Commissioners seek comment on resource plan

WORLAND – The Washakie County Commissioners met with Dessa Dale of DJ&A during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to discuss the next step of the county’s Natural Resource Plan which is to seek public input regarding the plan.

The commissioners, along with Dale, determined that since they had made the necessary adjustments and changes to the plan that they had suggested in July, that the next appropriate step was to seek public comment through the end of November. They will then meet with Dale in December to discuss the public comments.

A draft of the plan along with a survey related to the plan is located on the Washakie County website and can be filled out at any time. Written comments may be submitted to Washakie County Planner David Anderson, and all comments and the survey may be submitted until Nov. 30, at 5 p.m.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business at the commissioners meeting, Washakie County Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Heinemeyer reported to the commissioners that the drive-flu thru clinics have been going well so far. The clinics are being held every Thursday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Heinemeyer also reported that she will be able to use Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) funding in order to purchase a new refrigerator to hold COVID-19 vaccines which the state has told them to prepare for. Her old fridge is being given to the ambulance department, but may be taken back should she need it at any point.

She also told the commissioners that the Washakie County Medical Center now has a test that can determine whether someone has either influenza A or B along with COVID-19. According to Heinemeyer, those wishing to be tested should have symptoms to receive that form of test.

Tom Schmeltzer of building maintenance asked the commissioners if he would be able to sell some light fixtures out of the former Kennedy Ace Hardware building on behalf of the county that the county would have no need for. He also discussed where he would move some of the lights as multiple county buildings need lights in them.

He also asked what his role would be in moving the Washakie County Library once it is ready to move, and the commissioners discussed with him that a move for the library would be unlikely to happen until July 2021 and they are unsure fully what would be needed to be done yet.

He informed them that Kennedy Ace is out of the rental building, and that he would be repairing the window that was broken by a lawnmower that got away during repair.

The commissioners discussed with Sarah Garcia, Sheri Gunderson of Youth Alternatives and Lila Jolley of Washakie Prevention about the possibility of purchasing a microphone for use during Zoom meetings for the county. They discussed the possibility of purchasing it with CARES funding.

The commissioners entered into executive session to discuss contract negotiations regarding the Washakie County Library renovation with Groathouse Construction.