EVANSTON — City council members moved through a lengthy agenda on Tuesday, Aug. 1, approving a lineup of permits, contracts and resolutions. 

In new business, the council approved Resolution 17-49, authorizing the execution of a grant agreement with the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) to obtain Main Street Technical Association Funds.

“We have received these funds in the past and are pleased to receive them this year,” said city clerk Amy Grenfell. “This year’s funds will go toward a brick kiosk signage at Depot Square, as well as other signage around downtown.”

Grenfell said they applied for $14,910 of the possible $20,000 they can apply for each year as a certified Main Street Community.

“Funds were tight this year,” she said. “Only five cities received funds, including Evanston.”

The council approved Resolution 17-50, authorizing a contract with the Wyoming Division of Victim Services for fiscal year 2018. The contract will obtain grant funds to continue the Victim Services Program.

According to Police Chief Jon Kirby, the Victim Services Program is in its 13th year, providing funds to help with all victims of violence but specifically the Hispanic/Latino residents.

The grant helps offer resources for the Victim Services Program, including a Spanish-speaking victim coordinator.

“This is a great program for us,” said Kirby.

Three motions were approved by the council — the first for a 2017 4WD half-ton pickup truck for the Environmental Services department, the second for a 2017 4WD three-quarter-ton pickup truck for the Water Department and the third approving the low bid for the 2017 City of Evanston Street Overlay Project.

All three expenditures were budgeted for and come under budget, according to city officials.

Resolution 17-51 authorized a contract agreement with Staker Parsons Companies for the completion of the Street Overlay Project.

Dean Barker said Staker Parsons has done previous overlay projects for the city, and the city has been happy with the company’s work.

“Their bid was actually one dollar less than last year,” he said. “They will do Elm Street, 8th Street and Southridge Road starting at the end of August.”

Resolution 17-52, approved the final plat for the Edsel Addition, a subdivision within Uinta County.

Dean said since the property falls within the one-mile border of Evanston city limits, it comes before the city.

“The county only allows one building structure on a parcel, so they had to subdivide the property in order to build a new home on the land,” he said. 

The council approved Resolution 17-53, authorizing a purchase agreement for the sale of real property with High Country Behavioral Health.

“We discussed this last week during the work session meeting,” said Grenfell. “This is our next step in moving forward in selling the medical tech building to High Country.”

Grenfell said the city received an official letter of interest from High Country to purchase the property they’ve leased from the city prior to the lease ending.

“They had a five-year lease agreement with the city, which ends in 2019,” she said. “They wish to purchase the property now.”

According to Grenfell the proposed purchase amount is $2.15 million with a $1 million credit, which was a down payment from High Country. This is in addition to monthly lease payments of $291,032.84.

“These credits were all part of our lease agreement with High Country,” said Grenfell. “We will also credit them for the ADA doors if those are put in before the purchase.”

Closing out new business, the council unanimously approved the sale of property and expressed hope that High Country Behavioral Health will use the building for years to come.

The council approved a motion allowing the transfer of ownership of a resort liquor license from Summit Food and Beverage, LLC, to Summit Lodging, LLC, both doing business as Knights Inn.

In the consent agenda, the council approved a catering permit requested by Fort Bridger Cash Store.

The catering permit allows Fort Bridger Cash Store to use its liquor license within Evanston city limits to cater a wedding at the Machine Shop.

A limited malt beverage permit requested by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for the annual softball tournament was approved. The tournament, held at the Overthrust Ball Fields, is scheduled for Aug. 19-20.

According to VFW representative J.R. Dean, the tournament currently has 25 teams signed up and the VFW hopes to have 35 teams by tournament time.

“This is a good tournament,” said Evanston Parks and Rec director Jay Dee Nielsen. “People show up for this one.”

Closing out the consent agenda section of the meeting, council members approved a limited malt beverage permit and parade route for the Evanston Cowboy Days’ annual celebration on Labor Day weekend.

Most Cowboy Days events are scheduled for Sept. 1-4 at the Uinta County Fairgrounds. The parade is set for 10 a.m. on Sept. 4, following the same route it has used in previous years.