WORLAND (WNE) —The final Worland City Council meeting of 2021 opened Tuesday night with a statement to the community from Mayor Jim Gill.

Gill said the 2021 year has been a challenge for many in the community due to the various COVID-19 variants.

“We are a resilient community who has worked to get through these trying times,” Gill said.

He added that it was disturbing to the city to get the 2020 census report that showed a loss below 5,000 in population and a “community in decline.”

Gill said, “I am sure you all agree that this is simply not the case.”

He said the city will pursue the issue to the “nth degree to prove we are still a vibrant and growing community with a population exceeding 5,000 residents.

“It’s important because it will and is costing us a considerable amount of revenue. We will be filing an appeal on the census data early in the new year.”