County to hear fire, law enforcement issues Tuesday

WORLAND – Wildland fire mitigation will be a topic of discussion at the regular county commission on Tuesday, when Fire Warden Chris Kocher will present a Request for Proposal for the Firewise grant obtained by the county earlier this year.

A federal program to aid county fire wardens with wildland fire mitigation, the grant also provides educational resources for homeowners in other than urban areas, easily threatened by wildland fires.

Sealed proposals for vendors to coordinate the Firewise program will be accepted by the Worland Fire Department until Dec. 18, and opened Dec. 19 at the courthouse. The winning contractor will then be announced by the county commission.

According to Firewise.org, the governing agency, the program is designed to implement the National Fire Plan and assist communities at risk from catastrophic wildland fires. The program provides grants, technical assistance, and training for community programs that develop local capability, including assessment and planning, mitigation activities, and community and homeowner education and action; Hazardous fuels reduction activities, including the training, monitoring or maintenance associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on federal land, or on adjacent nonfederal land for activities that mitigate the threat of catastrophic fire to communities and natural resources in high risk areas.

Also on Tuesday, the commission will hear from County Attorney John Worrall regarding a memorandum of understanding between the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office and the Worland Police Department.

The MOU would continue to establish that local law enforcement would be able to assist each other outside or inside the city limits under circumstances that warrant the need for mutual cooperation or investigation.

The commission meets at 9 a.m. on Tuesday in the County Commission chambers in the Washakie County Courthouse. All meetings are open to the public and public comments are encouraged.