Search begins for new county clerk

 


At the July 6 Hot Springs County Commissioners meeting, Hot Springs County Clerk Rose DeSeyn submitted her resignation. Her last day in the office will be July 30. Per the Wyoming Secretary of State following state statutes, the office cannot be filled until it is actually vacated.

An interim county clerk will be in the office until a new county clerk is selected.

The process to find a new clerk begins with interesed registered Republicans living in Hot Springs County submitting their resumes (see advertisement on page 3.) The deadline is July 26. 

Interviews will be held in August. Three candidates will be selected and then presented to the Hot Springs County Commissioners. The commissioners will appoint one of the candiates to the position.

Nate Messenger gave his FBO report and said there were a total of 214 recorded operations. Six were air ambulances and nine were aircraft held overnight. There were two requests for hangers to store some small jets. They sold 1166.45 gallons of Avgas and 983.7 gallons of jet fuel. Messenger added, “The month of June was busy at the airport. Traffic is up significantly and I expect July to be even better.” Messenger also reported that he has been on the phone to Eaton Sales out of Casper every day to try to get them to come and inspect the overfill protection of two tanks, but they keep pushing back. He is concerned that they will receive a letter of disapproval from the DEQ if it doesn’t get done soon. Chairman Tom Ryan said that they may get someone else but he will try to assist Messenger.

Additionally, Messenger said they have three turbine spray planes that are spraying for grasshoppers but they do not have any jet fuel. When they operate they burn about 1,000 gallons of jet fuel a day. Messenger ordered jet fuel 10 days ago but the supplier cannot get it to him. At this time their supply of jet fuel is about 1,000 gallons remaining and Messenger is trying to avoid going dry. A truck with a 450 gallon tank travels twice a day to Worland to get additional fuel. Messenger said they have a contract that stipulates they have to provide fuel branded Phillips 66 but there is a shortage of jet fuel and that this method is going to cause difficulty in the paperwork to be sorted out. Chairman Ryan responded that they should be given consideration because of the contract and that he will try to help Messenger out with this problem. 

Shane Rankin gave his Road and Bridge report and said they had a busy and productive month. They are continuing their gravel haul project out in Buffalo Creek. They also hauled manure for the Fairgrounds, sprayed sagebrush on all county roads and all cattle guards have been sterilized. Also work continues on the highway sign program which is supposed to be turned in by the end of the next month. Road and Bridge also took possession of a plow truck and will be getting driver training for it soon. Rankin praised the new truck’s design even though it has a small box to drive in. It has better hydraulics and some of the parts are made of stainless steel and will not rust. This is a greater improvement compared to their previous trucks. 

Les Culliton gave his maintenance report and said the courthouse roof and the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) are still being worked on. Engineers came to help with the ventilation and air handling units. A written report may be created to give to commissioners for their review. After that, bids can be sent out. There was no evidence to examine for an update on the roof leak at the annex building.  

KONE looked at the courthouse/LEC elevator on June 30, where they got the rollers and packing in to perform their quarterly maintenance. Culliton said it sounds much better now. For the backup generator, they will get it serviced soon.

Culliton also gave the commissioners a heads up about the library where they cut out a tree on the north side and next spring they will plant a new tree in its place. They have been spending much time on leaks in the irrigation system there.

With the Extension 4-H old Carnegie Library the upstairs air conditioner is not working and parts for the unit are not available. A replacement unit would cost about $15,000. Culliton is speaking with some others on how to remedy the situation. 

On top of the courthouse there is a flagpole that supports an old telecom cable that is not in use. Culliton recommends they get rid of the cable and remove the flagpole, its supports and penetration into the roof. It could be an opportunity for a leak if not addressed.

Culliton brought up some concerns about helping the county museum for the maintenance needs. Culliton said that they only have volunteer help at the museum and they have no maintenance staff. 

The commissioners said that for big jobs he can help them but for normal jobs they have a budget to hire some help. Chairman Ryan mentioned they gave around $90,000 to the museum and that money can go to help their needs. 

The commissioners reviewed the Nichols #1 Well Permit application and had no concerns with it. No formal motion or vote was needed. They simply gave their approval. 

