November 20, 2023 |
Photo – WY DEQ logo – Courtesy DEQ
The Wyoming Environmental Quality Control council voted Friday in a ruling against Saratoga landscaping material supplier Randy Stevens.
Last December, the Department of Environmental Quality attempted to have Randy Stevens forfeit his $66,000 bond. The state accused Stevens of willingly violating a 2020 agreement to cease mining operations and bring his Saratoga property up to DEQ standards.
In July, the matter came before the seven-member Wyoming Environmental Quality Control council. The DEQ argued before the council that Stevens had failed to uphold his end of a 2020 agreement. Stevens, however, argued that Saratoga officials, under John Zeiger’s mayoral administration, had blocked his efforts to comply with DEQ’s demands.
Several witnesses were called on both sides, including former Saratoga Mayor Creed James. James testified that, while mayor, he worked with Stevens to create several plans to develop his property. James was unable to elaborate due to many of the discussions taking place during executive sessions of the Saratoga town council.
After two days of testimony, the Environmental Quality Control council said they needed more time to deliberate. The council said they were limited to one of two conclusions: either Stevens violated the DEQ agreement, or he did not. If the council rules that Stevens did violate the agreement, then his $66,000 will be revoked and the state will forcibly remediate his property. A decision on the bond forfeiture was postponed until later in the year.
On Friday, November 17th, EQC met to issue its ruling. Chairman Steve Lenz opened the proceeding by calling for an executive session to confer with the council’s attorney. Afterwards, Lenz asked for a motion to revoke Stevens’s $66,000 bond.
Environmental Quality Control council member Ryan Greene motioned to have Stevens forfeit his bond to DEQ. Councilman Stan Blake seconded.
Following the motion, Chairman Lenz said it was his opinion that Stevens had violated his 2020 agreement with the DEQ. Lenz said he would vote to revoke Stevens’s $66,000 bond.
Councilman John Corra said he was not happy that the town of Saratoga refused to participate in July’s hearing. Corra said he would like to know what Stevens and the town discussed during executive sessions before issuing a ruling.
Councilman Corra said he was unsure how he would vote.
Councilman Shane True also said he would have preferred if the town of Saratoga participated in July’s hearing. True said he thought that having the state remove Stevens’s right to use his property as he sees fit is unwarranted in this case.
Councilman True said he would be voting against the bond forfeiture.
Councilwoman Marjorie Bedessem said she also through that the town of Saratoga should have been more involved in the hearing process. Bedessem said she doesn’t believe that any substantial work will be done on the Stevens property without DEQ’s involvement.
Councilwoman Bedessem said she would vote for the bond forfeiture.
The remaining three council members said they also would vote for bond forfeiture.
Chairman Lenz called for a vote on the motion to revoke Stevens’s $66,000 DEQ bond on his Saratoga property. The motion passed six to one, with Councilman True as the sole dissenter.
With a decision in hand, Lenz called on Chief Deputy Attorney General Ryan Schelhass to prepare the order to seize Stevens’s bond. The EQC will present Stevens with the official bond forfeiture during their next meeting in the first week of December.
