MINUTES OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING |
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| STATE OF WYOMING | ) | OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF | |||
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| COUNTY OF HOT SPRINGS | ) | THERMOPOLIS WYOMING | |||
| June 18, 2013 | |||||
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The Hot Springs Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, June 18,
2013 at 4:00 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room at the Government Annex. Present were Commissioners Brad Basse, John Lumley and Mike Baker. Also present were County Clerk Hans Odde and Administrative Assistant to the Commissioners Penny Herdt. Chairman Basse led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Approval of Agenda
John Lumley moved to approve the agenda with the following change:
WYECIP Project Update
TRANE representative and project manager Dan Marshall updated the Commissioners on the
status of the WYECIP project. The main holdup continues to be completion of the energy audits
by Rocky Mountain Power. Mr. Marshall hopes these will be finished by the end of the week so
that work may progress on the lighting projects for the Ag storage building, Library, Law
Enforcement Center and the Courthouse. Estimated project closeout date is now mid-July.Insurance Renewal Discussion
Clerk Hans Odde presented a list of suggested changes to the County’s insurance plan for the
Commissioners’ review. These changes have been suggested by the County’s insurance
consultant as a way to reduce the increase in the cost of the impending renewal from roughly
16% to roughly 10%. After extensive discussion, Mike Baker moved to approve the suggested
changes to the County’s insurance plan as presented. John Lumley seconded the motion.
Discussion: Due to the increasing costs as mandated by the National Health Care law, it
appears likely that the County may have to begin offering the High-Deductible Benefit Plan as
the only insurance option in the near future. Employee information sessions regarding this
option will be scheduled well in advance of the 2014-2015 renewal period. Both the Base Plan
and the High Deductible/HSA options will be offered for the 2013-2014 plan year. Information on
the plan changes for the 2013-2014 renewal period will be distributed to the employees as soon
as possible. Motion carried.Appoint Big Horn Basin Nature & Discovery Center JPB Member
Clerk Odde presented the application received in response to advertising of the open position
on the BHB Nature & Discovery Center Joint Powers Board. Mike Baker moved to appoint Lea
Schoenewald to the BHBNDC Joint Powers Board. John Lumley seconded the motion. Motion
carried.Hospital Budget Discussion
HSC Memorial Hospital CEO Robin Roling and Hospital Board President Bill Williams appeared
before the Commissioners to discuss their budget request for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The
hospital is requesting $650,000.00 from the County. Ms. Roling outlined the expenses the
hospital will face in the coming year, anticipated revenues for the same time period, and the
significant gap between the two. The Commissioners indicated that is was very unlikely that the1 entire budget request would be granted, but thanked Ms. Roling and Dr. Williams for the effort they had put into their presentation. In answer to questions from the Commissioners, Ms. Roling stated that the hospital would prefer to have whatever funds were available in a “block grant” form to be used according to the hospital’s priority list, as opposed to being designated for a specific purpose. Drought Designation Resolution / Letter
As requested by Emergency Management Coordinator, the Commissioners discussed the
current drought situation in the County. John Lumley moved to approve Resolution 2013-06 as
follows:RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WHEREAS, Hot Spring’s agricultural community is suffering critical impairment of its operation
caused by a drought and,OF HOT SPRINGS COUNTY, WYOMING Resolution Number 2013-06 DECLARATION OF A STATE OF DISASTER DUE TO DROUGHT AND THE AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS OF DROUGHT WHEREAS, the cost of support to the agricultural community is in excess of county resources available, and, WHEREAS, the current drought conditions are predicted to worsen and to continue for the foreseeable future, and the long term impacts of the drought cannot yet be fully determined. NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in us as duly elected Commissioners of Hot Springs County, Wyoming, we do hereby declare the County of Hot Springs to be an AGRI-BUSINESS DISASTER AREA. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of June, at Thermopolis, Wyoming. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOT SPRINGS COUNTY, WYOMING: Attest: Brad W. Basse, ChairmanHans Odde, Clerk to the Board Mike Baker, Vice Chairman John P. Lumley, Commissioner BLM — State Park Land Swap Proposal — Legend Rock Site
Hot Springs State Park representative John Fish appeared before the Commissioners to
discuss a land swap proposal with the BLM. The Hot Springs State Park has approached Dick
Wagner, owner of Legend Rock Ranch, to try to work an exchange deal to obtain land
surrounding the Legend Rock State Archeological Site for expansion and upgrading of the site.
The ranch owner is willing to consider trading four parcels of his deeded land surrounding the
site for five parcels of land owned by the State and managed by the BLM. The BLM has refused
to consider the exchange, as it does not meet their stated criteria for exchange parcels. Mr. Fish
asked what the Commissioners might be able to do to assist him in dealing with the BLM with
this proposal. While they were unable to assist Mr. Fish directly, the Commissioners provided
Mr. Fish will contact information for people in the Governor’s office and outside consultants who
may be able to help him.Other Business
WBC Grant Agreement Amendment #1 — STWSD Expansion — Clerk Odde presented
Amendment #1 for the South Thermopolis Water & Sewer District’s Expansion project for the
Commissioners’ signature. This amendment extends the Grant Agreement expiration date to
December 31, 2013. John Lumley moved to approve Amendment #1 to the Grant Agreement2 between the Wyoming Business Council and Hot Springs County for the STWSD’s Expansion Project extending the Grant Agreement expiration date from July 31, 2013 to December 31, 2013. Mike Baker seconded the motion. Discussion: the Amendment signature line will be changed to reflect Brad Basse as the Chairman. Motion carried. Appoint Lodging Tax Board Member — Clerk Odde presented the application received in response to repeated advertising for the open term on the Lodging Tax Board. Mike Baker moved to appoint Ernest Cummings to the Lodging Tax Board. John Lumley seconded the motion. Motion carried. Correspondence
Library Board Minutes — May, 2013
The Commissioners reviewed the foregoing correspondence. No further action was required or
taken at this time.Fair Board Minutes — May, 2013 Roy Runia — Retrial Procedure Wyoming Rules Bureau of Reclamation — Snowmelt Runoff Forecast Governor’s Office — 2013 Wyoming Energy Strategy Wyoming Safety & Workforce Summit — Date & Information HSC Centennial Committee — Thank You Airport Operations Report — May, 2013 Lodging Tax Board Budget Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the Board of County Commissioners at this
time, Mike Baker moved to adjourn. Chairman Basse declared the meeting adjourned at 5:35
p.m.
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| Attest: | |||||
| _______________________________ Brad Basse, Chairman |
_______________________________ Hans Odde, Clerk to the Board |
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