Commissioners sign letter of support for shooting complex

At the January 16 Hot Springs County Commissioners board meeting, they voted and passed the approval to sign a letter of support regarding the HSC Shooting Complex Committee Proposal Submission.

Commissioner Paul Galovich explained that the committee is getting ready to issue a pre-RFP that is due by March 1. A final RFP will be due by April 1. This is how the state will process their decision making in choosing a location for the shooting complex.

A task force of 11 members, which is comprised under the direction of the governor, will narrow down the list of three or five potential locations. The state of Wyoming is budgeting $10 million to fund the shooting complex. Galovich also presented some studies that showed how Hot Springs County has less wind than other locations in Wyoming. This is important to the qualification of the shooting complex as wind negatively affects accuracy. 

Stephanie Conrad gave the Emergency Management update and reported about the recent use of Code Red where she sent out two calls regarding a missing person, who was later found. Apparently, some residents received both calls while others only received the first call or the second call. Conrad will investigate the possible reason for this and see if there can be a correction for further Code Red calls. 

Conrad also reported that they have prepared 80 or more preparedness buckets that the State of Wyoming sent to her. She is also working on getting a couple of certifications for emergency managers, one through the Wyoming All Hazards Association and another one through FEMA, through their AMI institute. Later this month, Conrad will travel to Rawlins and learn how to build a shelter. 

Shane Rankin and the commissioners held a discussion about possible action for Ardurra’s Additional Scope of Work for an Access Road. Ardurra was exploring, doing some survey staking on the road going into the old airport. Rankin asked the commissioners if they wanted Ardurra to do that. The fee would be $2,800 and Ardurra can amend the original contract to include this in the scope of work. The commissioners agreed to do it but did not take action at the time due to pending paperwork that was not available. Rankin will present the amendment paperwork at the next meeting. 

The commissioners voted and passed the approval for Resolution No. 2024-03 Authorizing to Appoint a Special Prosecutor at the request of the county attorney. 

In other business, the commissioners voted and passed the approval for Request for Reimbursement No. 21 for the HSG Airport Master Plan for $4,334.70 and for the Updated Revenue Recapture Plan for the Wyoming Business Council, Community Readiness Grant. 

The commissioners also received a letter from Barb Rice of Youth Alternatives, who could not attend the meeting in person due to health matters. In Rice’s report, she stated 13 juveniles were released between November to January. There are currently nine juveniles with citations, seven males and two females. Rice continues the report by stating she has been with Youth Alternatives for nine years and the program’s primary role is to monitor juvenile citations, and the juvenile jail roster, to provide legal advocacy, and support. The program works with law enforcement, courts, judges, community agencies and schools to provide resources and support for youth and families. 

The commissioners voted and passed the approval of the Ratification of Environment Categorical Exclusion for the Hot Springs County Airport Hangar Project. There were 22 feet of fill that had already been tested for environmental issues.