EVANSTON — The last two meetings of the Evanston City Council had only one item on the agenda for each evening. The council discussed an upcoming project for an incoming business and a local celebration planned for the summer.

On March 16, the council addressed one resolution. Dean Barker, Evanston director of planning and engineering, asked the council for approval of Resolution 21-12 which was to authorize the contract with Plan One Architects of Rock Springs to provide the design and construction management services for the Evanston Avalon International project.

“We went through the legal procurement process, advertised, and appointed a selection committee. Initially we had 10 bids, and received proposals from two from Wyoming, which we interviewed. After negotiating fees and contract with the selected architects we are ready to go,” Barker said.

City Attorney Dennis Boal added that the property has lots of challenges which will be worked out and they have worked hard to get this project off the ground. 

Barker said the tentative schedule is to get the bid process for contractors out this spring and start building by June 2021. 

Resolution 21-12 was unanimously approved by the Council members present.

During the work session on Tuesday, March 23, Lani Tyler addressed the council regarding the 2021 Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) Jubilee.  Tyler, chair of the organizing committee, said they plan to hold the celebration from July 19-31.

“The objective of the organization is to perpetuate the achievements of the men and women pioneers, preserve old landmarks and maps and publish the history and lives of the pioneers. The international organization is committed to historical education in a non-sectarian, non-political manner,” Tyler said.

Tyler said the DUP is divided into small camps which then form a company, and there are eight camps within the Uinta County Company. At their annual jubilee celebration, they have motivational speakers, entertainment and lots of food, she said. Tyler said the local group wanted to do something similar to what the Randolph/Woodruff group had done last year, which was a walking tour of historical sites.

“We found that there is already a walking tour guide for Evanston and would like permission from the city to use it and put our DUP website sticker on it,” Tyler said. “We would like to send the flyer out to all companies and camps in a 150-mile radius.”

Boal told Tyler that the brochure had been created by the Evanston Historic Preservation Commission and she would need to contact them for permission.

Tyler said she would do that and added that she had already been in contact with Uinta County Museum Director Kay Rossiter, and that Rossiter was excited to cooperate with the jubilee. Tyler said the local Old Timers Club agreed to help with the tour of the Roundhouse. They plan to make Jubilee information available on the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and the museum websites, as well as on their own.

Council members thanked Tyler and expressed their support for the jubilee.