May 15, 2024 |
Photo – City of Rawlins logo – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Rawlins governing body is looking for ways to make it easier for the state to fund WYDOT projects in the city.
In 1974, the City of Rawlins and the Board of Carbon County Commissioners voted to create an Urban Systems Advisory Committee. The 15-person committee suggests transportation improvement projects to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, or WYDOT.
During the May 7th Rawlins city council meeting, City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave said in 1981, Rawlins became one of 16 Wyoming municipalities with populations over 5,000 enrolled in the WYDOT Urban Systems Advisory Committee program. Every year, WYDOT gives the city $155,000 to use on transportation related improvement projects. While $155,000 isn’t enough to pay for an entire project, Attorney Maberry-Nave said cities may save the yearly payments until enough money is collected.
The City of Rawlins is using its WYDOT Urban Systems Committee funding to construct a pedestrian underpass at North Higley Boulevard, where it intersects with Harshman Street and Aberdeen Boulevard.
Attorney Maberry-Nave said Rawlins is unique among the other 15 municipalities with Urban Systems Advisory Committees. The city attorney said Rawlins law makes it difficult for the committee members to come to a consensus on projects.
Last June, Urban Systems Advisory Committee Chairwoman Judy Dixon explained to the council that having a 15-person committee creates problems. Dixon said the legally binding by-laws prevent members from voting on important issues unless they are present at every meeting.
Back at the May 7th Rawlins city council meeting, Attorney Maberry-Nave suggested that the city get rid of the existing Urban Systems Advisory Committee ordinance and allow the team to govern themselves.
The city attorney she’ll meet with the Urban Systems Committee during their next meeting and see if they’ll officially adopt the existing by-laws before the city repeals its ordinance. That way, the committee will still operate under a set of regulations while new rules are being created, said the city attorney.
Councilman Chris Weisenburg asked if the community or the state will have the final say over the new by-laws. Attorney Maberry-Nave said WYDOT has a set of regulations each Urban Systems Advisory Committee is expected to follow.
Mayor Terry Weickum said the Urban Systems Advisory Committee was misused in the past. Instead of focusing on state-funded transportation improvement projects, Mayor Weickum said the committee spent its time putting up traffic signs.
Attorney Maberry-Nave said repealing the city’s ordinance will allow the Urban Systems Advisory Committee to better use WYDOT funding on needed improvements.
