Business as usual for the Commissioners

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).  Commissioner Travis Moore stated Carbon County was being used as a model for other places in regards to flood management.  A presentation regarding emergency management will take place at the next commissioner’s meeting.  

Next, the commission was presented with issues related to contracting.  The company Dustbusters had won the bid for a contract on Mag Chloride for the roads, and was asking the commissioners to waive the bond on the contract in order to ensure they did not have more expenses.  

Discussion ensued, with conclusions being reached that the amount of money for the contract legally required a bond to be in place.  The idea of potentially splitting the contract up into smaller pieces to avoid having the bond was discussed, however this would require a different form of legal assurance to be put in place.  Commissioner Sue Jones emphasized the need for consistency in regards to statute.  Ultimately, it was decided that trying to skirt the bond would be establishing a precedent the commission was not comfortable with.

“Just for the record, this is an organization that has won the bidding process over and over.  Our decision today is not a knock on their performance in any way, it’s just a different pot of money with a different set of strings,” stated Moore.  

Next, the commission approved fire protection reviews in several buildings around the county. 

In planning and development, an environmental impact review of a wind turbine project was requested.  The commission emphasized that the staff is paying particular attention to this project, and its impact on public land.  

During the meeting, the Carbon County Commissioner Scholarship recipients were determined.   The scholarship provides one thousand dollars for the school year, and can be used at any Wyoming community college or the University of Wyoming.  

During the community discussion, in regards to the tourism board, issues of affordable housing were brought up.  Brief discussion ensued over how affordable housing impacts the ability of workers to live in the county, and provide tourism services.

Issues of ambulance access ended the meeting, with a concern for lack of applicants in the Encampment, Medicine Bow, and Hanna areas.  

The next Carbon County Commissioners meeting will be on June 6 in Rawlins.