Commissioners discuss WPLI

The Hot Springs County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday to discuss Wyoming Public Lands Initiative participation, funding for the Hot Springs County Weed & Pest to control mosquitoes, a grant amendment for the Public Health Reserve Corps as well as the implementation of a Diabetic Education Problem and updates on both the airport and the master facility plan for Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital.

Resident Larry Bentley discussed the WPLI program participation with the commissioners, specifically Cedar Mountain.

"Once an area is chosen for a wilderness study, the only way it can be removed is through Congress," Bentley said.

Chairman Brad Basse explained that the president can take executive action to declare an area for a wilderness study in every state except for Wyoming. In Wyoming, an area can only be designated for a wilderness study through Congress.

"The Cedar Mountain area has been designated for this wilderness study," Chairman John Lumley said. "It looks like a long process."

Bentley said this is not something that will happen overnight.

"The study is not going to happen today or tomorrow," he said. "We need geologists and environmental scientists to help."

Vice-Chairman Tom Ryan said he did not see the WPLI study as a great cost to the county, but rather a large time commitment. Basse made a motion to approve participation in the study.

"Working with WPLI is probably the way to go," he said.

The Hot Springs County Weed & Pest requested funds in the amount of $1,300 to help defray the cost of the mosquito control program. The funds will be used to help with the cost of additional seasonal labor and equipment. In addition to this, the funds will also help the Hot Springs County Weed & Pest in their grant seeking process. One of the priorities for the selection for the Emergency Insect Management grant is the number of cooperating entities. The total amount of the funding request for all entities in the county is $3,000.

Lindsey Woodward, supervisor of the Hot Springs County Weed & Pest, explained that there are more than 40 traps throughout the county that are checked once per week.

Ryan asked Woodward if the concerns in South America of chikungunya disease in mosquitoes were also a concern in Hot Springs County as well as how Hot Springs Weed & Pest cover their costs for their mosquito containment in the area.

"The concerns of chikungunya in South America are not a problem here ... yet," Woodward said. "And last year, we only found one case of West Nile virus. As for our mosquito program, we typically cover it 100 percent."

Other than the funding for the mosquito program, the issue of building a mosquito control levy was brought to the attention of the commissioners.

Basse said the city would have to wait on the levy for the time being, however it will likely be approved in the future.

"I don't see us not approving it because we've got public health issues to worry about, and the fact that these pests are a nuisance to residents," he said.

The commissioners tabled the funding request until the next meeting, when they will address the pressing issue. All county road spraying by Hot Springs Weed & Pest will be done in early April.

County Nurse Manager Marie McDougall addressed the commissioners in regard to an amendment for a PHRC grant, concerning the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Unit, and the implementation of a Diabetic Education Program.

The purpose of the grant amendment is to increase the contract dollar amount by $6,000, which would make the total grant amount $46,000.

The Diabetic Education Program will be a support program as part of the Chronic Disease, Prevention, Education and Management Services. It will be a free interactive six-week program to assist individuals with diabetes, to develop the skills and tools for living well with diabetes.

"This was a very in-depth project," McDougall said. "And it is extremely important for our community."

Both items were approved by the commissioners. Chairman John Lumley said he was glad for the partnership.

GDA Engineers discussed airport updates including the disposal of an old fuel tank and active containment regarding a spill. GDA said the spill was a blip on the radar and that now everything was in place.

Basse suggested GDA dispose of the old fuel tank by selling it instead of trying to clean it out.

"What we can do is we can sell it," he said. "Contract someone. Doing it this way says we are going above and beyond what the rules require by the FAA."

CEO of Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital Robin Rollings presented an updated layout for the master facility plan.

"We decided on a one story building because it was less expensive than a two-story building," Rolling said. "We want to have two or more orthopedic suites as well as a visiting physicians' center. Again, this is a concept and can be altered."

The cost of the new master facility will be approximately $16 million. Rollings said she was satisfied with the public involvement in this project.