The Kemmerer City Council unanimously voted to reject the use of electric motor boats on the Kemmerer Reservoir at their regular February meeting. City Administrator Brian Muir said he had received a letter from Robert Keith of the Wyoming State Fish and Game Department asking that city the change its regulations to allow boats with electric trolling motors on the reservoir, which lies about 15 miles north of the city.

Kemmerer Mayor Bill Thek said he had put the question to citizens on the city’s Facebook page. He said he got 108 responses. Ninety-six of those who responded said they opposed electric
motor boats in the reservoir. Thek said most of those negative responses were quite adamant in their opposition. Council member Jamie Thornock said she had gotten input on the issue from several people, and most did not want electric motor boats on the city reservoir.

After the council voted down the proposal, Muir said he would submit a letter to State Game and Fish stating that the city did not want electric motorboats on the Kemmerer Reservoir.

Muir also informed the council that at their next meeting in two weeks, he would submit a proposal to the council concerning the Kemmerer community fishing pond. These would deal with creel limits and signage at the pond. He said the proposal would have to go through three readings, so Kemmerer residents will have plenty of time to comment on the changes.

Muir also told the council that the request for donations to pay for costs to put up and maintain the statue of J.C. Penney, which was donated to the city by the J.C. Penney company in late January, has been going well. He said they had already received generous donations from Rocky Mountain Power, Lincoln County and South Lincoln Economic Development Corporation.