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STATE OF WYOMING ) LANDER, WYOMING ) ss. OFFICE OF THE FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF FREMONT ) March 18, 2008
The Board of Fremont County Commissioners met in Regular Session at 9:00 a.m. with the following members present: Vice-Chairman Pat Hickerson, Jane Adamson, Keja Whiteman and Dennis Heckart. Also present was County Clerk and Clerk of the Board Julie A. Freese. Chairman Thompson was absent for professional reasons. Jane Adamson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve the Agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Adamson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held March 11, 2008. Motion carried unanimously. Keja Whiteman moved, Jane Adamson seconded, to accept the bills for payment. Motion carried unanimously.
The following items in the Signature File were reviewed: 1) Official Bonds and Oaths from members of the Jeffrey City Water and Sewer District; 2) Election Judge Certificate of Service certificates. An Award/Contract (SF 26) with the Indian Health Service and Fremont County Ambulance was reviewed for a total contract amount of $26,000.00 for eligible Indian beneficiaries on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Keja Whiteman moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve the Contract as presented. Motion carried unanimously. The Board expressed appreciation for Ambulance Director Wempen and Commissioner Whiteman’s work on securing the contract which will insure a standard monthly income for the Ambulance Service. Dennis Heckart moved, Jane Adamson seconded, to approve an Application/Permit to Construct Access Driveway submitted by John Bringolf for Burma Road and a License for New Construction of Utility Crossing or Encroachment submitted by High Plains Power for Burma Road. Motion carried unanimously. Transportation Superintendent Dave Pendleton reviewed a recent meeting he and Commissioner Whiteman attended with Wyoming Department of Transportation District Engineer Shelby Carlson and the Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes Transportation Director John Smith regarding various projects. Ms. Carlson will visit with the Commissioners in the future regarding the possibility of applying to WYDOT for a federal funding grant for 17 Mile Road. Pendleton stated the County will be replacing a rusted metal culvert along the irrigation canal this spring, as the road project will not be put out for bid until 2010. John Smith is working on possible funding opportunities for replacing the Wilderness Bridge and the County will apply for the appropriate permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and research the need for an archeological study. Discussion was held regarding an alternate route of travel for residents in the area while the bridge is being replaced. The possibility of a temporary structure in the area while the bridge is being replaced will also be researched. In other business, Dave Pendleton submitted a request from Fremont County Fairgrounds personnel for use of the services of the Road and Bridge Department for some upcoming projects for the Fairgrounds. Spring projects would include the drain ditch (transporting and fill work), blading and magging the south parking lot in front of the Armory building and work on the arena (grading, dirt work). Early summer projects would include sweeping the paved areas and temporary patching and Fall patching and arena dirt work. The priority areas at this time are the patching and arena dirt work. The Board approved the request to assist at the Fairgrounds and Pendleton stated crews would be hauling material on Delfelder Road this spring and the Fairgrounds request would fit in nicely with that project. Commissioner Adamson requested Dave Pendleton meet with Milford Store owner Mary Bates regarding her ongoing concern regarding a phone line in the County right-of-way. In other business, Commissioner Heckart will meet with 1838 Rendezvous members to discuss an agreement with the State of Wyoming for the site. Notice was taken that the public meeting for the Burma Road project will be held on March 31, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Riverton City Council Chambers. Jane Adamson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to adjourn into Executive Session with Transportation Superintendent Dave Pendleton and Deputy County Attorney Jodi Darrough regarding potential land acquisition. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Adamson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to return to Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Adamson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to accept the appraised value of a parcel of land on Hillcrest Drive to settle a right-of-way issue which is a result of a forced plat by the County who will then be reimbursed their approximate costs of $6,000 for the process. Motion carried unanimously. A final Agreement between Fremont County and the Dubois Rural Fire Department was reviewed in which the Deputy County Attorney’s recommendations were incorporated within. The Agreement outlines the process for the District to apply for the $250,000.00 funding approved by the County for completion of the Fire Hall. Keja Whiteman moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve the Agreement as amended. Motion carried unanimously. The Board accepted the resignation of Fremont County Historic Preservation Commission member Becky Elliott. The vacancy will be advertised in June, along with the regular term vacancies. A motion from L-Heart Ranch, LLC to re-set a prior hearing was reviewed. In a related matter, the