WHEATLAND – Among items discussed at the extended commissioners meeting June 6, the board dealt with budgets and heard a report on the issues with the north tower in the wake of recent tornadic activity last month.

The Board asked Terry Stevenson, Emergency Management Coordinator, for an update regarding the paging issues with the North Tower.  Stevenson and Tony Krotz, dispatch supervisor, provided information they had regarding the issue. Ken Small, Deputy County Fire Warden, informed the Board about the paging issues the fire departments have noticed and their request that the County utilize a different contractor than the one currently being used by the County. The Board directed Stevenson and Krotz to obtain a second opinion regarding the paging issue and a solution to the issues.

“Our sirens can be set off from a computer console in the courthouse,” Stevenson said. “The signal from the computer goes to a control box in our radio room from where a signal is sent to the sirens for them to sound. On the day of our tornado drill April 11, the connection from the computer to the control box failed. Instead, we had to set off the sirens for the tornado drill manually from the control box. After some troubleshooting the connection was restored. The limitation of setting off the sirens manually is that all sirens in all towns get set off at once.”

By the time the recent severe weather threatened, the connection had been restored and fortunately, there were no tornado warnings within Platte County.

“From time to time residents in the towns may hear us test the sirens with a ‘growl,’” Stevenson said. “The siren will sound for a couple of seconds, then wind down. As for the issue with our north tower (located on the hill east of I-25 at about mile marker 100), it is our primary broadcast tower for paging out some of our fire departments. Dispatch sends out a page, which transmits over the radio to a repeater at the north tower, which then broadcasts it to the individual pagers of fire department personnel.”

Supplementing that is a system called e-dispatch, which picks up the page broadcast, converts it to an audio file, and sends it to a list of cellphones. Cellphone users on the list receive a text with the audio file attached.

“Pager tests are done regularly,” Stevenson said. “Some pages going out through the north tower have been garbled and difficult or impossible to understand, and some failed to transmit altogether. So far, the antenna has been replaced, a different repeater on loan has been installed while we wait for a new one. Also, there was for a time, interference from a nearby WYOLINK tower transmitting on a frequency close to that of the repeater. We plan to replace the equipment on the tower, which should not exceed $20,000, and also take some other actions. Our tower on Cherry Knoll, east of town, transmits on the same frequency as the north tower. Although it does not have the same coverage, it can be used for paging in place of the north tower. Also, we plan to rearrange some equipment in our radio room such that we can connect e-dispatch directly wired into a radio and won’t be dependent on receiving a broadcast over the air. One important county goal is to maintain redundancy in our public safety systems. With redundancy, if a system fails, another method can be used as a backup.”

The board then moved on to approve a grant agreement between the Wyoming Department of Health and Platte County.

Danette Eppel, County Assessor, presented tax cancellations for consideration. approved the tax cancellation for Dave’s Home Oxygen for tax year 2022 in the sum of $517.10, and also moved to approve the tax cancellation for Dennis & Shannon Baros for tax years 2019 – 2022 in the sum of $77.06.

Doug Dumont, County Planner, presented a situation that was causing some problems in the Guernsey T-Subdivision.

According to a statement by Dumont, the planning department had received calls from residents of that subdivision concerning an access to Rivers Edge Subdivision.

“To access Rivers Edge Subdivision, you must drive through the T Subdivision first,” Dumont said. “The Rivers Edge Subdivision is beginning new development and the residents of the T Subdivision were concerned about construction vehicles speeding and causing damage to the T Subdivision’s portion of Crazy Horse Road.”

According to Dumont, the Platte County Planning Department advised the residents of the T Subdivision that it was the owner’s responsibility to maintain their own portion of Crazy Horse Road, elect any rules as they see fit and to proceed civilly for any damages they have incurred.

“The residents of the T Subdivision elected to post a 15mph speed limit restriction and sign for their portion of Crazy Horse Road,” Dumont said.”

In another matter about the much talked about proposed meat processing facility north of Highway 26 west of Guernsey, the PC Planning Department was contacted by Dan Hoffman who inquired about the procedures and regulations for a meat processing facility within Platte County. The Planning Department was informed that an application was going to be submitted sometime in August 2023.

