<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0rysoA_0viDsTSM00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0rysoA_0viDsTSM00" width="2048" height="1365" ><figcaption>(City of Casper, Facebook)</figcaption></figure>CASPER, Wyo. — At its regular work session on Tuesday, Sept. 24., the Casper City Council will get information on a requested budget amendment to cover old projects and contracts, hear recommendations to improve the state of the city’s recycling program and hear an update on the number of utility accounts going delinquent since the council implemented measures to reduce that number last February. The agenda and information packet are available here and included below. The meeting will be at 4:30 p.m. at The Lyric, 230 W. Yellowstone, and will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page. RecyclingThe council will hear a report from the city’s chief operating officer and solid waste managers on recommendations to improve Casper’s recycling rate, with recommendations to look at curbside recycling programs, which could be funded by a combination of grants and monthly service fees for customers. Different options within the proposal charge all of Casper’s 19 The memo to the council says that such measures could help Casper’s residential recycling rate improve from 12.5% to the national average of 20% or above. The memo details concerns with the city’s 10 existing recycling depots and the general public’s understanding of how to use them. The contamination of plastic “clamshells” in the plastic #1 bin is identified as a significant problem. The city’s Material Recovery Facility isn’t staffed to sort the contaminated loads, so the “mixed plastic loads” are sold at a loss to the city, the memo said. The city manager will ask for the council’s direction after hearing the report. Budget AmendmentThe financial services department says the proposed amendment authorizes about $10 million of additional spending for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with $9.2 million of that offset by grants and other revenue. The memo to the council says budget amendments are typical and are usually for projects and contracts that were approved in previous budgets but weren’t completed before the end of the fiscal year, meaning that the spending authority had expired. The amendment includes $20,705,067 for the conversion of the Casper Business Center into the new police headquarters. It also includes $4.6 million for large-diameter steel piping to treat incoming wastewater at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Failure to do so could result in Department of Environmental Quality violations, the memo notes. Nearly a million dollars of federal funding was awarded to the overall $5.6 million project. Other major carryover projects include: <ul><li>Marion Kreiner Park and Pool improvements ($1,660,000)</li><li>North Casper Athletic Complex Improvements ($2,845,000)</li><li>Poplar Street Pedestrian Bridge ($3,500,000)</li></ul>The amendment also includes a nearly $3.9 million project to improve the river habitat around the Issak Walton League. $3 million was awarded to the project by the Bureau of Reclamation, leaving the council to authorize $879,000 to cover the costs. The amendment also covers the completion of the Midwest Avenue and the rebuilding of K Street to Bryan Stock Trail in north Casper. Operational contracts are typically for uncompleted studies, services or repairs. The memo notes that the city has about $1.1 million in standing obligations of that order. Utility CollectionsThe council will hear an update on utility bill collections since making amendments to the municipal code in February aimed at keeping more accounts out of collections. Accounts managers say fewer accounts have gone into collections since the changes, but those may be seasonal trends, according to the memo from finance and accounts departments. The most controversial measure, holding landlords accountable for tenants’ bills, didn’t make the final update, but the changes included notifying landlords of tenant delinquency, paperless billing options and required deposits for all customers. Accounts managers have also reported some success in collections after adding personal phone calls to delinquent accounts. Other ItemsThe council will hear a proposed checklist of things to consider for when the city shares grant funding or lease agreements with nonprofits. The memo says the checklist is to ensure clarity and legal compliance. The council will also hear an update on the Old Yellowstone District uniform zoning code. </div></body>

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City Council to consider future of recycling program, budget amendment, utility collections

CASPER, Wyo. — At its regular work session on Tuesday, Sept. 24., the Casper City Council will get information on a requested budget amendment to cover old projects and contracts, hear recommendations to improve the state of the city’s recycling program and hear an update on the number of utility accounts going delinquent since the council implemented measures to reduce that number last February.