Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Wyoming Extension’s Strategically and Technologically Informative (WESTI) Ag Days will make its return on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at the Washakie Museum & Cultural Center.
University of Wyoming Washakie County Extension Educator Dan Vanderploeg reported to the Washakie County Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting, the 2025 event will be a one-day presentation focused exclusively on alfalfa production and its significance within Wyoming’s agricultural landscape. Vanderploeg said he aims to rotate themes each year, showcasing various aspects of Wyoming agriculture. The conference will feature presentations from five distinguished speakers affiliated with the University of Wyoming and the University of Montana, who will delve into current research and best practices. Additionally, there is an opportunity for sponsorship, with a deadline for interested parties set for Dec. 31, 2024.
The last WESTI Ag Days was in 2022.
OTHER BUSINESS
Washakie County Sheriff Austin Brookwell approached the County Commissioners to request a budget adjustment to purchase a new vehicle to replace one that has high mileage and in need of repairs that are cost prohibitive. The anticipated cost for the new truck is $50,000, with an additional $10,000 allocated for purchasing and installing of the necessary law enforcement equipment. The commissioners agreed to the purchase with funding to come from the Courthouse vehicle line item in the budget.
A disability physician has expressed interest in utilizing office space at Washakie County Public Health to facilitate consultations for individuals seeking disability applications. Amanda Heinemeyer has proposed to allocate the conference room for this purpose. The Commissioners concurred that a rental fee should be established for the physician’s use of the space. Heinemeyer will review and modify a previous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) utilized by Carbon County prior to finalizing any arrangements regarding the fee structure or room allocation.
Maintenance Supervisor Breck Buer is investigating funding opportunities provided by the Wyoming Association of Municipalities (WAM) to enhance energy efficiency. He intends to obtain a detailed estimate for the insulation of the shop area and the installation of a replacement window in the shop located at the fairgrounds. The deadline for funding application submissions is Dec. 13.
In the latest update regarding Road and Bridge, gravel placement at Cottonwood is nearing completion. Supervisor Stuart Bower indicated that they anticipate finalizing gravel hauling by early next week, after which they will shift focus to winter operational duties as needed.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the owner of Jordan Farms on Lane Six on Copper Mountain called Bower to request the installation of a power line that requires crossing the county roadway. Bower informed them that they needed to obtain a permit and be prepared for the line to be bored. Boring involves drilling a tunnel or borehole to facilitate the installation of underground utilities, such as cables or pipes, thereby preventing disruption to surface traffic that would occur from traditional trenching methods.