County adopts snow removal policy

During their rescheduled meeting on February 10, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) unanimously approved a county snow removal policy presented by Interim Road and Bridge Coordinator Kandis Fritz. Fritz also requested purchase of an additional snow blower and the ability to hire part-time employees on an as-needed basis.

Snow Removal Policy

As was reported previously (see “Snow removal policy released” on page 1 of the January 29 Saratoga Sun), a proposed policy was presented to the BOCCC for review. The board released the policy for public input ahead of their scheduled February 4 meeting. Inclement weather and road closures forced the meeting to February 10.

“These roads that are listed on the policy have been seasonal roads. They are seasonal roads. I cannot guarantee at any given time any of our county roads are going to be open for people to get home whenever they choose,” said Fritz. “The wind blows in Wyoming. Roads are going to close. So, people need an alternate way in and out of their properties. That is the most important thing I can state with this thing.”

Fritz added that travelers within Carbon County needed to be aware of where they are. She also stated that the policy was for those traveling through Carbon County during the winter as well.

“The biggest reason for this policy is the traveling public needs to know; these roads are, in fact, seasonal roads. We have people following GPSs, getting stuck and it is taking our crew away from their roads that they are opening to go and get these people that are stuck on these roads,” Fritz said.

The interim coordinator told the BOCCC that she wanted to coordinate a plan with the commissioners and the Carbon County Sheriff’s Department about how to respond to motorists stranded on season roads. 

“When this happens; do we just go and get them and leave their vehicle their and come get it in the springtime? Or do we take our equipment and it will cost, roughly, $2,500 every time we go get somebody out? Do we go and take it and pull them out and then it takes away from maintaining roads that are, in fact, residential roads that we do maintain?” asked Fritz.

Chairman John Johnson asked if that was included in the snow removal policy. Fritz stated that it wasn’t, but something she wanted to work with the commissioners on moving forward. While there was little discussion about the policy, Vice-Chairman Sue Jones pointed out that County Road 297 in Hanna had been removed from the list of seasonal roads. Johnson added that the county road served as a secondary access to the town of Hanna, hence its removal from the list.

With little other discussion on the snow removal policy, the BOCCC voted unanimously to accept the document. It can be found on the Carbon County website at https://www.carbonwy.com/1139/Snow-Removal-Plan.

Help With Snow

Moving on to additional help requested by Fritz, Johnson brought up that she had requested an additional snowblower for use in Carbon County. The BOCCC chairman stated that this winter had been taxing on the current equipment used by Road and Bridge throughout the county.

Fritz presented two estimates to the commissioners, with one snowblower from Wyoming Machinery Company for $144,000 and another from Kodiak America in Idaho for $148,000. She added that the snowblower from Kodiak America would require one of the county’s loaders being transported to Burley, Idaho for the installation.

Following discussion among the commissioners, and with Carbon County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett, the BOCCC decided to use money from Chokecherry Impact Funds to purchase a snowblower from Wyoming Machinery Company. 

Commissioner John Espy moved to waive the county’s procurement policy for the “immediate need in Carbon County for another snow blower to get on the ground and alleviate our snow issues as soon as possible.” Commissioner Byron Barkhurst asked the motion be amended to include that funds would come from Chokecherry Impact Funds. The motion passed unanimously.

In addition to the snowblower, Fritz requested the BOCCC consider allowing her department hire part-time employees on an as-needed basis.

“Right now, you guys know we’re spread pretty thin and if I have somebody call in sick, if I have somebody get hurt, there’s a certain area that’s not getting taken care of and the roads aren’t getting open that day. In most areas, yes we have two operators,” said Fritz. “That’s a lot of miles of road.”

In addition to how spread thin the Road and Bridge employees are, Fritz also brought up the amount of compensation time being accrued while they work to keep residential county roads open. Moore appeared to be in agreement, stating that the permanent employees may likely use their compensation time after this winter. He added that there were some benefits to the as-needed employment as well.

“I think there’s some training on that piece to encourage youth but I also think that we have some very skilled operators that could also help down the road that live in town that might not have full-time employment that might be pushing off to retirement,” said Moore.

While no formal motion was made, the commissioners were in agreement with Fritz that as-needed employees would be beneficial. An official motion will be made following a budget amendment at a future BOCCC meeting.

“It’s pretty difficult to budget for a winter like this,” said Johnson.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners will have held their second monthly meeting at 9 a.m. on February 18 at the County Courthouse in Rawlins. They will then meet at 9 a.m. on March 3 at the County Courthouse in Rawlins.