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Business from roughly 2012-2014 was resurrected at the Washakie County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, March 4.

Road and Bridge Supervisor Stuart Bower said that Pam Holland of Holland Ranch had brought to his attention that a previous agreement with the county to allow gravel crushing access on her property in exchange for $3,800 of gravel work done at the family ranch house had been unfulfilled on the county’s part. However, there was no accessible written record of the agreement.

“I tend to agree it was on a napkin that got used for something else,” Bower said. As a solution to maintain means of entry to the federal minerals on Holland’s private land south of Cherry Creek Road, Chairman Aaron Anderson suggested an access fee could be negotiated to make up for any incomplete agreements. The matter was referred to County Attorney Anthony Barton for an agreement to be drafted.

Kentex, Worland LLC asked for a right-of-way permit from the county on the west end of Lane 6. In order to facilitate the request, the company agreed to install a culvert and raise the roadway to accommodate the change, as well as help with any future damages that may come to the county road due to heavy vehicle operation. The Commissioners approved the request.

Big Horn Rural Electric Company also asked for right of way for an electricity line upgrade between Big Trails to Morris Bush’s Boxelder Ranch. The upgrade will provide for pivot’s energy requirements. The Commissioners requested a permit submission.

“Our county roads are a train wreck,” Bower went on. Road 47 repairs are next on the Road and Bridge to-do list, but discussion of ongoing costs to fix roads that aren’t structurally designed for the heavy equipment operating on them led to questions of how the county wanted to spend its money. Bower and Interim County planner Mike Robinson suggested it may be necessary to look into a long-term plan for beefing up county road’s carrying capacity rather than continuing to spend funds on patching. In the meantime, Bower assured the Commissioners that as many roads that could be fixed, would be fixed as the weather warms.

Bower tentatively scheduled removal of the “pet rock” on Mahogany Butte, which has been a public safety concern due to its precarious position, for the week of April 10. Worland’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Officer Mike Phillips supported the decision to remove the rock but noted that BLM had no funds for the project and could offer only equipment in the county’s efforts.

BLM TRAIL WORK

BLM Windriver/Bighorn Basin District Manager Matt Marsh reported that Gooseberry Badlands Trail repairs will take place in late spring and early summer of this year. An old access below the trail will be used to keep the area open to recreationalists during construction. Fires and runoff have necessitated repairs on Neiber Bridge and Nowater Creek as well, which will be started in July and completed by September.

Paint Rock Trail access across Diamond Star Ranch’s privately-owned land will be cut off following discourteous behavior, land damage and littering from hikers. The trail will be redeveloped entirely on public land. Lone Tree Trail, which has the ability to connect to Paint Rock, will be made more accessible through the development of switchbacks.

SWATTING

Sheriff Austin Brookwell responded to questions about “swatting” from Commissioner Terry Wolf after false active-shooter reports triggered law enforcement response to several Wyoming schools this week. Brookwell said that he has been in contact with Washakie County superintendents and principals regarding the response plan should the phenomenon reach the area. “If it’s nothing, we’re there. If it’s something, we’re there,” he said.

Brookwell also gave a cost-analysis on Verkada security systems, which were considered at the Commissioners’ last meeting on March 21. For 16 cameras at Washakie County Courthouse, Brookwell estimated the purchase, installation and facilitation could cost upwards of $56,000. As an alternative, he suggested UniFi cameras could be purchased for $4,400 and serviced by local providers rather than California-based Verkada, noting that Verkada’s facial recognition and tracking features were beyond county needs.

Quotes for a Sheriff’s Office truck for the next budget session will be presented at the next meeting on April 18.

Washakie County Prevention Management Specialist Lila Jolley and Youth Alternatives Grants Director Sheri Gunderson noted that the Drug Free Community Walk will be held May 10. Summer activities will be listed online this year rather than in hard copy to allow for easier updates.

A decision on the purchase of 603 North Road 11 for an ambulance station will take place at the next meeting on Tuesday, April 18.