Washakie County Commissioners seek help to fence Lower Nowood

WORLAND – The Washakie County commissioners met on Tuesday for their regularly scheduled meeting via teleconference to discuss an idea to seek help from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to fence part of Lower Nowood Road in order to help discourage cows gathering on the road.

The commissioners discussed with County Planner David Anderson and Keith Bower of road and bridge a situation where vehicles are not slowing down on the road and causing accidents with wildlife once they reach the open range part of Lower Nowood Road, and where it becomes open range on BLM land.

The commissioners are planning to draft a letter and send it to BLM in order to seek help in fencing off more area on the land in order to keep wildlife and cattle from wandering onto the road as much.

The commissioners made the decision to switch to HUB International and the Joint Powers Trust as their insurance provider, which will result in the saving of $90,471.36 for the county, deciding to leave their current provider of Blue Cross Blue Shield whose contract expires at the end of June.

The commissioners transferred grant funds of $100,000 that were received from the Wyoming Department of Health to help combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). According to Washakie County Emergency Management Director Kami Neighbors the funds will be used for personal protective equipment (PPE), other supplies and equipment, as well as public education and other projects related to COVID-19.

OTHER BUSINESS

The commissioners discussed with Anderson and Bower to discuss what amount of gravel is available in the Lower Nowood Pit to ensure that there is enough gravel for use by both the town of Ten Sleep for their recently approved road project, as well as surrounding road projects planned by the county.

The commissioners met with Tom Schmeltzer of building maintenance to discuss a request from the Worland Eagles to waive fees that are required to use the Washakie County Fairgrounds for a non-profit demolition derby that is scheduled for June 13. The commissioners decided to waive the fee as long as restrictions due to COVID-19 allow the event to happen.

Schmeltzer was also advised to use part of his part-time hire funding to paint the red barn located at the fairgrounds.