The Board then opened sealed bids for County-owned equipment. A bid made by Cory Gillaspie for the 2006 Kawasaki 360 Mule in the sum of $500 was accepted. In another bid made by Debra Shanahan for the 2006 Horton Homes house trailer in the sum of $12,000, the board approved the sale.

Beal Angle, Road & Bridge Superintendent, provided the Board with updates, which included the status of a Road Use Agreement to be used for multiple situations. Angle informed the Board that he has worked to ensure GPS companies will show certain County roads closed when I-25 is closed due to weather. Angle asked whether the Board would be interested in selling the road reclaimer. The Board directed him to seek a bid for the road reclaimer equipment.

Platte County Clerk Malcolm Ervin then presented a request made by GD Family LLC (dba Quality Discount Liquor) to use their County-issued liquor license to serve alcoholic beverages in the Town of Wheatland, which is outside of Platte County’s liquor licensing jurisdiction. It was voted to approve an out-of-jurisdiction liquor permit request as presented.

MC2 Collaborative represented by Lisa Mueller and Lisa Smith then presented a proposal for grant writing services to the Board.

The Board then reviewed budget requests from the following departments: Road & Bridge, Fair, Maintenance, Commissioner, Clerk, Elections, Administration and Non-Government Accounts.

The board then voted to approve Resolution #2023-08 Approving Propositions for 1% Specific Purpose Excise Tax. The motion carried.

Platte County Resolution #2023-08

A Resolution Approving Propositions for Imposition of a 1% Specific Purpose Excise Tax in the County of Platte, State of Wyoming, for the Purpose of Funding Specific Projects and Said Propositions to be Placed on the Ballot at the Special Election to be Held in the County of Platte Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

WHEREAS, pursuant to Wyoming Statute 39-15-203(a)(iii), 39-15-204(a)(iii), 39-16-203(a)(ii), and 39-16-204(a)(ii) a county may impose a sales and use excise tax not to exceed 2% upon retail sales of tangible personal property, admissions and services made, and upon storage, use and consumption of tangible personal property, within the county, for specified purposes and in specified amounts as authorized by the qualified electors of the county; and,

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners (the “Commissioners”) of the County of Platte, State of Wyoming (the “County” or “Platte County”), in response to the needs of the County and the Town of Chugwater, Wyoming (“Chugwater”), the Town of Glendo, Wyoming (“Glendo”), the Town of Guernsey, Wyoming (“Guernsey”), the Town of Hartville, Wyoming (“Hartville”) and the Town of Wheatland, Wyoming (“Wheatland”) (Chugwater, Glendo, Guernsey, Hartville, and Wheatland are collectively referred to as the “Municipalities”) (the County and the Municipalities are collectively referred to as the “Sponsoring Entities”) has determined to make such source of funding available in the following amount for the following specified projects (collectively the “Projects”) sponsored by the County:

PLATTE COUNTY PROJECT: $4,250,000 to be collected, together with interest earned thereon to be used by Platte County for the exterior preservation, roof replacement and landscaping of the Platte County Courthouse and maintenance of other county-owned facilities, and to the extent necessary and allowed by law, the pledge to or payment of debt service and/or lease payments thereon.

PLATTE COUNTY RECREATION DISTRICT PROJECT: $10,500,000 to be collected, together with interest earned thereon to be used by the Platte County Parks & Recreation District for the planning, design, construction, and equipping of a facility to provide recreation, wellness, fitness and a healthy lifestyle and the establishment of a fund for the purpose of future supplemental maintenance, upkeep and operations of the facility, and to the extent necessary and allowed by law, the pledge to or payment of debt service and/or lease payments thereon.

