City to draft $411,000 dispatch agreement with sheriff's office

Police department to purchase three new trucks from local dealer

Council approves $542,566 bid for recreation center retaining wall

Favorable bids allow expansion of street paving project

City sells downtown parcels to WYDOT for ADA upgrades

Council raises safety concerns over semi-truck parking during I-80 closures

Council members issue plea for traffic safety as school year ends

Council approves street closures for 90th annual Cowboy Days

Council member pushes for increased transparency in work sessions

City to draft $411,000 dispatch agreement with sheriff's office

EVANSTON, Wyo. - The city council is drafting a memorandum of understanding with the Uinta County Sheriff's Office to pay $411,000 annually for 911 dispatch services through fiscal years 2027 and 2028. Police Chief Mike Vranish noted the fee covers the city's 37.5 percent share of labor costs for the county's 11 dispatchers. Evanston City Attorney Mark Harris said the agreement will also establish a commitment among Evanston, Mountain View, Lyman and the Uinta County Fire Protection District to eventually form a joint powers board to oversee and assume control of dispatch services.

Police department to purchase three new trucks from local dealer

EVANSTON, Wyo. - The Evanston Police Department will update its aging fleet with three new 2026 half-ton pickup trucks following the city council's approval of a $141,896 bid from local dealer Uinta County CDJR. Police Chief Mike Vranish said the department's current vehicles — some up to 13 years old with around 70,000 miles of hard, high-idle use — need replacement to prevent mechanical failures during emergencies. The local dealership won the bid by offering the pursuit-rated trucks at $47,298 each, keeping taxpayer funds within the local economy.

Council approves $542,566 bid for recreation center retaining wall

EVANSTON, Wyo. - The city council awarded a $542,566 contract to Precision Earthwork to replace a failing retaining wall at the Evanston Parks and Recreation facility. The project will stabilize the slope behind the building using large boulders, redirect drainage away from the facility and relocate an electrical transformer that is frequently buried by shifting dirt. Parks and Recreation representative Kim Larson noted Precision Earthwork submitted the lowest bid, beating out three other contractors for the project.

Favorable bids allow expansion of street paving project

EVANSTON, Wyo. - Lower-than-expected bids for the 2026 street maintenance overlay project have allowed the city to add a section of Prospector Drive to its paving schedule. The city council unanimously approved a change order authorizing an additional $100,000 to pave the road's first leg near the Horse Palace. City Engineer Damon Newsome said the addition keeps the city within its $1.4 million paving budget for the fiscal year while addressing a heavily patched roadway used frequently by commercial trucks and out-of-state travelers.

City sells downtown parcels to WYDOT for ADA upgrades

EVANSTON, Wyo. - Following a public hearing, the city council approved the sale of 640 square feet of city-owned property to the Wyoming Department of Transportation for $5,200. The land, located at the intersections of Sixth and Front streets and Ninth and Front streets, will be used to install new traffic signals and ADA-compliant crosswalk ramps. City Engineer Damon Newsome said the upgrades are part of a larger WYDOT signal replacement program expected to be completed this year, noting the city's intersections currently lack proper ADA accessibility.

Council raises safety concerns over semi-truck parking during I-80 closures

EVANSTON, Wyo. - Concerns were raised over dangerous conditions caused by semi-trucks parking along Interstate 80 during winter rolling road closures. Reports were shared during the meeting describing drivers dodging trucks parked in dangerous and haphazard configurations on the interstate, noting that neighboring cities like Rock Springs and Green River have much better commercial staging areas. City officials acknowledged ongoing conversations with the Wyoming Department of Transportation and expressed hope that a planned WYDOT parking lot will soon mitigate the local safety hazards.

Council members issue plea for traffic safety as school year ends

EVANSTON, Wyo. - With the school year drawing to a close, residents are being urged to drive carefully and watch for children playing in local neighborhoods. Warnings were issued during the meeting, with mention of a recent incident where a child was involved in a near-miss traffic incident in a residential area. The child was uninjured, but officials stressed the need for heightened vigilance as foot and bicycle traffic increases during the summer months.

Council approves street closures for 90th annual Cowboy Days

EVANSTON, Wyo. - Evanston is gearing up for summer festivities after the city council unanimously approved parade routes, street closures and a malt beverage permit for the 90th annual Cowboy Days celebration. The council's consent agenda also included approval for a neighborhood Father's Day block party. The upcoming events and the volunteers who organize them year-round were praised, highlighting the city's summer celebrations as a major benefit to the local community.

Council member pushes for increased transparency in work sessions

EVANSTON, Wyo. - A request to attach substantive presentations regarding the audit, urban renewal and the city budget to public work session records sparked a brief debate on transparency at Tuesday's meeting. While city officials clarified that work sessions do not generate formal minutes or attachments because no official action is taken, an argument was made that taxpayers deserve immediate digital access to all government financial documents. A request was submitted that relevant materials be made available on the city's website to accommodate growing public interest in how tax dollars are managed.

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