Torrington local news summary

Council restructures planning commission in contentious 4-1 vote

City seeks $4.4 million loan for major water line replacement

Torrington to inventory water lines to comply with EPA mandate

Council approves downtown Trunk or Treat event

Fire chief reports on recent plane crash, emergency response

Council restructures planning commission in contentious 4-1 vote

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Following a heated debate, the Torrington City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve an ordinance restructuring the city’s planning commission on its second reading. The change reduces the commission from seven members to five, with four being city residents and one from the surrounding county. Mayor Herb Doby argued the change streamlines the process and ensures city matters are primarily decided by city residents, while clarifying the commission’s advisory role. Planning Commission Chairman David Cronk spoke in opposition, accusing the council of violating their oath of office by changing a long-standing ordinance rather than filling existing vacancies. Cronk also read a letter from realtor and former legislator Shelly Duncan urging the council to keep the commission’s current structure. The ordinance must pass one more reading to become law.

City seeks $4.4 million loan for major water line replacement

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — The City of Torrington is moving forward with a plan to replace about 11,995 feet of aging water mains after the City Council held a public hearing Tuesday. The city will request a $4.4 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan to replace undersized 4-inch ductile iron pipes with new 8-inch PVC lines. The project, affecting parts of West A, B and C streets as well as portions of 14th Avenue, is a continuation of the city’s Water Master Plan. If the loan is approved, the estimated cost to an average residential user would increase roughly 15 to 25 cents per month (about 3 cents per 1,000 gallons).

Torrington to inventory water lines to comply with EPA mandate

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — To comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the city plans to identify the material of all unknown water service lines. The council held a public hearing for a project that will investigate 661 locations with unknown service line materials on both city and customer properties. Torrington will seek a $650,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan at zero percent interest to fund the work; the city’s baseline inventory update is due Nov. 1, 2027. Officials noted that a 1982 ordinance banned lead service lines in Torrington, and they do not expect to find many instances of lead pipes.

Council approves downtown Trunk or Treat event

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Main Street will be closed to traffic on Halloween for the annual Trunk or Treat event hosted by Go Goshen. The City Council on Tuesday approved a special event permit to close Main Street between 19th and 23rd avenues from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. The popular event is expected to draw more than 1,000 children and their families downtown. Citing the event’s positive community impact and focus on safety, the council unanimously voted to waive all associated permit fees and city costs. The Torrington Police and Fire Departments will be heavily involved in managing safety for the event.

Fire chief reports on recent plane crash, emergency response

TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Torrington Fire Chief Luis Correa updated the council on a recent single-engine plane crash northeast of the municipal airport. Correa said the pilot was the only person on board and suffered minor injuries; he was treated at the hospital and later released. Council members praised the rapid response of all emergency personnel and the pilot’s quick thinking in landing the aircraft in a field, avoiding airport property and other structures. The incident was one of six calls the department responded to since the last council meeting.

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