Update on water damage at counseling center

After swearing in new county commissioner Phil Scheel on Tuesday morning, the commissioners got right down to work, starting out the new year.

John Lumley was elected to continue as commission chairman, backed up by Tom Ryan as vice chairman.

As part of organizing for the year, the commissioners selected the same dates for their 2017 meetings, the first and third Tuesday of each month, with the exception of July, when the meeting will be held on Wednesday the fifth due to the 4th of July holiday falling on a Tuesday.

The commissioners also set the calendar for 2017, the days the county offices will be closed for holidays.

In February, they will close for President's Day on Monday the 20. Offices will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 29 and July 3-4, Monday and Tuesday, for 4th of July.

For Labor Day, the county will be closed Monday, Sept. 4; Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 9 and Veteran's Day, Friday, Nov. 10.

For Thanksgiving, the offices will be closed the 23rd and 24th, and will be closed Christmas on Monday, Dec. 25.

The commissioners also act as liaison between many groups and organizations in the county, attending the various meetings throughout each month. Those duties are divided between the three commissioners.

Chairman Lumley will be the liaison for Town Properties, the Senior Center, Town of Thermopolis, BLM Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan Revision, Tribal Liaison with the Wind River Indian Reservation, Shoshone Forest Proposal and the Wyoming County Commissioners Association Board of Directors.

Vice chair Ryan will cover Town Properties, Town of Thermopolis, Hot Springs County Library, Road and Bridge, BLM Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan Revision, Tribal Liaison with the Wind River Indian Reservation, Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital, Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center and the Hot Springs County Airport.

Scheel will be part of Town Properties, Town of Thermopolis, Search and Rescue, Thermopolis Hot Springs Economic Development Company, Basin Authority Child Support Enforcement, Land Use Planning Board, Chamber of Commerce, Hot Springs County Museum, the Fair board and Human Resources Council.

In other business, the commissioners heard from maintenance director Chuck Carver, hearing everything at the Hot Springs County Counseling Center should be dried out by Friday.

Carver said they have had some issues with the drying out process due to the construction of the building. In addition, he has contacted the manufacturer of the carpeting in the building in order to be able to match the unaffected carpet in some rooms.

There will need to be some repairs to certain areas and rooms in the building. The commissioners determined they would put the construction project out to bid, with bids due back to the county clerk's office by Monday, Jan. 16. The bids will then be opened at 2:15 that afternoon.

The winning bid will be awarded the following day at the commissioner's regular meeting on the 17th. All work will need to be approved by the county's insurance company, but the commissioners would like work completed within 30 days of awarding the bid.

Appointments were made to three of four boards during Tuesday's meeting as well.

Weston Jones was appointed to the Fair Board, Dan Wychgram, Toddi Darlington and Dee Hillberry were appointed to the Natural Resources Planning Committee and Steve Johnston, Bruce Thurgood and Chip Axtell were all placed on the Weed and Pest Board for their various areas.

There is still an opening left on the Natural Resources Planning Committee and a single opening for a sportsman on the Predatory Animal Control Board. Applications for these boards are available on the county's website or at the county clerk's office.