Council Members

Mayor – Colby Peck                                                                                                                  Wayne Harmon

Clerk – Tracey Whitehead                                                                                                         Brad Nate

Police Chief – Eric Whitehead                                                                                                   Theresa Lewis

Public Works Director – Mike Duran                                                                                          Charles Dayton                                                                                    

 

                                                                    Town Council Meeting Minutes

                                                                             November 12, 2025

                                                                                       7:00 p.m.

 

Attending: Mayor Colby Peck, Council – Charles Dayton, Wayne Harmon, Theresa Lewis, Brad Nate, Court Clerk Barbara Sorensen, Chief Eric Whitehead, Officer Davis Stocking, Public Works Director Mike Duran, Clerk Tracey Whitehead 

Also attending: Sarah Dayton, Ashbee Thompson, Cameron Bird, Bailey Bird, Britany Thompson, Debbie Tims, Tripp Recce, Jed Awtrey, Thornock, Joe Dayton, Jan Moddy, Dennis Nate.

 

1. Mayor Peck called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

2. The Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilwoman Lewis.

3. Motion to approve the agenda by Councilman Harmon seconded by Councilman Dayton. Motion carried.

4. Motion to approve the Town Council Meeting minutes for August 12, 2025, by Councilman Harmon, seconded by Councilwoman Lewis. Motion carried.

5. Motion to approve the accounts payable, payroll for August 2025 by Councilman Harmon, seconded by Councilwoman Lewis. Motion carried.

Tegeler & Associates

$100.00

McPherson Tire

$570.35

All West Communications

$823.45

Mid-American Chemical

$697.25

AT&T Mobility

$326.34

Mountainland Supply Co.

$1,038.57

Bancorp

$22,346.61

Payroll

$24609.78

Chemtrch-Ford

$563.00

Payroll Taxes

$7579.53

Bowers Law Office

$9602.00

RelaDyne West LLC

$2335.39

Capital Business Systems Inc.

$188.45

Rocky Mtn. Power

$5205.00

Caselle, Inc.

$624.00

Town of Afton

$54.00

Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

$156.00

Todd Brown

$1,400.00

Gundersen Ace

$176.44

Valley Wide Co-op

$1771.03

J Solution

$200.00

WY Dept of Workforce

$920.41

First Bankcard

$10,619.17

WY Retirement

$5,367.92

Hastings, Inc.

$21.99

WEBT

$7118.95

Lincoln County S. O.

$942.00

WY Office of State Land

$81,403.48

Twin D

$5,505.28

Kemmerer Gazette

$52.80

IDAWY

$80.25

 

 

 

6.   Awards and Public Recognition- Congratulations to the Cokeville Panthers Girls volleyball Team for winning State.

 

1.  Unfinished Business –  

250-Year Celebration Coin: The council decided on the lettering layout for the commemorative coin ("Cokeville" on top, "Wyoming" on bottom, years on the sides) and determined the student design contest should focus on Cokeville's history.

 

1. New Business

2. Public Comment/Communications

Sarah Dayton-I was just going to let you know. of the SLEC. There’s a Terr Power meet and greet tomorrow. We do have a few other Cokeville Town Council Meetings - Combined Summary

1. Summary:

• This document consolidates several Cokeville Town Council meetings, covering a range of topics from administrative approvals and holiday planning to major strategic initiatives. Key themes include a comprehensive town branding and infrastructure update, focusing on a potential logo redesign, the "Open Range" slogan, and a project to replace all town signage. Significant discussion was dedicated to enforcing business license compliance through an educational campaign. The council also secured substantial impact fee funding for a sewer project, addressed public works staffing by hiring a new employee, and planned community events like the Christmas light contest, Santa Claus visit, and employee Christmas dinner. Communication with the public was a recurring concern, with plans to launch a new town website and explore other outreach methods to keep citizens informed.

2. Key Action Items/Commitments for [User's Name]:

• Oversee Signage Project: Ensure the project stays on track, with a goal to have plans and numbers finalized by May to begin implementation.

• Manage Signage Budget: Confirm that the new signage project, including initial safety signs estimated at $10,000-$12,000, can be covered by the available impact funds.

• Facilitate Public Input: Move forward with creating and distributing a public poll to gather community feedback on the town logo and slogan.

• Coordinate with John Park: Continue discussions with John Park regarding strategic planning sessions, potentially exploring online meetings due to his preference to avoid winter travel.

