December 4, 2024 |
Photo – Courtesy of the Town of Medicine Bow
The governing body of Medicine Bow voted to use proceeds from the town-owned RV park to cover the town’s utility costs.
During the November 12th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Mayor Justin George proposed a new policy to use revenue from the town’s RV park to pay for municipal water and sewer usage. The RV park, located north of town off Highway 487, is mostly used to house temporary employees working on nearby energy projects. Mayor George said by not paying its own water utility bills, the town is effectively shifting the financial burden onto residents.
Mayor George explained that water and sewer accounts are considered enterprise funds, which means the state requires them to be self-sufficient, covering their expenses without support from the general budget. By paying its own utility bills, the council can use town revenue to support the cash-strapped accounts while technically following state regulations.
Mayor George said during a recent special meeting, the council discovered that revenue from the town-owned RV park is sufficient to cover the town’s utility expenses. The mayor asked the governing body if they would like to officially use the campground to pay the water and sewer bills.
Rates at the Medicine Bow RV Park are $30 a day, $185 a week, and $650 a month. The council unanimously voted to use the money to pay for the town’s utility usage.
Medicine Bow Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath informed the governing body that a budget amendment is needed, stating that revenue from the campground will be used to cover the town’s water and sewer bills. Like all ordinance changes, the amendment must be published in a local newspaper and voted on three times before being adopted. Treasurer Heath said the ordinance will be ready for its first vote during the December 9th town council meeting.
