlorination to retain local control over timing and levels if chlorination becomes required; the EPA will conduct a Microparticulate Analysis onsite at month’s end.

Council members praised staff for recent work: Aitken noted 17 water-meter pits were completed last month and said staff-developed solutions advanced road repairs in Plat 5.

On public safety staffing, Mayor Rok described a proposal to hire a seasonal Special Municipal Officer (SMO) to work roughly 20 hours per week this summer at $25 an hour to supplement the current SMO. "The SMO primarily provides support for ordinance enforcement," Mayor Rok said, and may assist with traffic control, park patrols and non-emergency community concerns. Councilman Toolson asked whether a second SMO was necessary and received a description of duties; there were no objections from Council to proceed with the seasonal hire.

The meeting also included a council discussion about procurement and budget practices after Councilman Merrill questioned a recent vehicle purchase and how it was recorded in the 2024–25 budget. Mayor Rok said the budget listed a dump-truck trailer rather than a dump truck, but she maintained the equipment purchase was within the capital budget and authorized under an ordinance that permits emergency expenditures from reserve funds when spending stays within the approved budget. Councilman Bitter suggested adding caps for emergency purchases; a resident urged setting a maximum amount for such approvals. Administrator Aitken said he would resend the engineering assessment related to Mountain Estates to clarify what was received for a $2,500 payment to Forsgren.

The Council’s next procedural steps include the Green Canyon bid opening on July 8, completion of the radio/cellular study before any meter procurement, and continued coordination with engineers and consultants on grant opportunities and infrastructure planning.