EVANSTON — The Evanston City Council quickly approved two requests from the National Veterans Awareness Ride, which will stop in Evanston on Thursday, May 17.

The first request was for a parade route for the riders as they exit I-80 around 5:20 p.m. at exit 3, where they will join a police escort down 12th Street and then along Front Street, finally parking their bikes on 9th Street, which they have asked the city to close from 5 to 9 p.m.

The annual event is designed to provide enhanced awareness of the sacrifices made by our nation’s veterans. 

“I think this is a great program,” said council member Wendy Schuler. “It provides recognition to our veterans, who I feel don’t get enough credit for their service.”

In other business, the council selected David Welling to represent Evanston as an official voting delegate at the annual Wyoming Association of Municipalities convention and business meeting to be held in Pinedale on June 14. Schuler was selected as an alternate.

The council then passed a resolution authorizing a license and indemnification agreement with Arvig Enterprises Inc., to install and maintain a cable under the city’s right-of-way to connect cell towers. The cable will be laid for approximately 4,400 feet, starting at the tower near the overpass. Arvig will pay the city $2 per foot, per annum for the first 10 years and then the cost will increase to $4 per foot, per annum for the following 10 years — if both parties agree to extend the contract.

Many of the city’s road and highway projects receive federal funds through the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). Those funds generally require stricter guidelines than other funds and WYDOT is requiring the city to adopt a consultant services policy if the city plans to continue using these funds.

The policy will set procedural requirements when the city hires consultants, such as engineering, architectural or surveying firms, to assist in a transportation project.

This policy will be qualification-based. All firms will have to be qualified in accordance to the guidelines, and there is some preference for local firms. Firms will need to submit a letter of intent and a selection committee will be formed and follow a points system. Then three qualified sealed bids should be submitted unless three bidders can’t be found. 

“This opens up funds for projects we might not otherwise be able to accomplish,” said Mayor Kent Williams.

The resolution passed unanimously.

The last resolution of the evening, one authorizing the city to accept a proposal from Condrey and Associates, Inc., to conduct a compensation study for city employees was tabled until the May 15 council meeting. The proposal for the study did not include staff working within the Evanston Parks and Recreation District and the council decided to wait until they could get the revised proposal, which will include parks and rec employees.