Commissioners work through full agenda

At the September 5 Hot Springs County Commissioners board meeting, the commissioners voted and passed the ratification of Warrant 64925 for the amount of $200,492.12 through Hot Springs County to the trust fund for the purchase of Ingle’s property. They also voted and passed the approval of the August bills AP Warrant Register for the total amount of $587,593.71 for the general fund and $197,214.30 for the payroll. 

Ardurra’s Brian Clarkson and Maddie Ross reported the Geographic Information System (GIS) update and said they have completed the distance to the nearest intersection analysis for HSC road features, such as, bridges, cattle guards, culverts, guardrails, signs, and road surface material changes. They added the nearest intersection and distance to the nearest intersection information to the pop-up in the Road Maintenance field application, Road Maintenance Dashboard, and the Road Maintenance Editor. Additionally, they provided support by phone for the Road Maintenance Dashboard.

Ross also said they made edits to the Septic Permit Lookup and the Land-Use Change Lookup applications and updated the parcel layers in each application. They also processed remaining land-use change documents from 2006 to 1981 and they worked on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) documentation for Road & Bridge and Planner applications, creating a four-month project schedule. Additionally, they began training Nico Martinez and Jonathan Stanford to temporarily take over GIS services work.

Regarding anticipated work for the next period, Ross said they will upload the remaining land-use change documents and work on drawing tracts and entering land-use change information. They will begin work on NextGen 911 layers, gather and process publically available data, and work with the Sheriff and Assessor to obtain the existing address point layer, as well as append data to the new data model. 

They will begin work on County Road Topo for the Road & Bridge department, set priorities for roads, and begin downloading FEMA LiDAR. They will continue to provide support for online applications, obtain additional county road easement/ROW documents from Cody Steward, begin mapping descriptions, and add to the Road & Bridge Department application. Additionally, they will continue working on SOP documentation. 

Nate Messenger gave the FBO report and said there were 318 total recorded operations at the County Airport. Of those aircraft, there were two air ambulances, 16 aircraft overnight, and three requests for hangar space. The hangar requests were two single-engine piston aircraft and one Cessna Citation aircraft.

Regarding fuel sales, they sold 2541.01 gallons of Avgas and 3354.4 gallons of jet fuel. Messenger said, “The month of August was probably the busiest we have ever had. Lots of aircraft spending the night here and lots of flights training traffic.” 

Messenger added, “The seal coat and mark project was done, the final paint will be finished this month. We closed the runway for three days with the exception of a couple of hours for the State jet to fly in with Governor Gordon and the EPA Administrator Mr. Michael Regan.”

Also, Messenger continued, “Ardurra completed the inventory standards study for WYDOT. The only non-standard item is the runway edge angles that Wes Werbalow assured me is the normal for all Wyoming airports because the tolerances are tight. Chairman Ryan and I participated in the WACIP meeting. Carson Rowley with Ardurra is working that up. The annual inspection of the airport fire extinguishers has been completed. The frame work is up for Mr. Jones’s hangar.”

Shane Rankin gave the Road & Bridge (R&B) report and said they finished the gravel project on Buffalo Creek, and they performed patching, blading, mowing and cleaning culverts and cattle guards. They also moved dirt for the Demolition Derby at the fairgrounds as well as addressed signs for the old airport. Rankin added they have a couple of projects for this fall.

Rankin and the commissioners discussed R&B’s open position that they received four applications but only two had Commercial Driver’s Licenses. Rankin said, “We’ll see what worker we can find. WYDOT is facing the same thing…It’s hard to get someone and train them.”

Rankin also requested approval of the WYDOT High-Risk Rural Road Grant Application and approval of the Approach Agreement No. 2023-0004 Country Road 35, with all expenses paid. In separate motions, the commissioners voted and passed the approval of both requests.

John Dorman gave the maintenance report and said that tree treatments would occur on October 1. Also, Dorman presented a quote from Fred Banks to do contracted stucco work on the Senior Center building for $15,000. There was discussion on how this patchwork would not require additional painting and would patch up missing mortar between concrete blocks. Chairman Tom Ryan said the money for this could come from Emergency Repairs and that no formal action was required. 

Dorman and the commissioners held a discussion about the VAS System from Long that exists in the Annex building. There would need to be an upgrade to the system costing $50,000. In the discussion, the commissioners wondered if they should wait or not to address the needed upgrade given inflation and costs rising. Commissioner Phil Scheel recommended starting the process to switch over and proceed with their technology department looking into the matter.

Dorman also says the fire suppression inspections will be on September 18.

Barb Rice gave the Youth Alternative report and said that school has started. She has 15 total juveniles with citations. Three of those kids with citations are repeat-cited people. Rice released three last month. There are 11 total students in class. They carried nine students this summer, and they registered two new students this fall, one out of Worland. They also have three individuals who come and check and tutor support if they need it. One student graduated in June and is now enrolled as a full-time student in Central Wyoming College. Another student completed the paperwork to enroll but she couldn’t meet the deadline but will start in the spring.

