Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
Serving the Platte Valley since 1888
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An update on the TransWest Express Transmission Project was given by Kelly Cummins, Vice President of Land and Environmental Services at the August 1 Board of Carbon County Commissioners regular meeting. She told the Commissioners that the project is 732 miles, crossing four states, fourteen counties, three national forests, and nine BLM offices. The project has taken about 12 years, but they are now in the construction phase. Cummins said the final configuration of the...
The Carbon County Commissioners approved the annual wildland fire management plan last week, allowing the county’s fire department to cooperate with other agencies in the area when responding to wildland fires. Fire Warden John Rutherford said the agreement is between federal, state and county firefighting agencies. “It’s how we conduct business,” he said. The agreement is beneficial to Carbon County as it stipulates that each agency absorbs its own costs while fighting a fire. While the county has several trucks, it doesn’t...
Schools in Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) will soon have a resource officer following recent approval of an agreement by the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC). The commissioners approved the Memorandum of Understanding with CCSD2 during their June 20 meeting. The officer will cover six of the seven schools throughout the district, as the school in Elk Mountain doesn’t have any students enrolled. The SRO will be provided by the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office in an agreement like one already in pla...
The Carbon County Sheriff’s Office is close to reaching an agreement with Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) to provide a school resource officer for its facilities. Sheriff Alex Bakken told the Board of Carbon County Commissioners on June 6 the district had tentatively agreed to provide $40,000 annually to fund the position. The resource officer would travel throughout the district, covering seven schools and three high schools. “This is still in the early stage,” Bakken said. “Luckily we can pull a lot of our (Carb...
Everything was business as usual at the Carbon County Commissioners Meeting. The commissioners met on May 16 in Riverside for their regular meeting. The meeting started with approval of the bills, then moved quickly into updates from Emergency Management. Flooding concerns were addressed with discussion of the current plans put in place. The commission thanked those who were able to attend during Governor Mark Gordon‘s visit to the Emergency Operation Center (EOC). C...
Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken was the first to speak with the Commissioners. He asked the Commissioners for an approval on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Saratoga and Carbon County Sheriff’s Office for the purchase and transfer of ownership of used Motorola Dispatch Consoles at $10. New consoles have been installed at the CCSO.MOU approved. Bakken reported they’re helping Wyoming Game and Fish with patrolling high traffic shed collection areas tha...
Living within the North Platte River floodplain can be concerning with the coming spring rains and snow melt, and the possibility of flooding. In the May 2 town council meeting, many of these concerns and solutions were offered up to the residents. Carbon County Sheriff Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken briefed the town council on what the Sheriff’s office is working on. Carbon County School District #1 has a school resource officer program with one deputy on duty in the schoo...
Road and Bridge Road and Bridge Manager Kandis Fritz gave the commissioners a breakdown of the the winter costs accrued by Carbon County Road and Bridge including fuel from December of 2022, through March 2023, the total expenditures were $152,155.72. The yearly fuel budget for Road and Bridge is $220,000.00. This year with overtime and comp time payout from January 1 to March 17, 2023 the staff accrued 1,947 hours of overtime. The cost for overtime totaled $53,438.91. Fritz...
The Board of Carbon County Commissioners discussed a variety of things during their March 21 meeting. Topics ranged from discussion over new opioid settlement funds, approval of grant applications, a split cost on radios between the Carbon County FIre Department and the U.S Forest Service, entitlement funds for the Dixon Airport, salary for the county emergency manager and deputy manager, and a purchase of two tilt-deck trailers for the road and bridge department. Opioid...
With winter coming to a close, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting on March 7 introduced many projects which will start in the spring along with cleaning up the damage that winter has wrought. Carbon County Sheriff Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken requested approval for an emergency purchase of two duty trucks for the Sheriff’s department. The reason Bakken made an emergency request is because four vehicles went into the shop the week prior meaning the d...
In the past, school resource officers were typically pulled from the local police department. In a historical move, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Carbon County Sheriff's Office and Carbon County School District No. 1, establishing a full-time District One School Resource Officer for the Sheriff's Office. Deputy Joel Robertson, who was worn in Monday, February 28, will become the first School Resource Officer...
As investigations continue into recent fentanyl overdose deaths, community members from the Platte Valley and Carbon County gathered at the Platte Valley Community Center on February 23. Those who couldn't attend in person either attended via Zoom or watched livestreams offered by the Saratoga Sun and the Town of Saratoga. The community roundtable, which lasted 90 minutes, was facilitated by Saratoga Police Chief Mike Morris and Joshua Wood, interim publisher of the Saratoga...
After several years developing new flood maps, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has finalized the documents. The maps, however, are being called into question by a former council member and the county emergency manager. Discussion about the flood map was one of several topics discussed at the February 7 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council. The governing body also discussed a Transportation Alternative Master Plan, which has been spearheaded by Saratoga r...
