Road Closures and Zone Changes

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners received a variety of updates during their December 5 meeting, including county roads and the status of COVID in the county.

Road conditions and closures

Kandis Fritz, coordinator of the Carbon County Road and Bridge Department, said, at the Commission meeting Dec. 5, she has prioritized the following for any grant opportunities the county may secure: The South Road, County Road 401 (Sage Creek Road) for double chip seal, the Seminoe Road, County Road 351 for double chip seal and 12 bridges around the county with either serious structural or decking issues.

If the county doesn’t get a double chip seal on County Road 401, we are going to lose millions of dollars’ worth of asphalt work that was done in 201, she said. If no grant becomes available for the funding the county needs, she will be asking in her budget requests to start chip sealing 5 miles at a time.

“These roads cannot wait any longer for the maintenance they need,” she said in a later interview.

She also said at the meeting that bridges are her main focus right now.

“Without bridges access would be slim to none,” she said in an email.

Zoning Changes

The Commission approved two zone changes. Deputy Zoning Administrator Kristy Rowan made the presentation to the Board.

The zone changes are as follows per the county packets:

• Z.C. Case #2023-14-Carlene Sjoden, Randal and Donna Sjoden.  This is a Zone Change Request from Ranching, Agriculture and Mining (RAM) to Forestry Production and Seasonal Recreation (FPSR-7.5) on approximately 7.5 acres. The FPSR Zone is intended to be applied to areas of the County in which timber production and seasonally accessible recreation uses are the desirable predominant uses.  The property is located approximately 24 miles southeast of Saratoga off WY HWY 130 east of the Ryan Park Subdivision.
• Z.C. Case #2023-15-Stephen and Linda Skordas.  This is a Zone Change Request from Ranching, Agriculture and Mining (RAM) to Forestry Production and Seasonal Recreation (FPSR-40) on approximately 40 acres. The FPSR Zone is intended to be applied to areas of the County in which timber production and seasonally accessible recreation uses are the desirable predominant uses.  The property is located approximately 5 miles west of Encampment off WY HWY 70 on the south side.

Also, the Commission approved a public hearing on the following zone change case: Z.C. Case #2023-16 – Larry and Susan Ash, applicants and landowners.

This is a Zone Change Request from Ranching, Agriculture and Mining (RAM) to Forestry Production and Seasonal Recreation (FPSR-1.37) on Tract 96 located in the Overlook Retreat Subdivision #1, as stated in the county commission packet.  The FPSR Zone is intended to be applied to areas of the County in which timber production and seasonally accessible recreation uses are the desirable predominant uses.  The property is located approximately 22 miles south of Elk Mountain on Carbon County Road #101 (Medicine Bow Ranger Station Road) and on U.S. Forest Service Road #105 about one mile north of Turpin Reservoir.  The Overlook Retreat Subdivision #1 is platted over a portion of Section 14, Township 17 North, Range 80 West of the 6th P.M., Carbon County, Wyoming.

The hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Jan. 2.

Public Health Report

Duane Abels DO, FACEP, at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County said COVID is “on the rise nationally” and in Carbon County.  The number of COVID-related cases in hospitals nationwide has increased by 10 percent. In spite of these numbers, the death rates from COVID “remain stable.”

With all this, “our immune systems have been bombarded,” Abels said.

Influenza A, strep throat and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are on the rise too, said Megun Cragun, outreach coordinator for Carbon County Public Health.

Land Use Plan Survey

Carbon County is gathering data and information from citizens through a survey that is on its website at https://www.carboncountywy.gov. A link to take the survey is on the website.

The county plans to send postcards to landowners outside the municipalities to make them aware of the survey. The cards are expected to be mailed out by Friday next week.

Jeff Askins, Building and Grounds manager for Carbon County, requested approval for resurfacing of one pod at the county detention center at a cost of $3,295, which the commission approved.

The commission also approved the installation of additional electrical outlets in the small animal barn at the county fairgrounds for a cost of $7,866.

Sheriff Alex Bakken requested the funds to purchase two used snowmobiles and an open deck trailer. He said the snowmobiles will be used to increase the department’s presence in areas made popular by recreational snowmobile users. They will also use the sleds for search and rescue efforts. The commission approved using the Secure Rural Schools Act (Forest Reserve) funds for the purchase.