A brew pub planned for downtown Powell got a round of support from the Powell City Council Monday night.

The council unanimously recommended, after a public hearing, giving WYOld West a $27,000 loan, with the funds coming from the Wyoming Economic Development Stabilization Board and provided to the city as part of the Community Development Block Grant Program.

The city has utilized the program since 1988, according to Finance Officer Annette Thorington. The money comes from the state agency, but the loan recipient pays it back to the city, which retains the money as part of a revolving fund.

WYOld West Brewing Company LLC plans to use the money for construction remodeling at 221 N. Bent St. Plans for the business, which will serve beer brewed on site, mixed drinks and wine, as well as food. The business, located at the former Discount Appliance location, will also sell liquor to go.

The loan will be repaid at 8 percent interest for a two-year period, then at 5 percent interest through 2020. WYOld West will pay $180 monthly in 2015 and 2016; all of that will be interest. It will then pay $621.79 monthly until the debt is fully paid.

Brew pub President Matt Lengfelder said “a couple unforeseen things” came up with dealing with an older building. It was discovered the structure had once caught fire, so an engineer was brought in to inspect it, and it was determined some replacements were needed, Lengfelder said.

The need for a second exit through an area not determined to be hazardous — right now the second exit is through the kitchen and leads into an alley — means another door would be necessary, he said. There were other unanticipated expenses as well.

“These are not things we knew or saw going into that,” Lengfelder said. But he said the decision was made to remain on Bent Street and to correct the problems.

No one else spoke during the public hearing.

The city also is requiring the brew pub to obtain a lender’s policy, which cover’s the city’s investment. This ensures the second mortgage is valid.

WYOld West also is raising money through an online site as part of the local crowd funding campaign which went live on Friday. Pledges can be made at www.indiegogo.com/projects/keeping-local-wyold-west-brewing-company.

A total of $4,135 had been pledged as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, with a Dec. 19 deadline to reach the $9,000 goal. People who donated will get their own growler, which is a container for beer to go. The company has hired brewmaster Tony Wickham to produce its malted beverages.

“There might need to be a city of Powell growler up there,” Councilman John Wetzel said, his tongue firmly in cheek.

Lengfelder said he would see what he could do about that. He said he hopes to open the business, at least in part, in January or February at the latest.

In other agenda items, the council:

• Gave a second round of approval to four tree-related ordinances, including one banning the planting of ash trees and salt cedar trees on city-owned property, including in rights of way in residential areas.

Another amends the city code pertaining to the removal of dangerous or unsafe trees by changing the reference to “other public way” to “other public right-of-way;” a third amends the Powell City Code by clarifying the location of trees and shrubs that must be maintained by the owner of adjacent property and a fourth amends the code pertaining to permits required for planting trees in city parks and on city property, streets, alleys, boulevards or other public rights-of-way by replacing the reference to “public way” with “public right-of-way.”

• Unanimously approved a proclamation declaring Dec. 23 as “Sally Montoya Day” in honor of Montoya’s efforts to collect food, toys and clothing for local families and serve her community for 65 years.

The proclamation notes that she began volunteering through her church in 1949, “when women had few options to work outside their homes, Sally Montoya began helping others with the Christmas Basket program.” She later worked as a full-time teacher’s aide for 30 years.

“Generations of Powell’s less-fortunate citizens need not look any further than Sally Montoya,” it states. “Sally’s 65 years of caring for others serves as a moral compass and lasting legacy of selflessness for our community.”

City Administrator Zane Logan said he “highly recommends” going to the armory to witness the efforts that Montoya supervises.

“It’s well worth the experience seeing that,” Logan said. “It kinda reminds you of Christmas.”

• Was told the second transfer trailer for household waste is “working very well.”

• Approved a recommendation from the City Employee Benefit Plan Committee to start a new reinsurance plan year on Jan. 1 and accept a quote from M-W Underwriting Services Inc. of $145.34 per month for single employees and $343.29 for those with a family.

That’s a total of $236,886, less than the quote from current carrier Standard Life & Accident Insurance Company, which submitted a bid that totaled $249,264.60. The 2014 cost was around $217,000.

The city is partially self-insured. Reinsurance covers claims above $35,000.

• Decided Councilman Floyd Young would replace Ward 3 Councilman Myron Heny, who was defeated in a bid for a second term, as the alternate voting delegate at the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) winter workshop in Cheyenne on Jan. 21.

Councilman-elect Tim Sapp, who defeated Heny, was at his second straight meeting.

• Approved paying $694,097.30 in bills and claims.