Wellington city selects officers, representative to water district board

By Sun Advocate

The Wellington City Council met last Wednesday in a regularly scheduled session.
The first item of business at the Jan. 11 meeting was the appointment of city officers.
By resolution, the city council approved Karl Houskeeper as board member for the Price River Water Improvement District, Elayne Storrs as justice court judge, Alicia Willson as treasurer, Ken Powell as recorder, Lee Barry as police chief, Scott Rowley as fire chief and Craig Johnson as city engineer.
In an unrelated matter, the council discussed the recent addendum to the Price River Water Improvement District service contract.
One councilmember was absent from the meeting. The council agreed to table the item until all members could be in attendance for the discussion.
Next, the council reviewed an easement proposal from Sunrise Engineering who represents PRWID.
The improvement district asked for an easement through the Wellington industrial park for a line that will serve the winter water project for farmers in the area.
Councilmembers reviewed a map, discussed the issue and approved the easement on condition that it passes a review by the city attorney.
During the councilmember reports segment of the meeting, Ed Chavez gave an update of Wellington city’s fire contract with Carbon County.
Chavez also asked for a review of the city ordinance that prohibits people living permanently within the city limits in recreation vehicles or RV trailers.
Councilwoman Paula Noyes reminded residents and officials in attendance at last Wednesday’s meeting that city cleanup efforts would begin in the spring.
Noyes asked the council to be thinking about dedicating city workers and resources to a spring cleanup of the town.
A citizens committee will set a date and coordinate efforts for the cleanup.
Councilman Glen Wells and the city recorder indicated that a check had been sent to PRWID in the past week and Wellington’s debt to the water improvement district would be fully paid by the end of the month.
Wells also pointed out that the Price-Wellington canal people were making plans to enlarge the inlet on the head gate of the secondary water system and will enlarge the trash screens at the same time.
The councilman said the engineers hope the improvements will help solve some of the problems experienced by secondary water users last summer.
Wells also said the canal company was drawing up plans and submitting proposals to pipe the entire Price-Wellington canal system.
The council then went into executive session to discuss the hiring of a new city attorney.
When the public meeting reconvened, the mayor announced that John Schindler had been selected for the job. Schindler was in attendance at the Wellington council meeting and accepted the position of city attorney.