Mid-year financial report shows budget tracking accurately

Council approves 4.2 percent residential electric rate increase

Contractor hired for EPA-mandated water line inspections

Homeland Security grant funds well generator installation

Fire chief announces departure after busy season

Ambulance service fees set to rise following council vote

Council doubles roofing permit fees for streamlined processing

Mid-year financial report shows budget tracking accurately

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - A mid-year financial report for the period ending Dec. 31, 2025, showed the city's general fund revenues and expenditures both tracking closely to the 50 percent mark of the annual budget. While the city temporarily showed a negative balance of roughly $509,000 across all enterprise and general funds, Clerk-Treasurer Lynette Strecker explained this was primarily due to upfronting costs for a federally funded sewer lining project, which has since been reimbursed. The city currently maintains approximately $13.1 million in unappropriated cash reserves.

Council approves 4.2 percent residential electric rate increase

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - The Torrington City Council unanimously approved a 4.2 percent power cost adjustment increase for residential electric rates, effective April 1. Clerk-Treasurer Lynette Strecker explained that the increase is a direct pass-through resulting from higher wholesale electricity costs from the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska. Winter electric rates will see an increase closer to 5 percent, while summer rates will increase by about 4 percent. Strecker noted this is the second consecutive year the city has had to pass wholesale rate increases onto consumers.

Contractor hired for EPA-mandated water line inspections

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - The council awarded a $320,000 contract to a Nebraska-based contractor to inventory 907 unknown water service lines at 661 Torrington addresses. Director of Public Works Jeff Harkins explained the project is an Environmental Protection Agency mandate to search for lead pipes, though city officials noted lead pipes were historically avoided in Torrington and they do not expect to find any. The contractor will use a vacuum excavation truck to expose and visually identify the pipes. The project is funded entirely by a state loan featuring 75 percent principal forgiveness.

Homeland Security grant funds well generator installation

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - The council approved a $205,526 change order with Goshen County Construction to purchase and install a diesel backup generator for a city well site. The addition will be fully funded by a newly awarded Department of Homeland Security grant. An additional $6,000 was also approved for AVI Professional Corporation to provide ongoing engineering and contract administration for the installation, which marks the final phase of the nearly $2.6 million well connection project originally funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

Fire chief announces departure after busy season

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Torrington Fire Chief Luis Correa announced he is stepping down from his leadership role, thanking the mayor and council for the privilege of serving the city and the area rural fire district. Correa noted the department responded to several recent incidents, including a fire at the Torrington city baler facility and a severed gas line on Highway 26 that was reportedly struck during an underground boring operation. The council is expected to officially appoint an interim candidate as the city's new fire chief at its next meeting.

Ambulance service fees set to rise following council vote

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Emergency Medical Services charges will increase on April 1 after the council unanimously approved a new fee schedule. EMS Executive Director Darin Yates reported that the basic life support base rate will increase from $700 to $800, and advanced life support will rise from $850 to $950, with mileage charges bumping from $16 to $18 per loaded mile. Yates also shared positive news from Cheyenne, noting the state legislature recently passed a bill to increase Medicaid reimbursements to 100 percent of Medicare rates starting July 1, ending a 16-year stagnation that previously forced the city to write off significant portions of its transport bills.

Council doubles roofing permit fees for streamlined processing

TORRINGTON, Wyo. - In an effort to streamline post-storm administrative work, the council passed an ordinance on its third reading establishing flat fees for roofing and fence building permits. The new ordinance doubles the previous roofing permit fee to a flat $150 and sets fence permits at a flat $30. Building Official Dennis Estes noted the flat fee will make it much easier for contractors to estimate costs during major hail repair events without waiting for city staff to calculate variable pricing based on residential square footage.

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