Commissioners approve land change for B and B

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Hot Springs County Commissioners, they held a public hearing regarding a land use change for Cotton Farms Bed and Breakfast.

The request was made by Ruth Cotton for her property north of town. Cotton converted the haymow of her barn in 2016 to contain a single apartment.

The proposal is for a single guest unit within 150 feet of her residence, giving her the ability to oversee any activity at the barn.

In May, the Land Use Planning Commission passed the request up to the commissioners with a “do pass” recommendation.

After going through their requisite paperwork, the commissioners approved the change from agricultural to commercial, allowing Cotton to begin renting the space in the barn as a bed and breakfast.

The commissioners had openings to fill on the Land Use Planning Commission, library board and museum board, voting during the meeting to fill all the empty slots.

Matt Hughes and Amanda Moeller were appointed to fill the two openings on the Land Use Planning Commission. Nanette Hruska will fill the spot on the library board, and Doris Ann Ready and Carol Shaffer will fill the positions on the museum board.

Local pilots should be aware that the airport at the top of Airport Road is officially closed. The Wyoming Department of Transportation has painted the required “X’s” on the runway, indicating it is not safe to land.

Pilots taking their planes out for a spin will need to land at the new county airport west of town. Now that the markings are on the runway, FAA regulations do not allow further landings.

Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Nate Messenger said the airplane traffic at the airport is picking up as it generally does once summer arrives.

Messenger reports a total of 160 operations were recorded at the airport in May, three twin engine turbo props, three turbine helicopters and 74 single engine piston aircraft. Of those, two were air ambulances and eight of the aircraft stayed overnight.

A group out of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Skydive Company, has contacted Messenger about coming to Thermopolis to do a skydiving event around the eclipse, Aug. 19-21.

As long as the group has all of the proper insurance and are FAA compliant, the commissioners felt it would be a great addition to the activities that will be going on around the eclipse.

Messenger is going to contact them and get all the details.

Another issue concerning Messenger regarding the eclipse is not having enough tie-downs for planes coming in. There are currently six tie-downs, but he has received way more inquiries from pilots wishing to fly in than tie-downs available.

They discussed a few different ideas and in the end, decided Messenger should talk with Engineering Associates about possible solutions.

Barb Rice, Youth Alternatives Coordinator, said she is going to be changing the schedule for the summer months.

Each Wednesday, those in the program will meet at her office for “check in” at 9 a.m. and then will head out together to do community service projects until noon.

Rice would like to see more consistent projects, so she has been getting together with various entities, like the rec district, to work out things they can do more than once.

In addition, she will be working with the Counseling Center and the Help Center to try to get some parenting classes going by this fall.