Emergencies and emergency management were among the topics for discussion for the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) on February 7. The Carbon County Fire Protection District and the West Fork Battle Creek Watershed Plan were also discussed by the commissioners. Deputy management On December 6, Carbon County Emergency Manager Lenny Layman had requested permission to fill the deputy position within his department. Layman presented the BOCCC with a grant awarded from...
At the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) meeting January 17, Emergency Management Director Lenny Layman introduced Joe Parsons, Saratoga Encampment Rawlins Conservation District (SERD), who gave an update on the hazard mitigation plan for flooding at Boozer Creek. Parsons told the Commissioners the snow-pack is currently sitting at 132% on the Upper North Park drainage. He said over the past year the WWC Engineering has come up with a survey and design so they have...
Throughout the history of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) three women sat on the board; Linda Fleming, Lindy Glode who served as vice chairman and Sue Jones. At the January 3, 2023 meeting of the commissioners, Sue Jones was named Chairperson. She is the first woman in Carbon County history to chair the BOCCC. Jones has served as a commissioner for 10 years. Jones said she is very honored and humbled to have been chosen as chairperson. There were also nine...
A special meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) was held to consider formal adoption of County Road 451–also known as Cherokee Road, as an official county road. Chairman John Johnson opened a public hearing on December 15, 2022 at 11 a.m. for public comments for or against the formal adoption. Carbon County Attorney Ashley Davis provided background of Cherokee Road as well as the discussion between Bill Nation, Road and Bridge Superintendent and l...
Jeremy McCallister and Sam Allen with TO Engineers presented the Dixon Airport master plan for the Commissioners approval. The Master plan will now be presented to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Once the FAA approves the plan, TO Engineers will continue on to implementation. McCallister explained the airport layout plan to the Commissioners. According to McCallister, the FAA categorizes the Dixon Airport as a “B” runway. He said that there are deficiencies tha...
South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical (SCWEMS) representative Irene Archibald gave an update to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners at their December 6 meeting. SCWEMS was given $154,179.00 for sustainability from the Wyoming Department of Health. Archibald this was designated specifically for bonuses for personnel as well as sign on bonuses. One of the burdens that came from being given this money was SCWEMS would have to pay payroll taxes on it and it had to be used...
Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett recognized Lisa Smith at the November 15 Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting. Smith has been with Carbon County and has been Deputy Clerk with the Elections. Bartlett said it is a tough job and Smith handles it with grace and does an amazing job. Bartlett also thanked all of the temporary help that comes in to help and the eighty election judges who work at the polls. Bartlett also gave an update on the elections with no change to...
At the November 1, 2022 Carbon County Commissioners meeting Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett recognized several staff members for their service to Carbon County: Jody Deist-Fairhurst for 18 years of service who works at the Clerk of District Court; Mark Wagner in Road and Bridge–for 18 years of service; Brynna Grundman of the Sheriff’s Office for 8 years of service; Julie Webb with Buildings and Grounds for 6 years of service; Ben Opfar for 4 years of service. Lenny Lay...
Saratoga Mayor Creed James presented the Childhood Cancer Awareness resolution to the Council and the guests at the Saratoga Town Council meeting on October, 18, 2022. It is a resolution that makes October 23 through October 29 Childhood Cancer Awareness week. It was proclaimed and signed by Mayor James at the meeting. Lenny Layman, Carbon County Emergency Manager, addressed the Council about a joint funding opportunity to hire a deputy emergency manager. Layman has also...
At the Carbon County Commissioners meeting on September 20, 2022, Sheriff Archie Royal asked to recognize Becky George’s 17 years of service to Carbon County Sheriff’s office. She is retiring. The Commissioners expressed their gratitude for her years of hard work. Leah Nation’s resignation was also regretfully accepted by the Commissioners. Road and Bridge Superintendent, Kandis Fritz, presented bids that were received for motor grader prices. Wyoming Machinery’s bid, with tr...
Carbon County has approximately 137 fire fighters responding to fire and rescue emergencies within the county. Carbon County Fire Department operates county-owned fire stations in Hanna, Muddy Gap, Rock Creek, Ryan Park, Rawlins and contracts fire protection for Baggs and Medicine Bow, according to the fire district website. Carbon County Fire Department also has equipment located in Elk Mountain, Encampment, Saratoga, and Sinclair. Current fire departments provide fire...
• Kandis Fritz of Road and Bridge reports traffic counts have risen. For example, the traffic on CR387, South Spring Creek the count was 118 cars, Cow Creek was 86 per day. These numbers determine whether magnesium chloride will be applied to the roads. • Resolution 2022- 36 for application for Federal Funding for the Seminoe Centerline Marking Project was passed. • Two lease agreements for Wille Pit 525 and Wiant Pit 425 were presented for renewal and were passed. • Financing options and availability for two motor graders...