Museum to consider lead paint options for bridge

WORLAND — Representatives from Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), Washakie County Road and Bridge, Washakie Museum & Cultural Center and contractor C&G gathered to discuss the ongoing Winchester Bridge project with Washakie County Commissioners during their meeting on Tuesday, March 7.

The memorandum of agreement between the parties was reanalyzed, determining that Washakie County’s liability involving lead paint concerns will be nulled upon transfer of the historic bridge to the museum. Road and Bridge Supervisor Stuart Bower provided an $86,000 quote on lead paint removal, which Chairman Aaron Anderson described as “beyond the scope” of the original cost estimates.

To mitigate the costs, it was suggested that the bridge could be left as-is, in an outdoor space, without permissible limits for lead. Encapsulating the lead with a coat of paint, only treating a piece of the bridge for display, or interpretive signs at the bridge’s original location were also considered. Museum Executive Director Marian Bender will take the suggestions back to the museum board, as they will incur any costs for lead remediation.

WYDOT, responsible for the replacement bridge’s construction, requires that the old bridge be moved from its current location by the end of March for their scheduled dirt and paving work. The Commissioners agreed to discuss the transportation of the bridge by their April 4 meeting. The museum will trigger action upon their decision to accept and possibly treat the bridge.

RADIO GRANTS

Sheriff Austin Brookwell reported that Washakie County is the only county in the state not WyoLink compliant. A tower for the public safety communication system at Meadowlark will go live this spring.

Brookwell, Deputy Ryan Rakness, Director of Washakie County Emergency Management/Homeland Security Kami Neighbors, and Bowers accumulated a total $374,646 of grant money for new radio systems in their county vehicles. They asked the county to fund a minimum of $15, 801 or maximum of $63,690, with optional spares included.

Brookwell reported that current radio systems broke twice last month, and cost $1,400 each time to fix. Updated radios could provide interoperability communication with the school districts, life flight and Bureau of Land Management.

The Commissioners asked for additional information about tech support subscription and spare equipment costs, with intention to be revisited at their March 21 meeting.

HOSPITAL

Washakie Medical Center Hospital Board member Dean Carrell asked the Commissioners for $246,000 from the American Recue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purchase of a new air handler at the hospital. The air handler to be replaced was not replaced or rebuilt with others in the building, and new Occupational Health and Safety Administration requirements specify MERV 13 or higher air filter ratings. The handler operates in the food handling and cafeteria area of the hospital.

The Commissioners agreed that the purchase would be good use of the ARPA funds, and approved it on the condition that the money is spent before the Dec 31, 2024, deadline, leaving $1,060,000 still in the ARPA fund.

Read about property tax, opioid funds, prevention coalition memorial funds, road and bridge and building maintenance updates in next week’s edition of Northern Wyoming News.