• Finalize .gov Domain: Oversee the process of securing the "cokeville.gov" domain, utilizing the approved budget of up to $1,000 if a free option is not available.

3. Detailed Breakdown by Topic:

Topic 1: Town Branding, Logo, and Signage

• Summary of discussion points:

  • The council extensively discussed a major initiative to update the town's branding and create cohesive signage.

  • Logo & Motto: A proposal was made to review the current town motto ("Welcome to the open range") and logo (the bucking horse, "Steamboat"). While the "Open Range" slogan is well-regarded and likely to be kept, there's a desire to create a logo more unique to Cokeville, possibly incorporating local landmarks like Rocky Peak. The committee clarified the intent is to gauge public opinion before making any changes.

  • Signage Project: A large-scale project was discussed to replace all town signage, including safety signs (stop, yield), street name signs, and wayfinding signs, to create a uniform look. The project will be funded by impact monies, with an initial estimate of $10,000-$12,000 for essential safety and street signs. Safety signs are the top priority.

• Decisions made:

  • The beautification committee was given permission to create a poll to gather public opinion on the town's logo and motto.

  • The town signage project will proceed, prioritizing safety signage first.

• Action items/commitments and assigned owners:

  • Create Public Poll: The beautification committee will develop and distribute a poll to gauge public sentiment on the town logo and motto. (Owner: Beautification Committee)

  • Count all existing town signs: To establish a baseline for the project. (Owner: Davis’s team)

  • Research and present design options and budget scenarios: For the new signage. (Owner: Unspecified council members/staff)

  • Finalize sign orders: By the end of February or March. (Owner: [User's Name])

  • Install new signs: In early spring/summer. (Owner: [User's Name])

Topic 2: Business License Compliance and Enforcement

• Summary of discussion points:

  • The council addressed the significant lack of compliance with the town's business license ordinance, noting many local businesses operate without one, while out-of-town companies often comply.

  • The purpose of the license was reviewed, clarifying it's more about managing impact, zoning, and record-keeping than generating revenue, with a low fee of $30.

  • It was agreed that a lack of awareness is a major factor. A previous attempt to mail letters had a low response rate.

  • The council debated the scope, clarifying there are age exemptions for minors (e.g., kids with lawn mowing services).

• Decisions made:

  • A motion was passed to launch a comprehensive educational campaign about the business license requirement using all available communication channels before resuming enforcement.

• Summary of discussion points:

  • 250-Year Celebration Coin: The council decided on the lettering layout for the commemorative coin ("Cokeville" on top, "Wyoming" on bottom, years on the sides) and determined the student design contest should focus on Cokeville's history.

  • Santa Claus Visit: The annual visit for elementary students is scheduled for December 23rd from 8:15 a.m. to noon at the library.

  • Christmas Light Contest: A community-wide contest was approved, with a $300 prize pool donated by the Cokeville Clinic. Judging will run from December 1st to 17th.

  • Employee Christmas Dinner: After realizing it was forgotten, the council reconvened to plan the dinner, tentatively setting the date for December 15th, pending venue confirmation at "The Gold Buckel."

  • Easter Egg Hunt: The hunt is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 28th, at the school gymnasium, pending a finalized MOU with the school.

• Decisions made:

  • The coin lettering layout and design theme were approved.

  • The Christmas light contest and Santa visit plans were approved.

  • The employee Christmas dinner was approved for December 15th, contingent on venue availability.

  • The Easter egg hunt date was tentatively set for March 28th.

Action items/commitments and assigned owners:

• Launch Christmas Contest: The committee will post details and begin advertising the contest ASAP. (Owner: Beautification Committee)

• Order Oranges: Councilman Lewis will contact Rollins to order oranges for the Santa event. (Owner: Councilman Lewis)

• Finalize Easter Egg Hunt MOU: The council needs to solidify the MOU with the school. (Owner: Town Council/Colby Peck)

• Check venue availability: For the employee Christmas dinner. (Owner: Unspecified)

Topic 4: Public Works and Infrastructure

• Summary of discussion points:

  • Sewer Project Funding: Mayor Colby was praised for securing significant impact fee funding from SLIB. Cokeville will receive either $1.4 million or $580,000, depending on a Sublette County sales tax vote.

  • Public Works Position: The council discussed the need to fill the third Public Works position, emphasizing its importance for winter sidewalk maintenance and liability.

  • Water System: Wayne reported the water system is okay, and the pending SCADA system installation will prevent future overflows.

