WORLAND – The Washakie County commissioners met on Tuesday, July 21, for their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss potential road affiliation changes, discuss language changes in the Natural Resource Plan (NRP) and receive board updates from department heads.

A petition was submitted to County Planner David Anderson to change Lane 17 1/2 to a county road, as the county has done maintenance and repairs on the private road before and residents surrounding the road submitted the petition. Mike Robinson was approved to be the road viewer by the commissioners.

The county is also considering vacating Lane 18 1/2, as it is a dirt road in between two properties that the county has never maintained. This would turn the road back into a private road, public hearing times have not been set yet for these changes.

The commissioners also met via video conference with Project Manager Dessa Dale of DJ&A out of Missoula, Montana, in order to discuss language changes within the draft of the county’s NRP.

The county presented their initial plan to the public at the Worland Community Center (WCC) in January. According to the preliminary draft that was discussed in January, “the purpose of this plan is to establish the custom and culture of the local area, identify resources or land uses that economically or culturally impact the stability and character of the country, and recognize the importance of local involvement in federal decision making.”

This plan started after the passing of Wyoming House Bill 54 in 2019, which was passed in order to provide funds to counties to “take actions specified in response related to federal land, water, air, mineral and other natural resource policies which may affect the tax base of the state, wildlife management, state species, recreation, private property rights, water rights or leasehold rights.”

The commissioners are expected to have a revised version of the plan in a few weeks, with no further action expected at this time.

In board reports, Keith Bower of road and bridge reported that it is unlikely they would be able to find a part to replace their roller, and they may need to explore other options to find a useable roller. Bower reported to the commissioners about a hole on the west side of the Washakie Avenue Bridge that needs to be looked at.

Bower also discussed with the board how lanes 17, 77 and 82 were re-grated, the commissioners discussed an idea regarding molasses to hold dirt roads together in the future to reduce dust kick-up from drivers. The commissioners also talked with Bower about various issues with mowing this summer that have caused small fires to be started, and talked about how ditches should be cleaned better before mowing.

Tom Schmeltzer of building maintenance reported that the air conditioning was out in circuit court for a week, with the part set to arrive last Tuesday, July 21, and be installed immediately. Schmeltzer also discussed with the commissioners to put a blade on the four-wheeler that they recently got working for the Washakie County Courthouse.

Summit Forest Inc. was approved to complete the Annie Tolman Project, at a reduced acreage from 81 to 73 acres and a reduced cost down to the approximately $87,000 available for the Firewise grant.

The commissioners discussed with County Planner David Anderson to determine where exactly the sewer line comes into the new Washakie County Library in order to see whether they need to do construction on the line.

The commissioners entered into executive session two times regarding litigation.