October 13 - Citizen Awards

Cokeville Mayor Stan Thompson gave the green light for the Cokeville Citizen Award Selection Committee (a committee of the Cokeville Chamber of Commerce) to present it's annual Citizen Awards at the October 13 Town Council Meeting
Time: 7pm, Tuesday, October 13
Place: Cokeville Town Hall
Who: Everyone
Why: To honor the following individuals

Citizen of the Year (2008) Stewart Petersen
Lifetime Achievement Lynn Dimond

Please join us to thank these outstanding citizens. Refreshments served following presentation

The awards will be presented during council's "new business" and we thank the Town Council for participating in honoring outstanding citizens.

http://cokeville.blogspot.com/2009/11/dimond-petersen-honored.html Link to photos of the event

Cokeville welcomes home State Champion Volleyball Team

Cokeville turned out on Sunday, November 2nd 2008 at 2pm to escort in the Lady Panther State Champion Volleyball team!  It was very exciting to meet and greet the team on their return.  

There were many hugs, tears, and cheers as the team walked off the bus at the Cokeville High School. Congratulations girls and Coach Toomer and Coach Thompson for a job well done!

VOTE!

Election judges:  Ellen Thompson, Jeanne Esterholdt, Jamie King (for Carol Reed), Maybell Bruce, Janette Feuz

VOTE TODAY!!

Cokeville Town Hall
7am - 7pm
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Check back COKEVILLE.BLOGSPOT.COM for links to local, state, and national winners!!
We will post informal results as listed by news media and local offices

Meet the Candidate Night Quick ReCap

Wednesday evening was the Chamber of Commerce "Meet the Candidate" night. Carol Reed did a great job being an emcee. Candidates for County Commissioners in attendance were: Stan Thompson, Kent Connelly, and one more...I'll think of his name.

Mike Richins was representing Bill Winney for US Representative (I think?)

Joe Wilson running for Cokeville Town Council. Shelly Gaily was in the hospital for emergency treatment but she sent a statement to be read, also for Cokeville Town Council.

Jonathan Teichert is running for area representative (?) for Republican party. (Sorry, not sure on this either)

There were less than 30 (do I dare type 20?) people in attendance. Many of these candidates have been on the road a lot lately, with elections being this coming TUESDAY the 19th. They are trying to get their message out. The attendance was very poor. When we don't know who we should vote for, don't blame the candidates for not trying to get their message out. (The meeting was on the town board and there were several signs around town...)

One of the candidates made a great comment to the effect of: if this were a high school musical, this auditorium would be packed. We support our youth. We have to find a way to support our adults.

Shelly Gailey - Definitely in the Race

Recently I had a conversation with Shelly Gailey. She has heard some comments that people think she is not running for Cokeville Town Council. She would like everyone to know that is definitely not the case. SHELLY IS IN AND RUNNING! Shelly has opened a website so people can see that even if they can't put her name and face together yet, she has definitely been involved in the taking care of Cokeville in the time she's been here. Check out her website by clicking here.

Also in the running for town council is JOE WILSON. He is excited to serve the town and has some great suggestions that's he is willing to help implement.

Incumbent is Wayne Harmon, also running to retain his seat from his first term.

Cokeville's own Stan Thompson, the current Mayor, is running for Lincoln County Commissioner. He has been involved in the county level planning and zoning for many years. Stan would add a lot of knowledge to the County Commission. I also think he would be more of a team player than Kent Connelley, who is the incumbent hoping to retain his seat from his first term. When you only have three members of a team, you need all three working together, even when they disagree. I don't hear of that happening right now.

4th of July Dinner, Games, Fireworks

Only three adults showed up to play softball at 4pm, but that was the only real "bust" of the day...The evening community potluck was a success, with many, many attending. Others enjoyed the evening in backyards, which is also a success!

The children's parade was the cutest thing...goats, a clown, horses, red white and blue streamers, cowgirls, cowboys, pioneers, dogs, wagons, trikes, bikes...twice around the park! Once clockwise, the other time counter clock wise...

The games were fantastic! Gunny sack races, three legged races, stick pulls, arm wrestling, leg wrestling, pie eating, watermelon eating, raw egg toss, water balloon toss, lap sitting (how many people can sit on one person's lap...what were you thinking??), table sitting (same idea as lap sitting) and on and on....

There were prizes and fun for all ages. Thanks activity committee for the great time and memories!

The Town of Cokeville shot off fireworks from the elementary school at dusk. When that finished, the Thomspon family put on a show at dark. The sky was filled with reminders of "the rockets red glare!"

Happy Birthday United States of America!

Town of Cokeville needs Bishops' input?

