(Fremont County, WY) – County 10 sent the following questionnaire to each of the Hudson mayor and city council candidates, ahead of next week’s August 18 Primary election. The answers from candidates who responded by the deadline are presented below, unedited and in alphabetical order.
Helen Gordon, Town Council
1. What do you feel is the most important issue the town of Hudson currently faces? What steps will you take or what plan do you have in place to address this issue?
I believe the Town of Hudson is in line to grow very quickly in the next 10 years. We have so many things to offer people here.
It is quiet, people know each other and we are in a perfect location between Lander or Riverton.
The problem is that like almost every community in Wyoming, we don’t have a large number of rentals and our available homes are limited. What we do have is at such a price that they will be purchased quickly.
I think we should be prepared for this growth, by having our infrastructure in shape to the people wishing to move here. We have issues with our water and sewer systems and The Town is going to have to improve what we have.
Hudson Town Council should also be looking at having a good set of ordinances, with building codes and controls on what and how homes are sited, built, and up to the current building standards.
2. Where do you stand on the proposed three-quarter percent sales tax? Please explain why either way. Is there anything about the proposed tax as written that you think voters/residents might have confusion about, or may be lacking clarity on?
This is an issue the Council has discussed and has had presentations on. I am in full support of this tax.
It is no longer the 1970s and we cannot continue to believe things are going to be funded by property taxes in the current political climate of tax rebates. Yes, I am a homeowner, no I do not want to pay taxes, but it is necessary for us to have services, ambulance services, transportation and a viable airport.
This tax is a sales tax, collected from sales of goods at stores, it will be added to our current sales tax collected when items are purchased at Fremont County stores and other tax collecting agencies. Our current sales tax rate is 5% or .05 cents on the dollar, this tax would make that rate 5 3/4% or .0575 on the dollar.
I am in full support of us keeping our airport. I have seen information posted on bulletin boards, by people who do not have all the facts. Our airport has always had support of the Federal Government to keep an airline here since deregulation of the airlines in the 1980s. It is called Essential Air Service, it is a stop gap to pay operating costs to that airline. It makes up the difference between operation costs and what paying passengers generate.
The general public in Fremont County doesn’t understand what a valuable service we have at the airport. It creates jobs and supports businesses and and the list goes on and on. Do you know Central Wyoming Airport is the only airport I know of that still has free parking?
The bottom line is we need ambulance service and public transportation. Do I think that the current situation for ambulance is perfect? No, but let’s clean it up and move forward.
I have personally used WRTA and it is so great that we have this valuable service. Let’s support it.
3. What town issues in Hudson do you feel do not get as much attention, but deserve to be addressed?
We need to clean up our town. We need ordinances on the books about junk cars, junk and overgrown lots. Hudson needs to move out of the 1980s and into 2026. I would love to see us have an Ordinance officer with power to clean up our off-streets and get things cleaned up here.
4. What is your current knowledge of the infrastructure issues with the town’s water/wastewater treatment systems? These issues have led to recent water/sewer rate increases for residents, with the continued likelihood of regular increases in the coming years. What plans do you have to address these issues, and do you have ideas that could possibly help residents who are already having issues affording their monthly bills?
“What is your current knowledge of the infrastructure issues with the town’s water/wastewater treatment systems?“
I am a current Town Council member, who has been at all the meetings, public hearings and presentations. I am aware of the approved grant requests.
My understanding is pretty good about what is going on with our Enterprise Funds, water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant.
As an employee of the City of Riverton, working to write and manage grants for Public Works, I have had experience before I became a Council member. I understand what equipment we have and the age of it.
“These issues have led to recent water/sewer rate increases for residents, with the continued likelihood of regular increases in the coming years. What plans do you have to address these issues, and do you have ideas that could possibly help residents who are already having issues affording their monthly bills?”
This is not correct. These issues have created their own set of problems.
By Wyoming State Statute, a town’s/city’s Enterprise Fund (The operation of the water and waste water treatment systems) must be self sufficient. Meaning, the money you collect from the water/waste water users must pay to run the operation of these two systems.
Hudson’s has not for many years, we have used money out of our “General Fund” to cover shortfalls instead of raising rates. The State of Wyoming’s grant money has become harder to come by so they are enforcing the rules. The bottom line, if Hudson wants grant money to repair our aging and failing systems, we have to follow the rules. The Council made the really hard decision to raise rates. We have to if we are going to improve.
I know Lander has a program of discounts for seniors, but at this time we cannot offer it to our citizens until we have less of a gap in our funding.
The State of Wyoming has a LIEAP program for help with heating bills in the winter, I recommend anyone who qualifies apply. They do not cover water bills, but do help cover heating costs and will allow people to save some money in the winter.
5. What specific strength would you bring to the role of Council member/Mayor? What is an area of weakness, or a subject matter that you would have to work on if elected? Can you think of a time when you failed at something, but overcame the failure or hurdle to work toward a solution that would apply to the role of City Council Member/Mayor? Please elaborate.
I am a long time Wyoming resident, having seen and lived through the boom and bust cycle that we go through in the state gives me a perspective that others may not have. Also having worked in city government, knowing how water and sewer works, what it takes to start, work through and finish a construction project and how citizens are affected. I have currently served on Hudson’s Town Council and that has provided me expertise in this position. It is a struggle to listen to people’s complaints due to the lack of understanding, especially when public hearings are held, the Town Council meetings are public and our Town Hall is very accessible.
I try to be patient, listen carefully and give reasonable answers. I chose to pursue a college degree when my youngest son was a senior in high school. At that point I was married, had a full time job and a home to take care of. Shortly after that, I divorced, had a son graduate and leave home, bought my own home, began caretaking my grandmother and was still pursuing a college degree. Five years later my grandmother and my Dad had passed away, I lost my job, twice and finally graduated from CWC. It was a struggle, but I kept going and did meet my goal. It shows my tenaciousness and ability to complete something I begin.
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