WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners met Tuesday morning to discuss several topics, including the architecture for the new ambulance service building.

Previously, it was discussed that the county and Cody Regional Health were searching for a large enough building to house the ambulance service. The board previously considered options west of the train tracks. Currently, Cody Regional ambulance services reside in a rental on Robertson Avenue where they can stay and rest during their shifts.

The commissioners have since created a preliminary sketch for the new building and have gotten in contact with Cody Regional Health Emergency Management Services Director Phillip Franklin regarding potential needs for the future building.

The commissioners have completed a property swap with Mercado Investments LLC which would place the new building at 716 Robertson Ave. The county plans on using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 that will allow them to improve infrastructure.

At the Tuesday meeting the main topic was architectural bids. The board received three bids from separate architects. Plan One Architects out of Cody, Wyoming had the highest bid of $197,120. GSG Architecture out of Casper, Wyoming placed a bid of $140,670. Amundsen Associates placed a bid of $112,300 plus reimbursements. The decision was tabled due to lack of time with the commissioners leaving to attend the Wyoming Association of County Officials in Gillette.

OTHER DISCUSSIONS

Library System Executive Director Karen Funk also attended the meeting, discussing signage for the new public library in Worland that opened on Monday. Funk expressed her decision of choosing an awning, or lettering to distinguish the building. She said the Washakie County Library Foundation wants to contribute to this. Frandson explained he felt it best that it be a collaborative effort between the foundation and commissioners.

Also discussed at the meeting was the hiring of a new Woman Infant Children (WIC) employee. State Vendor Manager, Tina Fearneyhough brought this discussion up to the commissioners, offering the possibility of the county receiving an employee through WIC funding. The employee would be paid entirely through WIC funding. The commissioners discussed their worry over insurance for the employee, as WIC would only cover insurance for the employee, but not for the employee’s family. They discussed that the employee would have to work a minimum of 30 hours a week to be considered for further insurance. The employee would receive no other benefits – such as sick leave.

The employee would be a contract employee. Fearneyhough mentioned the employee would need to have an associate’s degree, and would need to be eligible through the program. The discussion was tabled until further information could be provided.