Joint powers water board agreement signed

The Hot Springs County Commissioners had a relatively short meeting on Tuesday afternoon and signed a new letter of engagement with Koerwitz, Michel, Wright and Associates for accounting services for the coming year.

The agreement is unchanged from last year, including doing the county audit.

The commissioners signed the agreement, not to exceed $23,700.

For several months there has been ongoing discussion regarding water quality and availability among various county water users.

On Tuesday, the commissioners signed a joint powers agreement with South Thermopolis Water and Sewer District, Lucerne Water and Sewer District, the Town of East Thermopolis and the Owl Creek Water District in order to form a joint powers board to ascertain and identify viable options for the areas in question.

The board will look into water source development, drinking water infrastructure, explore ways to support and enhance the water supply, connecting to the Big Horn Regional Water System and work on other projects mutually beneficial to all involved.

There will be five members on the board, each one representing the different districts.

The next step will be sending the agreement to the State's Attorney General who will review the agreement before the board formally organizes.

The commissioners also appointed Tom Anderson and Rudy Kowlok to the Predatory Animal Control Board during the meeting.