GDA updates commissioners on airport

The Hot Springs County Commissioners received an update from GDA Engineers on the progress at the new county airport west of Thermopolis at their second meeting of the month of August.

GDA has been working with High Plains Power and the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) on the road closed gate that will be placed just past the entrance to the new airport.

Per the agreement between WYDOT and the county, the county will be responsible for a new meter on the gate, however, WYDOT will take over the maintenance of the gate and meter after installation.

In addition, the commissioners are scheduled to open bids at their Sept. 2 meeting for new fuel tanks for the airport.

According to GDA, they have contacted various manufacturers of the tanks and equipment needed and discovered production is between 70 and 120 days. With that in mind, a 100 day limit was placed on bidders in order to have the tanks installed, filled and ready to go on opening day, Nov. 7.

Seal coating and markings for the runway have been going on this week and should be finished by Friday or Saturday, making the runway ready for its first touch down of an aircraft.

The commissioners also signed a contract with Redd Roofing during their meeting. The contract is for replacement of the Hot Springs County Museum's roof at a cost of $89,763.

Road and Bridge superintendent Dave Schlager came to the commissioners with a question he's been getting from various contractors regarding the purchase of gravel from the county's Brown gravel pit.

Schlager said he didn't feel it was right to be competing with other sellers of gravel in the area, but wanted to touch base with the commissioners on the situation.

The commissioners agreed with Schlager, saying they didn't feel the county should be selling gravel to outside contractors that has been set aside specifically for use on our county roads.