  • Propane Bids: The town received zero replies to eight requests for propane bids and will follow up with vendors.

• Decisions made:

  • The Public Works position will remain full-time. Colby will interview candidates.

• Topic 5: Administrative and Community Communication

• Summary of discussion points:

  • Community Communication: A recurring theme was the communication gap between the council and residents. A recent survey indicated citizens feel uninformed. The lack of a local newspaper is a contributing factor.

  • Proposed Solutions: Ideas included a "State of the Town" message, promoting a new town website as the central information hub, and using a text notification system (TextMyGov).

  • Meeting Accessibility: Meetings are streamed and available on-demand on YouTube under "Cokeville WY" to increase viewership.

  • .gov Domain: The council approved a budget of up to $1,000 to secure the "cokeville.gov" domain to avoid delays, though a free option is preferred.

  • Master/Tourism Plan: A survey was sent to Lincoln County tourism stakeholders, and a report will be shared at the next meeting.

• Decisions made:

  • The new town website will be positioned as the central hub for official information.

  • Approved a budget of up to $1,000 to secure the cokeville.gov domain.

• Action items/commitments and assigned owners:

  • Launch new town website: The website is nearly complete. (Owner: Charles)

  • Gather communication ideas: The council will solicit ideas from the public and themselves to improve outreach. (Owner: Town Council)

  • Secure the cokeville.gov domain: Aiming for a free solution but authorized to spend up to $1,000. (Owner: Charles)

  • Present the tourism readiness report: At the next meeting. (Owner: Charles)

higher-ups project director of construction and plant operations. If you are interested in asking questions or hearing about that update, it might be a good time to talk about as far as updates go.

 

1.  Resolutions/Ordinances

 

1.   Department Reports

Councilman Nate – Streets & Grounds – No news on street. We filled in potholes.

 

 

Councilwoman Lewis – Parks & Recreation, Economic Development

Santa Claus Visit: The annual visit for elementary students is scheduled for December 23rd from 8:15    a.m. to noon at the library.

Easter Egg Hunt: The hunt is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 28th, at the school gymnasium, pending a finalized MOU with the school.

Beautification Committee- Christmas Light Contest: A community-wide contest was approved, with a $300 prize donated by the Cokeville Clinic. Judging will run from December 1st to 17th.

Logo & Motto: A proposal was made to review the current town motto ("Welcome to the open range") and logo (the bucking horse, "Steamboat"). While the "Open Range" slogan is well-regarded and likely to be kept, there's a desire to create a logo more unique to Cokeville, possibly incorporating local landmarks like Rocky Peak. The committee clarified the intent is to gauge public opinion before making any changes.

Councilman Harmon – Water/Sewer, Airport

 

Water System: Wayne reported the water system is okay, and the pending SCADA system installation will prevent future overflows.

 

Councilman Dayton – Planning & Zoning, Business Relations

Coordinate with John Park: Continue discussions with John Park regarding strategic planning sessions, potentially exploring online meetings due to his preference to avoid winter travel.

Master/Tourism Plan: A survey was sent to Lincoln County tourism stakeholders, and a report will be shared at the next meeting.

Mayor Peck – Administration, Police, Public Works

• Sewer Project Funding: Mayor Colby was praised for securing significant impact fee funding from SLIB. Cokeville will receive either $1.4 million or $580,000, depending on a Sublette County sales tax vote.

• Propane Bids: The town received zero replies to eight requests for propane bids and will follow up with vendors.

A motion was passed to launch a comprehensive educational campaign about the business license requirement using all available communication channels before resuming enforcement.

Signage Project: A large-scale project was discussed to replace all town signage, including safety signs (stop, yield), street name signs, and wayfinding signs, to create a uniform look. The project will be funded by impact monies, with an initial estimate of $10,000-$12,000 for essential safety and street signs. Safety signs are the top priority

1. Executive Meeting

Motion to move to executive meeting Councilwoman Lewis.Second by Councilman Nate Motion carried.

 

1. Motion to resume after executive meeting Councilwoman Lewis.  Second by Councilman Nate Motion carried.

 

1. Employee Christmas Dinner: After realizing it was forgotten, the council reconvened to plan the dinner, tentatively setting the date for December 15th, pending venue confirmation at "the Gold Buckel."

13. Motion to adjourn by Councilman Dayton, seconded by Councilwoman Lewis at                                                                   

      9:15 p.m.

 

________________________________

Mayor Colby Peck

 

                                                                       

Clerk Tracey Whitehead