Airport drainage project

The Hot Springs County Commissioners discussed the ongoing issue of drainage at the Hot Springs County Airport during last week’s meeting, voting to go forward with granting the project to Owl Creek Excavation.

The commissioners received funding, not to exceed $100,000 from the FAA to fund the project.

The FAA has made $1 billion in funds available for small, non-primary airports across the country with funding at 100 percent. Hot Springs County is one of the airports on a priority list for these funds.

The commissioners gave the go ahead to GDA Engineers to make an application for funds that would cover Phase I and II of the proposed taxiway connector/apron project.

An upgrade to the enhanced 9-1-1 system is one step closer to coming to fruition as the commissioners approved a commercial security agreement between the county and Big Horn Federal Savings Bank for $240,000 at 2.89 percent interest.

A group of citizens in the Red Lane area asked to discuss with the commissioners several issues affecting homeowners in Red Lane.

No formal action could be taken, however, as the request had been inadvertently left off the published agenda.

As many of the complaints involved the Sheriff’s department’s response to calls in the Red Lane area, the group was asked to return for the June 29 meeting when personnel from law enforcement could also be in attendance.

At their last meeting, the commissioners appointed commissioner Phil Scheel to the Travel and Tourism Joint Powers Board. However, it was determined Scheel’s appointment was not appropriate as he is not in the tourism industry and the county’s appointed seat must be filled by someone from inside tourism.

Scheel resigned from the board, effective immediately, and the commissioners instead appointed Matt Hughes to the position.