Commissioners updated on GIS progress

At the May 3 Hot Springs County Commissioners meeting held at the Annex building, Brian Clarkson from T-O Engineers provided an update on the GIS report via speakerphone. Clarkson said they are continuing the mapping of the county road easements and right-of-way descriptions to link to historical documents. They are also performing updates and expansions on the Road and Bridge Online Applications for their maintenance. 

Regarding anticipated work, Clarkson said they will incorporate land-use classification application into the HSC Geospatial Hub dashboard. They will work on incorporating septic permits into GIS. Clarkson and his staff will meet with both Bo Bowman and Shane Rankin to continue work in both the Planning Department and the Road and Bridge Department. 

Dustin Spomer of T-O Engineers reported on the Black Mountain Road project in person. Chairman Tom Ryan first discussed with Spomer about the scope, fee, and contract review. Ryan said that the state had issues with the fees and how the contract requires more involvement. Ryan added there needs to be more time to sit down and explain things.

However, most of the conversation with Spomer was addressing an emergency repair involving a culvert on Black Mountain Road. The estimated cost for all the work is about $400,000. After further discussion, there were two separate motions that they voted on and approved. The first was 84 feet of concrete pipe. The second was for T-O Engineers to do the work and find the contractors.

Shane Rankin gave the Road and Bridge report and said they have been doing patchwork on county roads. There was a culvert that failed on Jones Road that they were addressing. Rankin said they also have been working on signs and that the spring blading has been done.  

Nate Messenger gave the FBO report and said there were 162 total recorded operations. Of those aircraft, there were four air ambulances and seven aircraft held overnight. For fuel sales, they sold 1,148.81 gallons of Avgas and 966.56 gallons of jet fuel.

In discussion with the commissioners, Messenger reminded them that his FBO contract expires at the end of the fiscal year and he wants to know more about what they would like to happen. 

Les Culliton provided the maintenance report and said for the fair building re-roof project Wyoming Roofing is hoping to perform the work in June. For the courthouse, Culliton said the exterior lights were not repairable, therefore replacement LED assemblies were to be installed.  

Regarding work at the Law Enforcement Center, Culliton described how the lobby doors had an original dispatch console that was set up to notify dispatch of an entry. When the console was updated, some of the wiring and buzzer were omitted. In a discussion with the Sheriff, Chief of Police, and Circuit Court, Culliton told the commissioners they would not have an issue with locking the lobby down at night.

Culliton also discussed with the commissioners about the radiator/fan assembly for the backup radiator, which would cost about $13,000 plus freight, with an 18 to 20 week delivery time. Also, any increase of 3% or more for materials or freight will be added to the invoice as a surcharge. Commissioner Jack Baird said that the money for the cost of a replacement part might go to getting an entirely new unit. Culliton will investigate that option and report back. 

Barb Rice gave the Youth Alternative report and said she has 18 total juveniles in the program with nine being released and five females and four males.  

Bill Gordon gave the Emergency Management report and said that Kirwin snow tell is “looking good” and that “more water will be coming into the lake than they need to fill it.” Gordon praised the recent precipitation and added, “springtime saved the day.” Gordon provided a graph to the commissioners that showed the current snow water equivalent at Kirwin and that the current data is similar to the median historical measurement. 

There were three public hearings during the commissioner’s meeting. The first was regarding the county district and precinct changes for Resolution #2022-4. Representatives from both the Democrat and Republican parties were present. County clerk Becky Kersten presented the resolution of how there would be some shifts in some of the voting districts and precincts. During public comments, Jean Skelton voiced opposition as the changes in redistricting would not represent the rural population proportionally within the county Central Committee as one precinct has a small amount of representation of 18 voters and the other would have a larger amount of 140 voters. Democrat Levi Shinkle voiced support for the resolution stating it would increase their representation. Republican Cynthia Garbin also voiced support for the resolution. The commissioners voted and approved the resolution. The matter is to be readdressed again in 10 years unless the commissioners choose to do it sooner. 

The second public hearing was regarding the SonRise Land Use change from agricultural to commercial so that a USDA-certified meat processing facility would operate. There were three conditions for the change. First, the commercial use would solely be for meat processing purposes. Second, the solid waste would be removed regularly and the materials would be covered. Third, the septic system permit would be approved by the DEQ. There were no public comments. The commissioners voted and approved the land-use change application. 

The third public hearing was regarding the SonRise liquor application. There were no public comments given. The commissioners voted and approved the issuance of the liquor application. Both commissioners Tom Ryan and Phil Scheel praised and thanked Douglas Lindamood for properly going through the application and approval process. 

Bo Bowman for the Planning report introduced the ROW amendments for the Hamilton Dome Road and the East Cottonwood Road. Bowman noted that it took three years to complete the process of the amendments. The commissioners voted and approved to accept the amendments. 

Bowman also reported that the NRPC’s draft document is the HSC Natural Resources Management Plan, which will replace their 2014 Natural Resources Plan. It sets policies for the use of state and federal lands. The 30-day public review period started on 4-28, and runs to 5-27, with a public hearing to receive oral comments on the evening of 5-25.

 Additionally, Bowman said the LUPC’s document consists of several revisions to Chapters 2 and 4 of the 2020 HSC Land Use Plan, which addresses land use on private land in the County. Most of these proposed changes address the short-term rental of homes and accessory residences in the County’s Residential Land Use Category. The 30-day public review period will start on 5-12, and runs to 6-11, with a public hearing to receive oral comments on the evening of 6-15.

During some discussion with the commissioners, they motioned and approved a request for rock material from the Wind River Canyon to use for landscaping purposes. 

The commissioners voted and approved to sign a letter for the BHBNDC. The county approved them using T-O Engineers as a consultant for their projects. 

The commissioners appointed Quinton Hetzel, Cathy Titmus, and Matt Ryan to the South Thermopolis Water and Sewer District (STW&S). Chairman Tom Ryan abstained from the vote. The commissioners appointed these individuals for a term beginning May 3, 2022, and ending on November 30, 2022, at which time STW&S will hold elections.

The commissioners rescheduled their August 16 meeting and moved it to Thursday, August 18, at 3 p.m. There was a schedule conflict with the Federal Legislative Tour on August 16  and, therefore, moved. 

Regarding an MOU for Wyoming Pathways for the Roundtop / T-Hill trail, Dusty Lewis talked to the commissioners. After discussion, the end result was that they reversed course from previous opposition and approved signing the MOU contingent upon the insertion of verbiage clarifying the lack of a permanent easement and emphasizing the fluid location of the trail. All of that is subject to approval by the county attorney.