Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
At the Washakie County Commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3, Worland citizen Jerry Kysar brought an incident to the commissioner’s attention, involving Washakie County deputies and alleged property damage.
According to Kysar, on July 19, a tree service employee had backed a trailer onto his property and damaged a tree with sentimental value. Kysar said that after the accident a passenger exited the vehicle, who he would later find out was off duty Washakie County Deputy Travis Thatcher, a passenger and the owner of the tree service.
In a letter written to the commissioners, Kysar said, “I [made] him an offer. ‘Give me $20 and you guys can go.’” The men continued to exchange a “few heated words,” according to a witness, Autumn Bubla. Kysar then said that more deputies arrived at the scene and told Kysar that Thatcher would pay for any damages. Unsatisfied by the outcome, Kysar said in his letter, “That was it. No citation, no investigation, no information was given other than a business card from the [tree] service.”
Kysar, at the meeting, said that he does not think that these deputies are bad people, but if this incident goes by with no accountability, then “corruption creeps in […] and if we let it creep in, it gets bigger and escalates.” Kysar said that he is making this a big deal in order to get that accountability and a “fraction of justice.”
Kysar said that he intends on taking Thatcher to small claims court if needed. In the meantime, the commissioners said that they needed time to review and figure out what power, if any, they have regarding this situation. They said they plan on bringing Sheriff Austin Brookwell to the next commissioners meeting to get his perspective as well.
AMBULANCE STATION
The commissioner’s approved Rapid Fire for the fire suppression system at the ambulance station, following project manager Tom Schmeltzer’s recommendation. The cost of the suppression system will be $49,080. County Clerk Lily Rakness Parra said, on behalf of Tom Schmeltzer, “The sprinkler system will be the last thing completed on this job.”
AIRPORT ROAD CULVERT
Road and Bridge manager Stuart Bower came to the commissioner’s meeting with details of a culvert repair project needing to be completed on Airport Road. The company, Subsurface Inc., will be completing the work for the cost of $36,160. Bower said in the meeting that, “It will be money well spent […] and it will buy us a long, long time. It will be there long after we’re gone.” Bower said that when they do the project, they will start at 9 a.m. on their chosen day and hopefully be finished by 2 p.m. so that people may get to work and school without being interrupted.
The commissioner’s said that they would normally request bids for this project but given the situation, with Subsurface being in the area and having significantly lower mobilization fees compared to what other companies would have charged, the commissioners ultimately granted the approval to Subsurface.
ROAD SEALING BID OPENING
Interim County Planner Mike Robinson set up a public bid opening for chip sealing at the commissioner’s meeting. Lower Nowood Road will be their priority, due to “distressed pavement,” according to Robinson, with other priority roads being Road 10, Road 13, Road 14 and Airport Road. Robinson said that his plan is to “award based upon the base bid.” The public bid opening will be Nov. 7 at 9 a.m.
OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners approved Technical Forestry Services LLC to be contracted as the Firewise Coordinator for the CAFA Gold Mine Project. This was the only bid they received to fill this role, which is responsible for “coordinating efforts between fuels reduction contractors, landowners, local, county, state and federal agencies,” according to County Clerk Parra.
They additionally approved the purchase of a new attachment, an angled box for snow removal, for the county building maintenance Bobcat, which will be “50% time saving” compared to what is currently being used . He noted it would also extend the life of their Bobcat, according to building maintenance superintendent Ryan Casad.
Washakie County Library System Director Karen Funk and county grants director Sheri Gunderson requested and received approval to submit a grant application for library expansion.