County Clerk Rose DeSeyn reported there was a last minute expense for the coroner’s office due to a death at the end of their fiscal year. This caused them to go over budget for $677.86. However, they were able to adjust the budget line items so there was no amended budget needed. 

Bill Gordon gave his emergency management report and said last week he put in reimbursement for the sheriff office’s repeater and the work that was done on the sirens to bring them up to grade.

The reimbursement amount is $19,185, coming from Homeland Security.

Gordon also said that the river levels are good, running about 1,400 cubic feet per second. Commissioner Phil Scheel said that Boysen is full. Chairman Ryan said that the management of Boysen Reservoir is doing a nice job. Commissioner Jack Baird commented that he was surprised that they got it done and said, “Kudos for them.” Gordon said, “That’s what they do and they are good at it. They absolutely said months ago that they would have it filled up by around the end of June and beginning of July and here we are. And, we got water for irrigation this year.”

Following county clerk Rose DeSeyn’s resignation, Chairman Ryan said, “we thank Rose for her time here and we are going to miss her.” Commissioner Scheel said she did “exemplary service.” DeSeyn thanked the commissioner for making her job “easier than it can be sometimes.” Commissioner Baird said, “Thank you. It’s been fun having you here.”

Barb Rice gave her youth alternative report and said she has released three juveniles this month and currently has 10 males and three females for a total of 13, plus five additional voluntary family plans. There are also five new referrals from citations.

Rice said, “We are running our usual volume.” Rice added, “The upside of it all, the 13 kids I have right now, who are currently enrolled, 11 have jobs. So they are working, which is really cool.” Some of the juveniles are working at motels for the tourist season.

Rice said with the summer there are many community service projects to be done. There are also tutoring tables at her office Tuesday through Thursday 1-3 p.m. and four students are currently participating in them. Rice said that her kids did security at the recent Rusty Truck event. 

Bo Bowman gave his planner report and said the coming Tonn land use item is the second land use item this year and is “as simple as it gets.”

However, in the past few weeks he has taken in four more land use items. Bowman said, “We are building up steam and I am expecting two more on top of that as well,” and that the planning commission will be busy this summer as they work out their caseload. The Natural Resource Planning Commission met on June 24 and completed the responses to their consultant’s questionnaire. They are moving ahead on examining their natural resources. 

For the Land Use Planning Commission, they met on June 23 and will meet again on July 21 with two public hearings. Bowman said the meeting, “promises to be interesting, promises to be a learning moment for them.” Bowman said for the coming public hearing they are to listen and make recommendations.

For septic permits, Bowman gave out 14 applications this year and seven were returned so far. Regarding building, Bowman said things have slowed down since lumber prices have skyrocketed. For construction notices Bowman said they have been trickling in and that he expects it will take a couple of years for the public to be generally aware of it. 

The commissioners held a public hearing for the Tonn Land Use Change where its designation as industrial was changed to agricultural. Chairman Ryan offered three times an opportunity for public comment and there were none. The commissioners then voted and approved the land use change. 

Tricia McPhie gave her Public Health/Prevention report and said that Covid vaccination in Hot Springs County is currently at 34%. The state of Wyoming is at 31.4% for individuals being fully vaccinated. Hot Springs County dropped from third to fourth in the state for the percentage of vaccination. Adolescents are 38%, adults are 42% and seniors are 59%.  

For the end of the year, McPhie said they increased their flu vaccines that they purchased and they were also given some by the state.

Shurie Scheel and Toddi Darlington representing Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center (BHBNDC) said they are applying for a WYDOT Transportation Alternative Process (TAP) Grant. Part of the requirements for applying is that matching money must come from the county and not from BHBNDC.

However, the BHBNDC already has the money themselves in the amount of $20,000. Scheel and Darlington want to transfer the money to the county and add to the budget lines so that the money can go forward along with the application. Scheel wants this to be “very well documented and publicly documented” because of her relationship with the commissioners. She wants to avoid any accusations later of inappropriate things happening. Chairman Ryan said that the BHBNDC would fund the county as a grant then budget the line item for the WYDOT TAP grant. The commissioners voted and passed to sign the Resolution 2021-5 to execute this request. 

Dan Webber presented a tax rebate from 2019 where the county received $967.59 related to Golden Eagle. They also received $361.15 as a supplement related to Sand Draw. 

 

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