Update on county GIS database

At the November 1 Hot Springs County Commissioners meeting, Brian Clarkson and Maddie Ross of T-O Engineers gave the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) update and said in September they used septic documents from 1998 and 2000 up to 2021 to attribute septic permits in the GIS database. They added 79 previously unmapped septic permits and linked documents in cloud storage. They finished mapping county road easement and right-of-way descriptions and linked historical documents to easement features and added new features to the Road & Bridge Department easement application.

In October, they created the HSC Open Data geospatial hub as a platform for sharing county data, applications, and maps with the public. Also, they created the HSC GeoHub as a platform for county employees to access and share internal data and applications. They built an online application for viewing and querying septic permit information.

Additionally, on October 18, T-O Engineers met with Hot Springs County Planner Bo Bowman and went through the new septic GIS application and discussed possible future GIS projects.

Coming up on October 15, T-O Engineers will meet in person with the commissioners to give the GIS update. Also, they will continue processing, scanning, and uploading documents for septic permits and mapping land-use changes for the Planner. Additionally, they will continue inputting county road easement documents. 

Nate Messenger gave the FBO report and said there were 152 total recorded operations. This included three air ambulances, five aircraft overnight, and two hangar requests. Regarding fuel sales, they sold 1,576.86 gallons of Avgas and 653.3 gallons of jet fuel.

Messenger added, “We saw a drop in traffic and fuel sales this month. I have not heard if we will be hosting any UPS freight aircraft this winter. The product filters have been changed in the self-serve tanks and the fuel trucks per Phillips 66 requirements.”

Additionally, Messenger said, “Both plow trucks have been serviced and are ready for snow.”

Shane Rankin gave the Road & Bridge update and said they had a busy month and the fall season blading is done. Rankin also said their snow plows are ready. 

Rankin held a discussion with the commissioners about finding funding for the County Road Construction and Maintenance Fund Handbook. Each county in Wyoming is being asked to participate in the project. The commissioners then voted and passed approval to give $2,300 to the project.

Commissioner Phil Scheel brought up to Rankin the idea of having the Road & Bridge staff receive training for the GIS system, saying that these employees are in the field and would be helpful to input data. Rankin agreed with the idea and they will work on it.

John Dorman gave the maintenance report and said the courthouse flowerbeds are done and have mulch, however, there are no signs there yet. They are still working on the exterior brackets for the lights on the outside of the courthouse. 

Dorman discussed with the commissioners about the fire suppression system at the courthouse. The control board does not qualify to be recertified because of certain failures in the electronics. Dorman said they need an engineer to assist with these problems and that the control board is 40+ years old and will need to be replaced. Dorman added that the system is still functioning, but there will be an issue if there is a fire or they lose power.

Dorman also discussed the bathroom project in the detention center and said they will need an engineer for that as well. The commissioners then asked that Engineer Design Associates help with both of these projects. A meeting with the engineers will be on November 15. 

Tricia McPhie gave the Public Health/Prevention report and said they had been busy in October. The number of flu shots was up 6.5% from last year for the month of October. McPhie said they are still offering Covid clinics every Thursday, and they had almost a 400% increase in the number of Covid shots they gave. This number mainly comes from the booster that came out for this fall. McPhie added, “We have been seeing a lot of people who have been wanting that and coming to see us. We have been giving a lot of shots around that number.”

The commissioners asked McPhie about the number of Covid cases. McPhie replied, “It’s a little hard to document because a lot of the people are getting home tests. Which is great because then they can test themselves and they can stay home if they’re sick.”

McPhie also said, “The recommendations have changed with adult pneumococcal vaccines. And so we’ve been promoting that and we have a pneumonia clinic scheduled too, for those 65 and older. And then our next prevention meeting is next Wednesday, November 9.”

Bo Bowman gave the Planner report and said that the Natural Resources Planning Committee will meet this week and that last month’s meeting went well.

Bowman also said the Land Use Planning Commission met on October 19 and made two recommendations that the commissioners will cover in their next meeting.

Regarding septic applications, Bowman said he had 19, and “things have been slowing down a little bit… Ten of them have been returned as applications and all of those have been approved. Nine of those have been constructed and inspected. I have four systems that were constructed over the past year that I’m aware of that were installed without the benefit of obtaining permits.”

Concerning the counseling center property, the commissioners previously tasked Bowman to investigate splitting the property line. Bowman reported that they needed to prepare two deeds and transfer. Also, Bowman needs to speak with the Town of Thermopolis’s Fred Crosby about the matter.

Bowman also discussed that the fire department had raised issues with some street names on the Red Rim Ranch subdivision because of possible confusion if there were an emergency. There will be work done on addressing the matter to change the names.

Bill Gordon gave the Emergency Management report and said that on October 25 he participated in a simulated exercise in Washakie County. He continued and said that Hot Springs County may have a simulated exercise as well.

Gordon also discussed that the emergency plan document he has prepared needs to be reviewed and approved by County Attorney Jill Logan. 

Barb Rice gave the Youth Alternatives report and said they were “rolling along. It’s a busy season.” Rice said they released five students and now have nine total, including five males and four females. 

Carson Rowley of T-O Engineers presented the HSG Sealcoat and Mark Project Scope of Work and Fees to the commissioners. Rowley explained the County Airport project in detail. There was discussion about how far away the sealing would be done from the hangars and other locations. The commissioners voted and passed the approval of the document for $39,525.45. The design work will occur in November and December 2022. The groundwork will be completed in July 2023. 

The commissioners voted and passed the approval of Chairman Ryan’s signature to be placed on the final plat of the Dean Subdivision.

T-O Engineer architects Kyle Gillette and Ginger Brown gave an update presentation of the Children’s Outdoor Discovery Center site. Board members Toddi Darlington and Joe Moon were also present. The architects showed a 35% Design Plan on a large display that contained parking access, a one-way drive, a 15-space passenger car parking area, a seven-space RV parking area, a sidewalk connection, water and sewer utility lines, and landscaping. The commissioners were pleased to see the drawings and are looking forward to more progress.

In other business, the commissioners voted and passed the approval to ratify the RPR#1 - AHS022X for the Airport Fly-In for $2,494.00; the RFR #4 for the Black Mountain Road Repair Project for $12,811.87; and to accept the West Cottonwood Creek Culvert Replacement Project Certificate of Substantial Completion.