MINUTES OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING |
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| STATE OF WYOMING | ) | OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF |
| ) | COUNTY COMMISSIONERS | |
| COUNTY OF HOT SPRINGS | ) | THERMOPOLIS WYOMING |
| March 15, 2011 | ||
| The Hot Springs Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. in the Commissioners' Room at the Government Annex. Present were Commissioners Brad Basse and Mike Baker. Also present were County Attorney Jerry Williams, County Clerk Hans Odde and Administrative Assistant to the Commissioners Penny Herdt. Commissioner Lumley was absent for medical reasons Vice-Chairman Basse led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Basse announced that Robert's Rules of Order would be suspended so that business might be conducted in the absence of Chairman Lumley. Approval of Agenda Mike Baker moved approval of the agenda as presented. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. Emergency Management Monthly Report Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Gordon reported that he has begun the Workplace Safety Training sessions and they have been well-attended. Two more sessions will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. Mr. Gordon recently attended the State Spring Runoff meeting in Casper. The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled the annual flushing flow out of Boysen for the Bighorn River for March 29, 2011. The flushing flow will last approximately eight hours at approximately 5000 cfs. The Boysen release rate will then be lowered to between 1500 and 2000 cfs until further notice. Current snowpack levels are at 106% of normal versus 67% of normal at this time last year, so water releases will begin soon to avoid problems with runoff later in the spring. Lane 3 Issues Tom Ryan, Sr. and Tom Ryan, Jr. appeared before the Commissioners to review the tentative timeline for the Lane 3 project presented by Engineering Associates on December 21, 2010. As it appears the project has fallen behind the timeline, the Ryans wanted to see where the project was at this point. Commissioner Baker indicated that there were still two landowners who have not returned their easement agreements; but that it is his belief that preliminary planning is going forward. Commissioner Basse agreed to contact Engineering Associates within the week to check on the status of the project. HSC Memorial Hospital Foundation Funds Request Hospital Foundation representatives Bev Koerwitz, TJ Schoenewald, Judy Kenast, Patty Jeunehomme and Kathy Wallingford appeared before the Commissioners to ask for consideration for endowment funds during the upcoming budget process. The Foundation receives a dollar-for-dollar match from the State for any funds donated to their endowment up to a total of $500,000.00. They are currently $29,212.27 short of the maximum amount eligible for matching funds, and asked the Commissioners to consider allocating $25,000.00 to the Foundation. The Foundation members indicated that, although the matching funds program runs through June 30, 2013, funds are being disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis, and the available funding is expected to be depleted before the expiration of the program. The Commissioners thanked the Foundation for their presentation and asked them to remain involved in the budget process. No formal action was taken at this time. Shoshone Forest Memorandum of Understanding Commissioner Mike Baker reported that county representatives had met with the Shoshone Forest representatives earlier this month. At the Forest Service's suggestion, Commissioner Baker reviewed the County's MOU with the Shoshone Forest Service and found that it had expired three years ago, meaning the MOU should be reviewed and renewed as soon as possible. Subsequent discussion with Greg 1 Kennett of ERG, the consultant assisting the counties with the Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan, revealed that other counties within the state have been able to strengthen their position considerably when rewriting their MOU's with the Forest Service and/or the BLM. Mr. Kennett has agreed to provide copies of those MOU's to Hot Springs County, but we do not have them yet. Commissioner Baker will follow up on this so that the Shoshone Forest MOU can be redone as expeditiously as possible. Funding for Forest Service Statewide Meeting This item was tabled due to Chairman Lumley's absence Snow Removal Equipment – Notice of Award Clerk Odde presented the Notice of Award for the Snow Removal Equipment bid for the Commissioners' approval. The County has also received written approval from WYDOT to purchase a broom attachment and upgrade the plow blade. Mike Baker moved to approve the Notice of Award for Airport Snow Removal Equipment Project #101022 to Lariat International Trucks in the amount of $126,680.00. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Discussion: Clerk Odde reminded the Commissioners that this is a 98% State funded – 2% County funded project. Motion carried. Consider Planner's Resignation The Commissioners reviewed a letter from the County Planner dated March 15, 2011 stating his intention to retire effective April 30, 2011. Commissioner Basse expressed his appreciation for Mr. Campbell's outstanding work on land use and environmental issues during his time as Planner. Mike Baker moved to accept Mr. Campbell's retirement notification with regret. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. Discussion ensued regarding a timeline and advertising to replace the Planner. Mike Baker moved to authorize Clerk Odde to advertise the position of County Planner in state and local area newspapers immediately. Applications will be due to the Clerk's office no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 8, 2011. Interviews will be conducted on April 19, 2011. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. 2011 County-Wide Firefighting Protection Plan & Annual Operating Plan Fire District representative Jay Duval presented the 2011 Annual Fire Protection & Operating Plan Agreement between the Cody Interagency Dispatch Zone Coordinating Group and Hot Springs County for the Commissioners' signature. County Attorney Williams reviewed the document and asked for clarification regarding the “Billable Hours” section. After Mr. Duval explained that area, Mr. Williams had no recommended changes. Mike Baker moved to approve the 2011 County-Wide Fire Protection Plan and Annual Operating Plan Agreement. