Repairs needed at Hot Springs County jail

The Hot Springs County Commissioners were informed last week about some issues going on in the jail in regards to maintenance.

According to maintenance supervisor Anthony Fruciano, they are starting to have problems with doors and locks in the jail failing pretty regularly.

“This is a safety issue for both the employees and the inmates,” Fruciano said.

No real, professional maintenance has been done on the doors or locks for years, it has just been the maintenance crew doing what they could, “maintenance guy stuff,” he added.

Fruciano and the jail staff are concerned about the safety issue, so Fruciano began looking for professional companies that could come in and look at what needs to be done. One of those companies was the original manufacturer/installer from 1981, Southern Folger.

The commissioners determined it would be best to go with Southern Folger since it is their original equipment and that the costs should be split between the town and the county.

For the county, the funds will come out of the jail repair line in the budget.

GDA Engineers were at the meeting to discuss the condition and possible proposals for Black Mountain Road from its beginning to mile marker 8.6.

The consensus per the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is 90 percent of the road is in poor condition and a decision needs to be made whether to do nothing, take it back to a gravel or dirt road or do complete reconstruction of the 8.6 mile stretch.

WYDOT suggests taking core samples along the road at various intervals with three different options, 65-70 test holes, 30-35 test holes or 17 test holes.

Dusty Spomer with GDA said GDA was proposing something a little more aggressive than WYDOT when it comes to the core samples. Spomer said the width of the road, the ground soils and overlays are different all along the way, so they would have preferred more holes drilled to cover the entire scope of the road rather than go with fewer holes that could create change orders along the way, increasing the risk of cost overruns.

“We want to get the repairs done for a reasonable cost,” Spomer said. “More soil information will help with that in the design aspect.”

Commission vice chair Phil Scheel disagreed, saying he didn’t think there would ever be a perfect design and doesn’t see throwing a ton of money or time at it.

Commissioner John Lumley and commission chair Tom Ryan disagreed.

“We’re spending Hot Springs County’s money,” Ryan said, “so we want to do it right. Its worth the extra time.”

Knowing the depth of the asphalt, the base of it and the soils in the area are critical to the job and change all along the road.

The commissioners determined WYDOT geology can drill the 65-70 test holes, spaced about 700 feet apart along the road, but they will have Rimrock Engineering drill extra test holes in addition to WYDOT’s proposal.