Sixth-penny projects questioned

Three streets have still not had improvements completed to them that are covered by the sixth-penny sales tax and one resident wanted to know why.

During the Green River City Council meeting last night, questions arose from Green River resident Kevin Kinney as to just how much money the city still had of the 6th-penny tax and why certain improvements hadn’t been made yet.

Finance director Chris Meats addressed these questions saying the city has about $3 million of the 6th-penny tax that will be used to improve Knotty Pine and N. 5th E.

As for the carry-over amount, Meats said it’s been estimated to be around $200,000, but that’s a rough estimate and they won’t have the final number until April. He said it may also change due to some sales-tax litigation going on.

Kinney had asked why the money wasn’t being used on Second South to help purchase Christmas lights for the street and a barrier wall between the rail yard and Second South not only for aesthetics, but to act as a sound barrier.

“I would question the legality of using the money for other projects before we finish that. And I’d like to see the prints looked at,” Kinney said.

Meats said the 6th-penny tax money has to go to those needs specified in the ballot initiative. The initiative didn’t include lights or the wall. He said in the request the city specified the money would go to sidewalk-and-street improvements, which includes infrastructure, streets, sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements.

He said also listed on the ballot initiative was the number of projects and which streets would be completed.

Public works director Mark Westenskow said East Teton Boulevard, a portion of Apache, Wind River, Locust, one block on N. 4th E., Second South, a portion of Hitching Post, a portion of Evans, Knotty Pine, a portion of Railroad Avenue, and half a block of N. 5th E, where the streets listed on ballot initiative.

“Of those the last three are on schedule for construction in the coming year,” Westenskow said. “The rest of them have been completed.”

Back in 2003, the Second South project at one point did have screening walls as one of the elements of the project, however it and some other aspects weren’t completed, while others were, Westenskow said.

“It has to go for those needs,” Meats said.

Meats said Kinney had asked him if lights would fall under the request, but Meats told him he felt that would stretch the limitations of ballot initiative so it won’t be done. As for the wall, Meats said it wasn’t part of the initiative and they are no drawings. Westenskow said no walls were included in drawings from 2014 to now.

Other questions addressed

Kinney also asked questions as to where residents are supposed to dispose of tires and live Christmas trees.

Westenskow said residents can dispose of their trees at the transfer station.

As for the tires, Wyoming Waste Systems has to deal with the tire market that is here. He said the number of tires generated when the city was collecting them wasn’t enough for Liberty Tire or other companies to work with the city and provide it trailers to dispose of them.

All the information was turned over to Wyoming Waste and they will see the same numbers that the city did, he said.