hearing set for the private road application of Kenneth and Dorothy Thompson will need to be re-set as well. Both issues were taken under advisement pending scheduling among all parties involved. Fremont County Fair Board Chairman Connie McRae introduced the new Fair Manager Donna Jo Sweet to the Board. They requested the Board’s approval to use some of the earlier funding to upgrade the arena and expand the camper lots. A portable arena can be purchased for $100,000.00, which can be moved and incorporated into the new Master Plan design at a later date. They would like to combine the two campgrounds and bury the drainage ditch at an estimated cost of $40,000. A possibility exists of a reduction of $16,000 for the campground project based on fill dirt and equipment assistance. As the funding has already been encumbered, the Commission expressed their approval to move ahead with the two projects. Keja Whiteman moved, Jane Adamson seconded, to adjourn into Executive Session with Fair Board representatives Connie McRae and Donna Jo Sweet regarding potential property acquisition. Motion carried unanimously. Jane Adamson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to return to Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously. Financial Assistant Mike Stalder presented information for a preliminary budget hearing based on the Board’s earlier action to purchase property on Hillcrest Drive to solve a right-of-way issue. Commissioner Heckart discussed the upcoming budget process as related to the Hospice Home project. They will need to submit the standard packet for inclusion in the upcoming budget process for their endowment. Commissioner Whiteman reported on the recent FCAG meeting she attended, along with Vice-Chairman Hickerson. She attended the recent meeting with Dave Pendleton and WYDOT and the Joint Tribal Transportation Department. Another meeting is planned to discuss maintenance agreements on various roads on the Wind River Indian Reservation. She has been heavily involved in Fair Board projects and discussed the possibility of scheduling a meeting with the TERO office and the Commission to discuss questions the Board may have regarding their recent rate increase. Vice-Chairman Hickerson also reported on the FCAG meeting where discussion regarding the Capital Project funding was paramount. Commissioner Adamson reminded the Board of the Interagency Meeting scheduled for April 16, 2008 at the Riverton Fire Academy. Executive Health Committee members Jim Massman, Kristi Green, Jeff Nauman and Margy Irvine were present to discuss the Health Benefit Plan and Paid Claim History spreadsheets and graphs. County Treasurer Scott Harnsberger was present in the audience. Massman explained that total expenditures to date have spent 64% of the total budget year, which is 66% complete. He stated the fund balance should have an amount equaling 1/3 of the total claims and should therefore be at least $1,000,000; however, the current fund balance is just at $262,092.00. These figures are based on a total participant number of 351. Based on this scenario, the group recommended a contribution rate in the amount of $452.50 and $1,198.20 for single and family coverage, respectively, to be effective July 1, 2008. This represents a 23.3% increase and is necessary to maintain the solvency of the county’s self insured plan. They also recommended a $15.00 employee contribution increase to $75 per month. Dennis Heckart moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to accept the Executive Health Committee’s recommendations to increase the contribution rate by 23.3% as well as an employee contribution rate increase to $75 per month. Voting against the motion: Pat Hickerson. Motion carried. Commissioner Hickerson felt the Board may want to change rates accordingly once budgets are turned in. In a related matter, the group stated they needed to apply for the Medicare Retiree Drug Subsidy for the 2008/09 plan year. An actuarial determination is required to participate in the Medicare RDS program and the group recommended they stay with the company they have used for the past two years, at an annual cost ranging from $3,500 to $4,000. Jane Adamson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to continue to engage Milliman, Inc. to provide the necessary actuarial services for the County’s Medicare RDS application. Motion carried unanimously. Fremont County Museum Board members Tom Duncan, Butch Tonkin, Robert Wood and Dubois Director Norma Williamson and Board Secretary Donna Booth updated the Board on a planning grant opportunity. A recent meeting with Dubois Mayor Mark Harrison indicated that Forest Service officials indicated there may be funding available for a new Museum through the Scenic Byways Program. This money is offered at a four to one match; however, Mayor Harrison needs to submit the grant by the end of March. The Commissioners gave their approval for the Museum Board to work with the Town of Dubois on the planning grant for a possible new Museum. Keja Whiteman moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to adjourn into Executive Session regarding potential litigation. Motion carried unanimously. Dennis Heckart moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to return to Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Dennis
Heckart moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 12:30 p.m. and
reconvene on April 1, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Motion carried unanimously. /s/ PAT HICKERSON, VICE- CHAIRMAN FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
/s/ JULIE A. FREESE, COUNTY CLERK AND CLERK OF THE BOARD
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