County Commissioners increase salary for deputy attorney; applicants sought

Washakie County is seeking a replacement for Deputy County Attorney Amy Smith and in doing so the commissioners agreed to increase the salary to $85,000.

Washakie County and Prosecuting Attorney Tony Barton has been searching for a replacement for Deputy County Attorney Amy Smith, whose last day is Thursday, Sept. 26. Based on Barton’s information to the Washakie County Commissioners at Tuesday’s regular meeting, the deputy county attorney salary is set at $72,000 per year, which is $500 below the lowest starting offer that is currently available around the state. As a result, he requested an increase in the salary. It is now possible by state statute to earn up to $85,000 per year for this position.

Smith was hired shortly after Barton took office in early 2023.

Also regarding personnel, Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Heinemeyer reported that there are only two applicants for the full-time position of public health response coordinator. Interviews will be conducted for the position next week. 

OTHER BUSINESS

In other news at Tuesday’s meeting:

There is a Washakie Prevention Coalition meeting scheduled for noon Thursday, Sept. 19 at the community center. As this month is Suicide Prevention Month, Kassie Nolting will be speaking to health classes about mental health. An Oxbow Center presentation will be held at the Worland Community Center on Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. regarding how to speak to children about mental health and suicide. Additionally, the governor’s office will conduct a suicide prevention training on Nov. 14.

Members of the Washakie Prevention Coalition expressed the desire to change the policy regarding the meeting rooms above the library. As of now, Ruth Dugger, executive director of the Worland Chamber of Commerce, is coordinating everything through a paper calendar. Instead, they would like to align their policy with that of the library and use the same process as they do. It is also intended to minimize after-hours meetings in the upstairs meeting rooms. A copy of the policy will be brought to the next meeting and the details of the policy will be discussed.

•A decision was made that County Maintenance Supervisor Breck Buer would look into the service agreements for the fire alarm and sprinkler systems in order to see if the two systems could be serviced by the same company.

•Buer will meet with a contractor from Pavement Maintenance Inc. to obtain an estimate for repairing the asphalt at the fairgrounds in the food area. Furthermore, he discussed the installation of an underground sprinkler system at the fairgrounds in the horseshoe pit area. Rather than using city water, the water would come from the canal.

•Road and Bridge Foreman Stuart Bower noted he and his crew have completed gravelling throughout the county. In addition, he stated that he would be installing signs on Lane 14 and Airport Road shortly. 

•Interim County Planner Mike Robinson provided an update on the Ten Sleep Rock Ranch to the Commissioners. He reported that he had received an application for a new campground and it appeared that things were moving forward on Louie Anderson’s part, in light of their recent conversations and the concerns of the County.

In an August meeting, Robinson noted a letter outlining concerns included Wyoming Department of Transportation access, a wastewater permit was needed to accommodate increase in wastewater from what the current system was permitted.