Former airport planning session scheduled

GDA Engineers met with the Hot Springs County Commissioners on Tuesday to talk about the short term and long term plans for the former airport.

Dusty Spomer with GDA said the short term items are mostly demolition and improvements whereas many of the long term items should be included in a prospectus that could be offered to potential developers.

Spomer suggested a 3D rendering or conceptual drawing of what could be done with the area would be something to visually catch a potential developer’s eye. He has begun researching various companies across the country that do this kind of development in communities and the the 3D rendering could give the county a leg-up, sparking interest in the area.

As the commissioners have agreed they do not want this plan to just sit on a shelf for years, never coming to fruition, a planning session is being scheduled for the first part of February between the commissioners and GDA to keep things moving along.

Discussion continued with GDA regarding a drainage issue at the new airport.

When built, there was a drainage problem around the terminal building due to having to use the landscaping funds elsewhere on the project. With no landscaping, the water is running off faster than anticipated, causing it to pool since it has nowhere to go.

They have requested some additional funding from the Department of Transportation to alleviate the problem and DOT is asking for a memo of justification from the county that will explain the situation and the plan for remediation in more detail.

Along with landscaping, GDA will be providing a couple of other alternatives that would include storm drains or pipe to send the water to other areas.

Keeping with the airport theme, county planner, Bo Bowman, told the commissioners he is looking into a a program through the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality that provides funding for entities that voluntarily remediate problem areas.

Some of the soil around the spot where the fuel tanks sat at the old airport have some contamination issues and this program could provide as much as $60,000 toward remediation.

Bowman said he is going to go through the application with a fine-toothed comb to make sure there aren’t any hidden catches. The commissioners gave him the go-ahead if he finds no issues.

Excellent news was delivered by commissioner Phil Scheel after his recent trip to Cheyenne to talk with the State Lands and Investment Board (SLIB) regarding the replacement of the roof on the Senior Center.

SLIB approved an emergency grant request by the county for $159,000 so the repairs can start almost immediately.