County receives clean audit

WORLAND - The Washakie County commissioners received their yearly audit during their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19, and accepted a clean audit report for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

The county did receive minor deficiencies regarding passing the threshold for the $750,000 limit regarding federal funding, which the auditor, Jason Lund stated is unusual but not a problem. There was also a discussion around a technical error regarding how the Washakie County Library Funds were transferred over into the general fund since the funds were not considered revenue for this year.

Lund said he believed the statements submitted were fair and cleanly presented, the County Commission agreed to submit the audit at this time to the Wyoming Department of Audits.

Tom Schmeltzer of building maintenance reported that there were some issues with heater motors in the county but he had repaired those issues. He also reported that after the strong winds on Wednesday, Jan. 13, he had lost some roofing off of a shed out at the fairgrounds.

He asked whether he should replace the roofing as he was unsure of the status of a new cow barn that the fair board had been looking to get funded through grants which would likely replace the current shed that is there. Frandson informed him that he had not heard anything regarding the barn in recent months and Schmeltzer said he would replace the roofing.

The commissioners provided a brief update to Schmeltzer regarding adjustments to the library as they are coming. They discussed how they have adjusted to the fire code after the fire inspector came and viewed the building. They are waiting for foam insulation to be placed upstairs, electrical is being worked on as well as other minor adjustments that have come throughout the process. The commissioners said that they have talked to the Washakie County Library Board and the board is searching for grants in order to help fund furniture for the library.

The commissioners agreed to pursue a contract with Hake Realty in order to sell the soon to be former Washakie County Library located at 1019 Coburn Ave.

Schmeltzer and Washakie County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Assistant Director Chris Hazen discuss an issue that was encountered with the dryer that was ordered for the Washakie County Detention Center.

The wrong dryer was sent and was incompatible with the system available in the detention center. The company that manufactured the dryer would not take it back, but the supplier would take it back and reimburse the county once it was sold and replace the wrong dryer with the correct one.

The commissioners were disappointed in the actions of the manufacturer not taking the improper dryer back. The commissioners then searched for the voucher regarding the dryer and said that the dryer they paid for was not the one that showed up.

Washakie County Planner David Anderson came before the commissioners with a final memorandum of agreement for the preservation of the Cottonwood Creek Bridge, which was approved.

Anderson and the commissioners also discussed a change to language for the consent still being sought on Lane 17 1/2.

Keith Bower of road and bridge discussed what to do with the grader which was recently damaged after an accident. They discussed that they needed to get it evaluated and most likely submit an insurance claim to the Wyoming Association of Risk Management (WARM).

Bower also discussed how they put down cautionary items around where the retaining wall has failed in order to provide more warning of the danger. Bower and Anderson will likely work toward a solution this spring.

Youth Alternatives representatives reported that the Washakie Prevention Coalition is having an in-person meeting today, Jan. 21, at noon at the Worland Community Center. Masks are required to attend the meeting.

They also discussed the possibility of planning in-person events for youth for the first time since the Washakie Prevention Night event last February.

Regarding the diversion program, Sarah Garcia reported that they are working with the schools to pursue a diversion program in lieu of suspension and going through the courts regarding possession of tobacco under the legal age limit.

The commissioners discussed how they intend to distribute the funds they were given from the Community Charitable Relief Program which was announced by Governor Mark Gordon in December. These funds are to be distributed to nonprofit organizations that have provided public assistance or seen a decline in donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The commissioners have already planned to distribute funding to 12 different non-profits in Washakie County who applied for the funding, but the commissioners still have approximately $36,000 to $38,000 left to distribute.

The commissioners are encouraging and asking nonprofits that qualify under 501(c)(3) to apply for the funding. They are asking for those that wish to apply to submit an application before Jan. 29, at 5 p.m.