EVANSTON — Only two items were on the Evanston City Council work session agenda for Tuesday, Dec. 11. All council members and Mayor Kent Williams were in attendance.

The first item for discussion was brought by Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson-Kallas. She was asking for a written signed agreement with High Country Behavioral Health to continue providing the City of Evanston and the County Attorney’s Office with a holding facility for those people who are a danger to themselves or others.  

“When people are in need of serious mental health care, it is critical to have a safe place to keep them where they can be monitored until they can be admitted to the Wyoming State Hospital or another care center,” Howieson-Kallas said.

Those who meet the criteria of being a danger to themselves or others are, by law, required to have a hearing within 72 hours of being held, and the county is responsible for them until that time. Howieson-Kallas said the county jail is not an appropriate holding facility, and her office has had a successful working relationship with the Evanston Police Department and High Country. She said it is important to have a signed agreement with the parties involved.  

EPD provides the detainees transportation to and from the facility and the courthouse and this is the only item the City of Evanston pays for. Evanston Police Chief Jon Kirby said the arrangement has worked well and isn’t needed that often.

The County Attorney’s Office provides monitoring and supervision, and High Country Behavioral Health provides the facility. 

Howieson-Kallas said she will meet with the county commissioners and with High Country to advise them of the forthcoming resolution the city is proposing.

Evanston City Attorney Dennis Boal suggested the council write the resolution to include a five-year agreement with High Country Behavioral Health. The resolution will be brought up at the next city council meeting for approval.

The second item for discussion was addressed by Kirby concerning a request from Aundee Steinke, owner of the Painted Lady restaurant and bar. She is requesting a modification of their hours of operation.  

The proposed modification reads as follows: All licensees may open the licensed building at 6 a.m. and shall cease the sale of alcoholic and malt beverages promptly at the hour of 2 a.m. the following day.  Except for the room or rooms being used exclusively to provide the public a restaurant, licensees shall clear the licensed building of all persons other than employees, by 2:30 a.m.  

Steinke would like to have the option of keeping the restaurant open longer, but close the bar at the required hour of 2 a.m. Since the restaurant and bar are in the same open facility she is asking for the modification.

Interim city clerk Nancy Stevenson told the Herald after the meeting that language was updated last year based on legislation that ties a liquor license to an entire building rather than to a single dispensing area within a building. Because of that change, she said the council will have to make further language updates in order to approve Steinke’s request.

The resolution will have to go through three readings before the city council before it can be approved.