I was surprised to read the following in the town minutes from May 13, 2008
"Karla Toomer has requested that the park be reserved on July 18-19 for the Rendezvous. They have scheduled activities and sales around the 24th celebration. Does a meeting need to be called with the Bishop's to have their input?"

Since I did not request a meeting with the Bishops, it must be the town that needs the input. What the town will do with the input, if they are successful in their request for a meeting, is yet to be seen.

I will continue forward with the task put to me by the Chamber of Commerce to help coordinate a fun two day event, to compliment not compete with Pioneer Day Activities, because people come and they enjoy it.

PS for LDS food committee - Mayor Thompson and Clerk NaDene Dana informed me that food sales were down at the luncheon last year and it was the Chamber of Commerce's Arts, Crafts, and Business Fair (a.k.a. Rendezvous '07) that hurt the sales. The Craft Fair's advertised hours last year BEGAN at 1pm on Saturday. The lack of sales/extra food was not related to the craft fair. Something to keep in mind when estimating this year's numbers.

Wyoming Open Meetings

Last week I stopped in to the town hall to say hi to Carol Reed. She had been sick a while and I wanted to see how she was doing. When I entered the building, there was Carol walking down the hall. I walked up to her and we started visiting. Then, out into the hall came various people. I didn't pay much attention but Wayne Harmon walked by me and I saw Mayor Stan Thompson and Doug Prows. All three of them are on council and three makes a quorum. There were others exiting a room and it appeared a work meeting was ending but Carol and I were headed downstairs and I didn't ask.

When I left the building, I checked the doors to see if I had missed some notice of a meeting when I walked into the town hall. Nope

I typed "Wyoming Open Meetings" in a search engine on the internet, and I am providing an easy link here to the Wyoming State Statute that require notice of all meetings with a quorum present. Here is a brief passage: "Meeting" means an assembly of at least a quorum of the governing body of an agency which has been called by proper authority of the agency for the purpose of discussion, deliberation, presentation of information or taking action regarding public business;

How can a meeting be open when there is no notice given to the public? Notice is required by state statute...I'm not a lawyer so I'm not offering any interpretation here...

16-4-404. Types of meetings; notice; recess.

(a) In the absence of a statutory requirement, the governing body of an agency shall provide by ordinance, resolution, bylaws or rule for holding regular meetings unless the agency's normal business does not require regular meetings in which case the agency shall provide notice of its next meeting to any person who requests notice. A request for notice may be made for all future meetings...




Elected officials might not want to have the public at their retreats and work meetings but the public has the right to know and listen if they choose. Public sometimes aren't allowed to comment at a work meeting and that's ok. It is, after all, a work meeting. No decisions will be made. However all members of the public are still allowed to know about and sit in on most meetings. The only exceptions are clearly outlined in the state statutes. (No, I didn't copy and paste exceptions, you need to find them yourself)

April Council Meeting

Highlights from the April 2008 Council Meeting. Thanks to Rep. Kathy Davison and Sen. Stan Cooper for coming to our town and for the budget update from the end of this legislative session!

Stewart Petersen, on behalf of the Cokeville Economic Development Steering Committee (CEDSC), presented the idea of renewing the pursuit of a bank to come to town. He said it was ranked high in the town assessment done a few years back, was pursued heavily for a while and was seeming successful in attracting the then "First National Bank" until a 2nd bank pulled, (this is my words not Stewart's) "A dirty rotten one" on the town of Cokeville. That in turn led to a failed courtship of First National Bank. Stewart made a good well-thought out presentation.

Mayor Thompson said, but no motion was made, that a delegation would re-approach the bank idea and Councilman Harmon said he knew one of the bank men we talked of and he would visit with him. As far as the council committing to go after a "Business Ready Grant" (towns plan and build for what they want then attract a business to come) or "Business Committed Grant" (A guarantee a business will come if their building needs are met), no further discussion or commitment was made.

The second issue Stewart presented, was that of the idea of a Town Administrator. He gave compelling reasons why this would be a good position to budget in for. No discussion occurred among the council.


THE FIRST BUDGET READING was held during the middle of the council meeting. There was no public comment time which would have been nice. The figure was mentioned, which I didn't write down. The sewer lagoon was mentioned as the big project - which of course will also be very expensive.

The council's progress on the Town Smoking Ban council was inquired about. Mayor Thompson said he hadn't had time to get into as much fact-finding as he had hoped. He then stated that the council wanted more citizen input maybe in the form of a petition or something, but they were definitely going to look into it a little more.


Being on council is a tough job and I want to thank the mayor and council for the time they do put into their elected positions.