MUNICIPAL PROJECTS: $10,150,000 to be collected, together with interest earned thereon to be used for the following specified purposes, and to the extent necessary and allowed by law, the pledge to or payment of debt service and/or lease payments thereon: $1,300,000 to the Town of Chugwater to be used for the planning, design, construction, renovation or upgrades to the town’s street, water, and sewer systems. $400,000 to the Town of Glendo to be used for the planning, design, construction and renovation of the public works shop and other town facilities. $2,500,000 to the Town of Guernsey to be used for the planning, design, and construction for upgrades to the Town’s water and electric systems, the planning, design and construction of camp sites at the rodeo grounds, and the purchase of equipment for the Town’s sewer system. $200,000 to the Town of Hartville to be used for the planning, design, construction or renovation of the Town’s sewer collection system to include the Wastewater Treatment Plant. $5,750,000 to the Town of Wheatland to be used for the planning, design, construction, renovation or upgrades to the town’s Street, electrical, water, and sewer systems.

WHEREAS, the Commissioners have determined that in order to fund the Projects, and to the extent necessary and allowed by law, to pay debt service and/or lease payments relating to the Projects, the specific purpose sales and use tax should be imposed in the amount of 1% (the “Tax”); and,

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Wyoming Statute 39-15-203(a)(iii) and 39-16-203(a)(ii), before any proposition to impose the Tax, it shall be placed before the electors of the County, the Commissioners and the governing bodies of at least one-half of the Municipalities shall adopt a resolution approving the proposition, setting forth a procedure for qualification of a ballot question for placement on the ballot and specifying how excess funds shall be expended; and,

WHEREAS, the governing bodies of the Municipalities plan to consider a resolution approving the propositions at their respective upcoming meetings; and,

WHEREAS, the Commissioners have approved the propositions, and if approved by at least one-half (1/2) of the Municipalities, have determined that it is necessary to submit to the qualified registered electors of the County propositions for imposition of the Tax.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF PLATTE COUNTY, WYOMING, THAT:

At the Bond Election to be held in the County of Platte, State of Wyoming, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., there will be submitted to the qualified registered electors of the County the proposition of imposing 1% specific purpose sales and use excise tax for the specific purpose of funding the Projects, as more particularly set forth in the Proclamation and Notice of Election. The submission of the propositions of imposing the Tax for the Projects to the electors of the County is contingent upon the prior adoption of a resolution by the governing bodies of at least one-half of the Municipalities, approving the propositions.

The election on the propositions shall be held at the Election Districts, Precincts and Polling Places as more particularly set forth in the Proclamation and Notice of Election to be published by the Platte County Clerk in accordance with law.

Any qualified registered elector in the County shall be entitled to vote on the proposition in person or by absentee ballot. A qualified registered elector includes every citizen of the United States who is a bona fide resident of Wyoming and Platte County, has registered to vote and will be at least 18 years of age on the day of the election.  

The votes for and against the propositions shall be registered on official ballots. The ballots shall set forth the following propositions:

“Shall Platte County, State of Wyoming, be authorized to continue to impose a 1% Specific Purpose Sales and Use excise tax within the County for the purpose of raising and collecting the amounts set forth below, the proceeds from which and the interest earned thereon to be used and applied for the following specific projects, and to the extent necessary and allowed by law, the pledge to or payment of debt service and/or lease payments thereon:

PROPOSITION NO. 1

PLATTE COUNTY PROJECT

$4,250,000 to be collected, together with interest earned thereon to be used by Platte County for the exterior preservation, roof replacement and landscaping of the Platte County Courthouse and maintenance of other county-owned facilities?

PROPOSITION NO. 2

PLATTE COUNTY RECREATION DISTRICT PROJECT

$10,500,000 to be collected, together with interest earned thereon to be used by the Platte County Parks & Recreation District for the planning, design, construction, and equipping of a facility to provide recreation, wellness, fitness and a healthy lifestyle and the establishment of a fund for the purpose of future supplemental maintenance, upkeep and operations of the facility?

PROPOSITION NO. 3

MUNICIPAL PROJECTS

$10,150,000 to be collected, together with interest earned thereon to be used for the following specified purposes:

$1,300,000 to the Town of Chugwater to be used for the planning, design, construction, renovation or upgrades to the town’s street, water, and sewer systems?

