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At the November 16 Hot Springs County Commissioners meeting held at the HSC Annex Building, a public hearing was held to address the Dufour Land Use Change request.
County planner Bo Bowman gave a brief description of the property, its history and the applicants’ issues in regard to changing it from a residential property to one for commercial use. The applicants Elyse Dufour and Ryan Collins had met with the land-use change planning commission three times as their issues were evaluated and discussed.
After this, Chairman Tom Ryan opened the meeting to a public hearing. First to comment was Michelle Stevens who is involved with the teepees short-term rental property on Cody Run. Stevens offered her support to the applicants and said they strived to work within the process given and were willing to appease the commissioner’s concerns and that they were operating in good faith.
Next, Merrill Ready gave his comments and identified himself as one of the applicant’s neighbors. Ready brought up his concerns about the septic system and the possibility of tainting the well water in the area.
Ready was also concerned about fire and the smoke disturbing the neighbors. Additionally Ready said the 1.5 acres of land is too small to contain the amount of traffic the applicant’s business is proposing. Ready is also concerned about the property’s road and said it has a blind corner that could result in an accident.
Sampuran Khalsa also gave her thoughts during the public hearing and said she has an Airbnb that is close to the Hot Springs State Park. Khalsa said that she has met a lot of people who visit the county and those visitors said they have a difficult time finding a place to camp or park their RVs.
Chairman Ryan said there were the Fountain of Youth and the KOA RV parks but they are often full and that he doesn’t disagree with Khalsa.
Applicants Elyse Dufour and Ryan Collins spoke and said that the location for the tent campsite was incorrect and that it is above the floodplain and not in a creek bed. They also stated that their business is seasonal and not busy year-round. Dufour also discussed their well and that they want to be respectful of the water condition and to take care of it. Dufour brought up the WYDOT issue and how it’s a catch-22 because WYDOT may approve their access if the county approves it.
Dufour continued and described their efforts to get an engineer to look over their septic situation. Many local engineers declined to look at their septic stating it was too controversial to get involved. Dufour said that it would cost them about $5,000 for a percolation test and that they are more than willing to make sure the septic system is safe.
Chairman Tom Ryan said his main issues with the applicant’s property are the access and septic system. The Dufour property borders a state highway and there would be an increase in traffic if they are in operation. Ryan said if the septic system was fixed and a certified engineer would be involved, he would not be opposed to their application. Ryan wants them to follow the guidelines.
Commissioner Phil Scheel added that there is a difference between a residential septic situation versus a commercial and that the county only has purview over residential. The Dufour property would need to be commercial and therefore would be under the DEQ’s purview.
Commissioner Jack Baird said he cares about the septic system issues as well and that he would foresee the application failing because of it.
Chairman Ryan then gave a choice to Dufour and Collins. They can either continue with their current application and see it be denied, or they can ask for their application to be tabled. If it is tabled, they must find a certified engineer to address their septic system and then start the application process over.
Commissioner Scheel added that they must cease and desist all operations that would be in violation. Dufour and Collins asked for their application to be tabled. The commissioners then voted and approved to table the Dufour application.
Next in the meeting, Ryan Collins presented himself to discuss his potential qualifications to become a member of the county’s Travel and Tourism Board. Collins said with his experience with Airbnb and Hipcamp, he understands tourism. Collins wants to help house temporary workers and would love to serve and bring his experience to Hot Springs County.
Chairman Ryan replied “The commissioners appoint members to the Travel and Tourism board who are team players that bring unity.” Ryan added that for one qualification, the appointee must be active in a current industry related to tourism. Ryan pointed out that Collins has been involved in a lodging business that now must cease and desist their operation. Ryan said if Collins and Dufour remedy their issues and achieve the approval of their application, then Collins may consider applying to the commissioners to become a Travel and Tourism board appointee.
Owl Creek Water District’s (OCWD) Rose Basko presented two petitions for inclusion for Dennis and Deborah Witbeck and Brandon and Jennie Blakesley. The petitions would extend the boundary of the OCWD for their properties to be within. The commissioners voted and passed approval to the two petitions for inclusion.
The commissioners were given a WYDOT TAP modification letter for the Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center (BHBNDC) Joint Powers Board. BHBNDC applied for a grant of $100,000 for the design phase only for their plans on the property where the old drive-in movie theater existed.
Chairman Ryan is a member of the TAP board and had to recuse himself from that because he is representing the county as a signing member of the application. WYDOT will give $80,000 while the remaining $20,000 will be a county match. The commissioners voted and approved to add their signatures to the letter.
Tricia McPhie gave the Public Health / Prevention report and said the Pfizer Covid vaccine is now available for children ages 5-11. That is a two-dose vaccine that must be injected 21 days apart from each other. McPhie added that Hot Springs County ranks third in Wyoming for being the most vaccinated. As of November 8, Teton County is first at 78% and Albany County is 50% and Hot Springs County is 45.1%. McPhie reported they are getting federal support for the vaccines and boosters and have been administering them at the fair building and the Red Rock clinic.
McPhie continued her report and described their activities in suicide prevention training. Currently, there are two trainers in the county. McPhie also said the school counselors are also trained and offer their services to students and staff who might be suicidal. McPhie is also working with law enforcement officers about gun safety compliance and proper weapon storage for households.
Chairman Ryan brought up that the Public Health doctor’s appointment expires at the end of the year and they want to properly advertise it.
Also added to the agenda was a discussion about the Biden administration’s 30x30 Initiative. Commissioner Jack Baird attended a recent meeting in Riverton that went into detail about this initiative and its ramifications for the state of Wyoming.
Baird was given some legal language and he proposed that the county attorney adopt it and update the language for a resolution they would vote on in the next commissioner’s meeting. Baird admits that this resolution is symbolic but said that it would give Governor Gordon support to oppose the initiative.
In other business, the commissioners were given a letter from Koerwitz, Michel and Wright accountants saying that Michel is retiring and their office will no longer be performing audits for the county.
The commissioners then went into executive session to discuss personnel and possible litigation.
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