Rice added, “Of the five kids that we walked over there, two of them have enrolled in college and both of them are 16. They have a really good jumpstart. We have three folks who come and provide support for us through Vocational Rehab. VOC Rehab picks up those salaries for them. We’re really proud of them. They’re and they’re doing a great job for us. And we have our foster grandparent.”

Rice reported that in August they helped with the fundraiser T-Town Cancer, where they brought in $3,000. In September, they will participate in the Suicide Prevention Month activities and also at the Fly-In at the county airport. Rice also said that the Youth Alternative representative from Worland will come to Thermopolis to check out things here and see how they can provide support for the kids they have too.

Rice and the commissioners held a discussion about the use of Youth Alternatives in the Common Grounds building. Rice detailed how the space and its specific purposes and the volumes of success stories they have regarding the work they do in the building. Chairman Ryan expressed concern that the property owners need to know about the success of Youth Alternatives and the commissioners discussed drafting a letter to the property owners and looking into potentially paying for the utilities of the building. Chairman Ryan said they do not want to lose the opportunity to use the building for the program. 

Stephanie Conrad, the new Emergency Management Manager replacing Bill Gordon, gave her first report. Conrad said she hit the ground running about three weeks ago and got more efficient with Code Red and Gordon gave her training on it. They also performed the alarm testing on the previous Saturday. Gordon exited on the previous Thursday and said he would be checking on Conrad regularly to see if she had any questions or to help out in any way.

Conrad held her first Local Emergency Planning Committee on September 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fire Hall.

Tricia McPhie gave the Public Health / Prevention report and said they will have their annual flu vaccine drive at the Public Health / Annex building instead of the Fair Building, as in previous years. Participants can drive through or enter the building to receive their flu vaccines. It will occur on October 12, starting at 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

Regarding Prevention activities, September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. They will share messages of hope on luminary bags that will be displayed at the upcoming Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk. They will visit one of the following locations to create their own luminary bag that will be illuminated as a beacon of hope for suicide prevention and a caring tribute to those lost to suicide. The locations are the Senior Center, Public Health, Safe Haven, the Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Family Services, and the Public Library. Bags will be available until September 8. The Walk was on September 11 at 6 p.m. starting at the Kiwanis Shelter in the State Park.

Bo Bowman gave the County Planner report and said that the Natural Resources Planning Committee will meet on September 13 and said that dialogue has been “excellent” covering “more diverse subjects.” The Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) met on August 23 and they recommended two minor subdivisions that the County Commissioners will review forthcoming. The next LUPC meeting will be on September 20 and they are down one committee member. 

Regarding septic, Bowman dealt with a resident who had an intrusion in his basement. Bowman thought it was a drainage problem, not septic, and that the resident should contact a plumber. 

Bowman discussed the Sage Valley Subdivision and described there were four lots that were designated as commercial in the original plat and that it was governed by an HOA. Bowman discussed with an individual from this location who wanted to create something, and Bowman recommended that they speak with their neighbors and seek their blessings first.

Chairman Tom Ryan also accepted Bowman’s letter of resignation for his retirement. The commissioners thanked him for his work.

The commissioner held four separate public hearings for liquor license renewals for the following: Bailey Enterprises Inc. DBA Pit Stop #10; Legion Town and Country Club, Inc.; SonRise Grass Creek Guest Ranch, LLC.; and LLL Company. During each of the hearings, there were no public comments given. Individually, the commissioners voted and passed the approval of all liquor license renewals.

Sheriff Jerimie Kraushaar gave an update regarding the vehicle trade-in. The amount possible for the trade-in was significantly lower than the sell-by-owner amount. The commissioners recommended they sell it themselves, as is with a minimum of $5,500. 

In other business the commissioners voted and passed the approval of the following: the Facility Use Agreement for the Annex Meeting Room, the appointment of Brett Belden as a Weed and Pest Board Member, the Ratification of the MC2 Collaborative Agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding with HSC Rural Water Joint Powers Board, the Agreement for Detention Plumbing Rawhide Mechanical, Inc. for $330,124; RFR #2 Seal Coat and Mark Pavements for $126,611.40; Request for Payment #14 Black Mountain Road for $33,443.41; Revised RFR #12 BHBNDC for $9,003.63; RFR #13 BHBNDC for $4,279.83; Ardurra Scope of Work and Estimate for THP Airport for an estimated $15,500; the approval of the Airport Layout Plan, and the Airport Requested WACIP Report regarding mowing equipment. County Clerk Becky Kersten also informed the commissioners about the LATCF Funds, a 2nd Tranche Request, and Received for $910,991.29 in which no action was needed for this data.