$400,000 to the Town of Glendo to be used for the planning, design, construction and renovation of the public works shop and other town facilities?

$2,500,000 to the Town of Guernsey to be used for the planning, design, and construction for upgrades to the Town’s water and electric systems, the planning, design and construction of camp sites at the rodeo grounds, and the purchase of equipment for the Town’s sewer system?

$200,000 to the Town of Hartville to be used for the planning, design, construction or renovation of the Town’s sewer collection system to include the Wastewater Treatment Plant?

$5,750,000 to the Town of Wheatland to be used for the planning, design, construction, renovation or upgrades to the town’s street, electrical, water, and sewer systems?

The County Clerk shall cause the Proclamation and Notice of Bond Election to be published in accordance with law.

The election on the propositions shall be held, conducted and the results canvassed as provide by the Wyoming Election Code of 1972, as amended, more particularly the Political Subdivision Bond Election Law (Wyo. Stat. 22-21-101 to 22-21-112, inclusive).

The results disclosed by the canvass of votes shall be certified by the election officials to the County Clerk of the County of Platte, State of Wyoming. If the majority of votes cast on a proposition at the election is in favor of the proposition, such proposition shall be approved, and the Board of County Commissioners, in the manner provided by law, shall then proceed to declare the results of the election, and complete all steps necessary for the imposition of the Tax.

In the event a proposition shall be approved by the qualified electors of Platte County, the Tax shall commence on the date provided in Wyoming Statute 39-15-203(a)(iii)(c) and 39-15-207(c). Within three days of receipt of the monthly Tax funds, the Platte County Treasurer shall distribute such funds to the Sponsoring Entities on a pro-rata basis, based on the respective ratio which the principal amount that each Sponsoring Entity is to receive bears to the total amount of all Projects for which the Tax was approved.

Upon distribution of the approved Tax funds to the County, excess Tax funds shall be retained by the Platte County Treasurer for one year for refund of overpayments. After one year, the excess Tax funds (less any refunds), plus any interest earned thereon, shall be distributed within three days to the Sponsoring Entities on a pro-rata basis, based on the respective ratio which the principal amount that each Sponsoring Entity is to receive bears to the total amount of all Projects for which the Tax was approved. All Tax funds, and interest thereon, shall be used for planning, construction, equipping, operation and maintenance of the specified Projects.

The passage of this resolution shall constitute written notification to the County Clerk, specifying the date of the election and the proposition, as required by Wyoming Statute § 22-21-103, and shall further constitute approval as required by Wyoming Statute §§39-15-203(a)(iii)(A) and 39-16-203(a)(ii)(A).

Should any part or provision of this resolution or the proposition and ballot question set forth herein ever be judicially determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the remaining parts and provisions hereof or thereof, the intention being that each part or provision of this resolution, the proposition and ballot question is severable.

Finally, the update of the courthouse renovation was given by Ervin.

“The interior renovation of the County Courthouse is nearly complete,” Ervin said. “The renovation took nearly two years but included a complete renovation of the building’s interior, which had not occurred in the building’s 106-year life. In order for Courthouse offices to move back to their permanent location we will have to close to the public for two days, which are Friday, June 30 and Monday, July 3. All County offices will be closed Tuesday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.”

Courthouse offices will open to the public Wednesday, July 5 at their permanent location at 800 ninth Street in Wheatland. County staff will pack their offices on June 30 and moving companies will move furniture on July 1. County IT will install computers and printers on July 2 and County staff will unpack, organize and clean on July 3 in preparation to open on July 5.

“This move includes moving two courts (district and circuit) and three County offices (Assessor, Clerk and Treasurer),” Ervin said. “Considering the amount of office equipment and furniture required to be moved, it is remarkable that we will only be closed to the public for two days. Sampson Construction has done a tremendous job of renovating our historical county courthouse. Due to the very tight timeline associated with moving courthouse offices, we will not be having a rededication ceremony at this time. However, a rededication ceremony will be scheduled at a later date. If vehicle registration expires June 30, please make sure to renew your vehicle registration before that date because we will not be open on June 30.”