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. Gravel Crushing Project Road & Bridge Supervisor Ray Shaffer appeared before the Commissioners asking for further direction on the gravel crushing project. After considerable discussion, Mike Baker moved to authorize Mr. Shaffer to solicit proposals for engineering services for a gravel crushing project involving 10,000 cubic yards of Gradation W gravel from the Ready Gravel Pit. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Discussion: Proposals to include costs and timeline for the project. Motion carried. The proposals will be considered and the contract awarded at the April 5, 2011 Commissioners meeting. Relocation of Road Maintenance Sign – Buffalo Creek Road John Baird, Chip Axtell, and Tad Henthorne appeared before the Commissioners to request that the sign regarding seasonal road maintenance near their properties be moved further up the road. Historically, there has been no official county road maintenance past fire number 1140 from October 1 to June 1 on this road. Now that the road has been improved by the County road crews and more people are living beyond the boundary of the sign, the affected landowners would like to move the end-of-maintenance point designated by the sign to fire number 1681, which is the farthest occupied residence on Buffalo Creek Road at this time. Mike Baker moved to approve moving the “end-of-county-maintenance” sign from 1140 Buffalo Creek Road to 1681 Buffalo Creek Road. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. Other Business Koerwitz, Michel, Wright & Associates Letter of Engagement – Clerk Odde presented the annual engagement letter for services related to the annual county audit for the Commissioners' review. After 2 review and discussion, Mike Baker moved to sign the letter of engagement with Koerwitz, Michel, Wright & Associates to complete the County's annual audit for the current fiscal year for a total sum not to exceed $21,600.00. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Discussion: Fee for the general audit is not to exceed $18,000.00 and fee for the separate single audit is not to exceed $3,600.00. Motion carried. Bighorn Basin Spring Meeting – A request from Park County for input regarding dates for the 4-County Spring Meeting was discussed. April 8, 2011, was agreed upon as the most convenient date for the meeting, which will be held in Basin. Penny will provide this input to Park County. Fremont County Casino Tour – Commissioner Baker confirmed that Pat Lawson with the Northern Arapahoe Gaming Agency has invited the Commissioners to a tour of casinos in Fremont County. This tour has been scheduled for Thursday, March 17, 2011, leaving from the Government Annex building at 1:00 p.m. Those attending the tour will be the three Commissioners, newspaper editor Joe Sova, and County Clerk Hans Odde. Hospital Board Member Resignation – Delores Loughlin has submitted her resignation from the Hospital Board effective immediately. Mrs. Loughlin has served on the Hospital Board for nineteen years. Mike Baker moved to accept Delores Loughlin's resignation with sincere regret. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Discussion: the Commissioners and staff will work together on some form of recognition for Mrs. Loughlin's service to the County. Motion carried. Clerk Odde was asked to begin advertising for candidates to fill the unexpired term immediately. The term expires June 30, 2012. DEQ Annual Letter of Credit #2 – Hot Springs County is required to provide a $1,000.00 bond to the DEQ in conjunction with land quality regulations regarding Permit #582S for the County's gravel pits. The bond must be renewed annually. Pinnacle Bank provides the bond/letter of credit at no charge to the county at this time. Mike Baker moved approval of Letter of Credit #2 for DEQ Permit #582S – Hot Springs County Gravel Pits. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. RTC Utility License Agreement – County Road #27 – Clerk Odde presented a Utility License Agreement application from RT Communications for utility work on East Sunnyside Lane between fire numbers 659 and 687. No fee is required as the road will not be cut. Road & Bridge Foreman Ray Shaffer has reviewed and approved the application. Mike Baker moved to approve the Utility License Agreement between RT Communications, Inc. and Hot Springs County for work on County Road #27 (East Sunnyside Lane). Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. Correspondence Library Board Minutes – Commissioners noted that the minutes for February 14, 2011 contained an error in the statement that the Commissioners have decided to discontinue the match amount for the HSA insurance program. That decision has not been made at this time. The initial $500.00 incentive payment for switching to an HSA has ended, but the match up to $500.00 through June 30, 2011 continues. Commissioner Baker reported that the Library Board has discussed offering a different match amount for library employees covered by the HSA plan than the County offers for its employees, but no decision has been made about that at this time.Executive Session At 6:20 p.m. Mike Baker moved to enter Executive Session for personnel reasons. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. At 6:37 p.m. Mike Baker moved to exit Executive Session. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. No action was taken during the Executive Session. Consider Coroner's Resignation The Commissioners have received a letter of resignation from County Coroner Mike Mortimore dated March 10, 2011. Mike Baker moved to accept, with regret, Mike Mortimore's resignation as outlined in his 3 letter dated March 10, 2011. Brad Basse seconded the motion. Motion carried. The Commissioners notified the County Clerk of the vacancy and asked that Clerk Odde begin the process of appointing a new coroner as outlined in state statutes. Clerk Odde will notify the Republican Central Committee of the vacancy as soon as possible. The letter of resignation and other correspondence from Mr. Mortimore is a part of the public record and is available at the Clerk's office for viewing if desired. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Board of County Commissioners at this time Mike Baker moved to adjourn. Acting Chairman Basse declared the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. | ||
| Attest: | ||
| John P. Lumley, Chairman | Hans Odde, Clerk to the Board | |
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