Sheri Gunderson, Lila Jolley and Katie Kirby from the Washakie Prevention Coalition (WPC) attended the Washakie County commissioner meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16 to discuss WPC work and events.

They reported that their annual prevention night is on Saturday. Jan 20 in Ten Sleep and Thursday, Jan. 25 in Worland.

According to Jolley, Worland’s prevention night will encompass wrestling, and girls and boys basketball. In Ten Sleep, prevention night will be at the basketball game, and will involve the WPC working with students of all ages. Leading up to the event, Jolley said they will conduct guidance lessons at the school, where they will discuss making good choices, and nicotine and alcohol use with older students.

Jolley said that the WPC has also been involved with the planning of the Worland mental health and wellness event. The planning committee meets every Wednesday in the conference room above the library from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the event will be held on Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Public Health Nursing Manager Amanda Heinemeyer said that public health overspent their immunization budget, but she noted that this was expected and that she notified the commissioners of this several weeks in advance. Additionally, Heinemeyer said that insurance companies are now reimbursing public health, resulting in their revenue increasing.

Heinemeyer said that she will begin looking into the installation of a fob security system for the public health building, which she had discussed with the commissioners in the past. Heinemeyer hopes to have the system paid for by COVID-19 immunization grants.

ROAD AND BRIDGE, PLANNING

Road and Bridge Superintendent Stuart Bower said that Big Trails Road is open from its northern end down to the Washakie County border.

The commissioners confirmed that they received the second round of Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund payments and therefore approved the purchase of two new trailers to be used for road and bridge operations.

The commissioners approved of the Clark Brothers No. 1 subdivision final plat, which is located near the northern county line.

MAINTENANCE

County building maintenance manager Ryan Casad reported that his last day of work in the position will be Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Position details and requirements are available in the County Clerk’s office, 1001 Big Horn Ave., Worland, WY 82401, and online at http://www.washakiecounty.net.

Casad said that the heat in the library building was not functioning on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and that new parts were being ordered.

OTHER BUSINESS

The commissioners approved Sheriff Austin Brookwell’s request for funding for improvements to the county emergency command trailer center in the amount of $34,000, using LATCF funds.

The commissioner meeting went into executive/closed session once to discuss personnel.