Laramie Surface Water Vote May Be Moved Back For Discussion

A vote on a proposal to rescind a controversial surface water utility fee may be moved back to allow more time to discuss the issue. according to a City Council member.

The item was slated for a council vote on Second Reading this evening, although that vote would not be the final one. It needs to be approved on three votes before being passed.

The Council Paused Collection Of The Fee Earlier This Month

The council on August 5  approved a resolution to pause collecting the fee.

But councilman Matt Lockhart gave Laramie Live the following statement on Monday

"We didn’t get a chance for discussion due to running out of time last meeting, so hoping we can have plenty of time for discussion this time and maybe move to postpone the vote for a few weeks while we work out more details and get more knowledge on the issue and studies."

A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for this evening, and additional workshops on the proposal  to rescind are slated for August 26 and September 9. A council workshop focuses on discussion and fact-finding, but formal votes are not held.

The measure authorizing the fee was approved in December, but has generated a fair amount of controversy when it went into effect on July 1, 2025.