January 5, 2023 |
In Saratoga, an almost entirely new governing body got down to business Tuesday night.
During the first Saratoga town council meeting of the year, the sitting council finished up their terms by addressing a few left-over financial items. Jon Nelson, D’Ron Campbell, Ron Hutchins and Creed James no longer head Saratoga’s government. Kathy Beck, who was appointed to Ben Spaulding’s seat in September will remain through the end of the term.
Creed James ended his two-year term as mayor by thanking his fellow councilmembers for their hard work and dedication. Afterwards, James invited the town’s new mayor, Chuck Davis, to take the oath of office.
Pictured above: Saratoga Town Council. Photo by Matthew Copeland.
Mayor Davis has an extensive law enforcement background, having worked for the Saratoga PD, and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, before ending his nearly 16-year career with the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Davis was also the mayor of Encampment, serving four, two-year terms.
Once Davis was sworn in as mayor, he swore in the new council members. Mike Cooley, Jerry Fluty and Jacob Fluty took turns reciting the oath of office before taking their seats.
Mayor Davis changed the town’s attorney. Gone is Jane France and, in her place, will be Kylie Waldrip. Davis said he will retain France for a while longer to finish the transfer of the Corbett Medical Building to Valley Village Childcare.
Mayor Davis asked the Valley Village board of directors’ vice-chairperson, Ellie Dana, to give him and the new council an update. Dana said she is very close to presenting the town with a finalized plan. The mayor expressed his support.
Dana is trying to make an agreement with the town to move her daycare into the Corbett Medical Building. When the North Platte Valley Medical Center opens later this year, the Platte Valley Clinic will move from the Corbett building into the hospital. The town owns the building, but years of deferred maintenance has left the structure unsuitable for use as a daycare.
Dana asked the town to bring the building up to code, at a cost of nearly $500,000. Instead, the Corbett Medical Foundation, who donated the building to Saratoga, has given the town permission to sell it to Dana for $1. Valley Village Childcare will be responsible for upgrading the structure to meet all state and federal guidelines.
Mike Cooley was chosen to be the first mayor pro-tem. Mayor Davis said he wanted to give each council member a chance to learn the duties of his office.
Each of Saratoga’s boards requires a liaison from the town council. Mayor Davis assigned himself to sit on the town hall, airport advisory, fire department, water and sewer joint powers board, and the police department, which Mayor Davis said he is legally required to hold. The mayor said he will also be on the planning and zoning commission until a new public works director is hired.
Councilwoman Beck will stay on the recreation commission and Platte Valley Community Center Joint Powers Board.
The public works board will have councilman Jerry Fluty.
Councilman Jacob Fluty will sit on the airport advisory and impact joint powers board with Mayor Davis, attending meetings when the mayor is unable.
The new mayor said former councilmember Jon Nelson has agreed to teach the new council members about the special purpose tax. The mayor assigned Mike Cooley to meet with Nelson.
Davis also hired a new police chief. Mayor Davis selected Mike Morris, the former county undersheriff for the job. Morris will take over for Ken Lehr. Mayor Davis said he used to work with Morris in the sheriff’s department. The mayor said he and the new council agreed the Saratoga PD needed new leadership.
The town clerk and treasurer also serve at the behest of the mayor. When asked why he hadn’t officially named anyone to either role, Mayor Davis said he needed more time to decide what course of action he wants to take.
Judge Daniel Massey will continue to be the municipal court judge. He was not at January 3rd’s town council meeting, but Mayor Davis said Judge Massey accepted the position.
Mayor Chuck Davis ended his first town council meeting by telling the public he will be open and direct with them.
