County discusses parking, life flight contract
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WORLAND – Washakie County Commissioners saw members of the Washakie County Library and City of Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission (BAPC) discuss parking during their meeting Tuesday.
After a special BAPC meeting on Jan. 31, the BAPC decided to grant a special exemption for the library’s insufficient parking, contingent on the commissioners’ approval of a plan to create at least 17 parking spaces for the library on the county lot at the corner of Robertson Avenue and Eighth Street. At this week’s commissioners meeting, a motion was approved to pursue such plans.
In addition, the commissioners agreed to create short-term library parking space in the parking spaces at the south side of that lot. “When the snow goes away we can see if I can get that straightened up,” Building Maintenance Supervisor Tom Schmeltzer said.
LIFE FLIGHT
SERVICES EXTENDED
The commissioners had a conference call with Wes McAden of AirMedCare to discuss the county’s existing life flight services contract, which was set to expire March 31. Commissioner Morgan Martinez made a motion to approve a four-month extension, through July 31, valued at $12,333.36, which passed.
ROAD AND BRIDGE
Road and Bridge Supervisor Stuart Bower reported that there will be three lead paint remediation quotes available to the County Commissioners at their next meeting regarding the Winchester Bridge.
Bower said that he has been working with Director of Washakie County Emergency Management/Homeland Security Kami Neighbors to potentially add an emergency generator to the Road and Bridge building through State Homeland Security Program grant money.
After the Jan. 24 commissioners meeting, Bower searched for a dust control liquid holding tank so that the county could have more control over summertime application of the fluid rather than relying entirely on a private company. He presented two options to the commissioners: an internally coated 400-barrel tank with installation included for $8,500, or a more heavily used tank without installation costs for $4,500. The commissioners approved the purchase of the $8,500 tank.
Interim County Planner Mike Robinson presented his progress on the RAISE grant application, which the commissioners had previously discussed as a possible fund for road repairs in the Lower Nowood area. Robinson said he was in the process of reaching out for quotes from engineering companies. The RAISE grant, offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, has a million-dollar minimum with a county contribution up to 20 percent.
“There are a number of key factors or evaluation criteria that we have to meet, and I think we can meet all of them to some degree, so we should at least pass the fatal flaw area of the grant,” Robinson said.
Robinson also presented a final plat map altering Sugarbeet Hilltop Estate Subdivision’s boundary line.
“They vacated the portion of one lot that was underneath the center pivot and added property on the other end. The county planning commission recommends approval of it,” Robinson said. A motion to approve the amended boundary line passed and the commissioners signed off on the plat.
PUBLIC HEALTH BID
Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Heinemeyer presented the only submitted bid for a remodeling project in the Washakie County Public Health Building. The bid, from Noble Custom Carpentry, totaled $106,555.64.
“I only have like $90,000 in grants, but I need to submit the official bid to the state, which the state will then submit to the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), then we have to wait for approval on that,” Heinemeyer said.
Commissioner Terry Wolf made a motion to approve the bid and begin the grant process contingent on Schmeltzer’s approval of the bid outline. The motion passed, and Schmeltzer approved of the bid.
WORLAND AQUATIC CENTER DISCUSSION
The County Commissioners brought in Washakie County Attorney Tony Barton to discuss the potential dissolution of the Worland Aquatic Center Joint Powers Board, consisting of the city, county and Washakie County School District No. 1, which would give operations of the pool to the school district.
“We would like to see something, whereas sales tax monies county-wide were used in this project, that there be some commitment that allows for reasonable public use [of the Worland Aquatic Center] and also allows District No. 2 to utilize it for swim lessons,” County Commissioners Chairman Aaron Anderson said.
Barton agreed to discuss maintaining public access to the pool with City Attorney Kent Richins.
INSURANCE UPDATE
Sean Gifford from HUB International Insurance out of Casper met with the commissioners to introduce himself as Washakie County’s new benefits broker after his predecessor moved on to another job. He asked for feedback on the County’s insurance policy.
Opportunities for web portals for open enrollment, employee education and the possibility for switching into a consulting arrangement in order to save the county some expenses were discussed.
