Commissioner navigate short meeting agenda

At the December 17 Hot Springs County Commissioners board meeting held at the annex building, the commissioners voted and passed the approval of the Revenue and Expenditure Report and the Special Accounts Payable Warrant for $15,600 that was for the Community Development Block Grants.

Shane Rankin of Road & Bridge requested the Approval of an Approach Agreement for a County Installation of a Culvert in Mud Creek Road. The commissioners voted and passed the approval of the approach agreement.

Les Culliton and the commissioners discussed a Roof Inspection Quote from CRC of Montana for $10,410. Chairman Tom Ryan expressed interest in “getting a baseline” from the roof inspections of all county buildings. The commissioners voted and passed the approval to award the quote.

The commissioners gave an update on the recent Wyoming County Commissioners Association Meeting held in Buffalo. Chairman Ryan said that the state will be celebrating the 250 anniversary of the United States’ foundation in 2026 and there is about $2 million approved for the state. Ryan added that a task force is being requested to be formed and is offered to the public to join to determine how to spend the money. The commissioners voted and passed the approval to form the task force and to add $1,000 to its creation.

Also, regarding the WCCA meeting, the commissioners discussed how some communities in Wyoming do not have emergency ambulance services and that the private service provided in Hot Springs County was valuable. They said, “Others have it worse.”

County Clerk Becky Kersten and County Treasurer Julie Mortimore presented a request to the commissioners to have an Exception to Bid for Auditing Service and to continue using Carver Florek & James, CPAs for their auditing service for the next three years. 

In other business, the commissioners voted and passed the approval of a Facility Use Form for the Annex Meeting Room for the HSC Predator Management Board Meetings in 2025; the Unified Certification Program Agreement and Acceptance with WYDOT; the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Policies, the Long Agreement for $13,968, effective January 1, 2025 through December 21, 2025 for HVAC Equipment Maintenance, the Facility Use Form for the Annex Meeting Room of the Owl Creek Irrigation District, Annual Meeting; the Facility Use Form for the Annex Meeting Room for the Lucerne Pumping Plant Canal Co.; the Wyoming Airport Improvement Program Certificate of State Grant-in-Aid, for $5,943 (County Match Minimum $1,188.60) for 2025 NAVAID Maintenance; the Ratification of Protest of Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement for Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning, and the Appointment of Sadie Eckley to the Fairboard. 

The commissioners went into executive session. After they returned to normal preceding, they voted and passed the approval to have the Emergency Management Coordinator role be moved under the HSC Sheriff’s Office.

Additionally, they voted and passed the approval for amending the Resolution for 2024 Holiday Calendar so that county offices will close on Christmas Eve at noon.