Laramie County Commissioner Meetings Summaries: July - September 2024

Several years ago, the Laramie County Commissioners started live-streaming the Commissioners' meetings and allowing the public to view previous meetings; as I work during the week as most of the public does, I rely on these videos to keep abreast of decisions being made by the Commission as well as areas of interest to the community during public comments. Everyone should take advantage of this valuable service and stay informed on decisions affecting the growth and direction of the county. Laramie County - Calendar (legistar.com) I will post a brief synopsis of the bi-monthly Commissioner meetings on my campaign Facebook page, including my comments and welcome input and dialogue from the community.

September 17th Laramie County Commissioners meeting:

• The consent agenda items were approved. These are regular county business items that do not warrant discussion. They are all listed in detail on the meeting agenda notes.

  
  

• Resolution approved authorizing establishment election in the matter of the proposed Woods Landing Estates Road Maintenance Improvement and Services District. 

  
  

• Subaward agreement approved between Laramie County and the South Cheyenne Water and Sewer Dist. For the US Dep. of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund for $100,254.35 to support the Ave. B6 Rehabilitation project to run through Dec 31, 2025.

  
  

• Contract approved between Wy. Dep. Of Family Services and Laramie County for a FFY25 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Community Partnership Initiative grant award in an amount not to exceed $154,750 to run through Sept 30, 2025.

  
  

• Consideration of the ratification of an assignment and assumption of lease between Voss Family Partnership and Laramie County.  The county recently finalized the purchase of the Wyoming Financial Center building at 2020 Carey Ave. This agreement allows Laramie County to take over all current building leases.

  
  

• Resolution approved reappointing MRK Voss as the Laramie County Attorney.
  

• Public hearing regarding the correction of the 2024 mill levies. A Scribner’s error in the data previously submitted for the 2024 mill levy tax collection was discovered which would have made the collected taxes too low to cover certain financial obligations.  There was no public comment on this item and the corrected data was approved.
  

• Public hearing regarding a subdivision permit and plat for Allison Tracts, 11th filing.  The property is located adjacent to 619 E Allison Rd. The subdivision will comprise six tiny home tracts with one common space tract.  There was no public comment on this item, and it was approved.
  

• Public hearing regarding a subdivision permit and plat for Deer Valley at Chalk Bluff, located at 3371 Road 203.  The 40 acres will be divided into 4 separate 10-acre tracts. There was no public comment on this item, and it was approved.
  

• Public hearing regarding a vacation and administrative plat for Thunder Basin Estates 7th filing located at 1034 Mallard Lane.  The purpose of the application is to divide the 19-acre property into two residential tracts. There was no public comment on this item, and it was approved.
  

• Public hearing regarding approval for the High Plains Business Park sanitary sewer main which will run from College Dr. to High Plains Rd.  There was one public comment on this item from the Orchard Valley Homeowners Association.  They were concerned about the route the project would take through the subdivision and the possible disruption of parking at the community center.  The project manager spoke to this issue and believed the area of concern would be completed through underground boring instead of trenching above ground but agreed to work with the subdivision to mitigate any problems. The item was approved.
  

• Public hearing regarding a vacation of Tract 1, Abbreviated Plat San Rae Subdivision, 2nd Filing and Tract 11-A San Rae Subdivision, and approval of the admirative plat known as San Rae Subdivision, 3rd Filing.  The property is located near the corner of Lampman Court and Draper Court. There was no public comment on this item, and it was approved.

August 20th Laramie County Commissioners meeting:

• The August 20 primary election fell on the same day as the regularly scheduled Commissioner meeting, so the meeting was canceled for this week. Therefore, I won't be posting a summary of the meeting.

August 6th Laramie County Commissioners meeting:

• The consent agenda items were approved. These are regular county business items that do not warrant discussion. They are all listed in detail on the meeting agenda notes.
  

• A contract was approved between the Wyoming Office of the Attorney General, Division of Victims Services, and Laramie County for the Sheriff's Office Victims Services Program for $138,923 to run through June 30, 2025.
  

• The contract was approved between the Wyoming Judicial Branch and Laramie County to fund the DUI Court and Drug Court programs in an amount not exceeding 497,533 for DUI Court and 343,858.44 for Drug Court.
  

• The agreement was approved between Laramie County and PreCise MRM in an amount not to exceed $145,020 to provide a vehicle GPS tracking system along with installation and service to run through August 31, 2027. The system will provide tracking services for all county-owned vehicles, excluding Sheriff's Office vehicles, as they have their own system to track their vehicles.
  

• A Memorandum of understanding was approved between Laramie County and the Wyoming Department of Health, setting forth the terms and conditions under which the Sheriff's Office shall utilize jail-based psychiatric services paid for by the Wyoming Department of Health. This is a telehealth-based service for inmates confined in jail.
  

• A memorandum of understanding was approved between Laramie County and FE Warren Air Force Base (FEW AFB) to outline cooperation between the 90th Security Forces Squadron, FEW AFB, and the Sheriff's Office.
  

• Contract addendum approved between Laramie County and Ameri-Tech HVAC Services, Inc., in the amounts of $95,800 and $26,640 to provide HVAC services for the Sheriff's Office and Juvenile Services Center.
  

• Contract addendum approved between Laramie County and Buddi US, LLC, to provide ankle monitoring equipment and services to the Sheriff's Office.
  

• Contract addendum and acceptance of sales quotation was approved between Laramie County and Tyler Technologies, Inc., in a one-time amount of $10,340 and annual recurring fees for $1,740 to create and modify terms associated with the IDM Document Alert for iDoc Market and indicated in attachment A. This service will alert customers when documents have been filed using their name information.
  

• Resolution approved appointing Elaine Hart to the Eastern Laramie County Solid Waste Disposal District Board for a three-year term, expiring August 31, 2027.
  

• Resolution approved appointing Patricia Maholona to the Laramie County Adult Community Corrections Board to complete a four-year term left vacant by Shania Smith, expiring December 31, 2026.
  

• Public hearing held for the formation of the proposed Woods Landing Estates Road Maintenance Improvement and Service District. (No motion was required on this item) One public member who owns property in the area spoke in favor of the proposed item.
  

• Resolution approved granting an exception for developing small wastewater systems under the "201 Agreement" for a property at 4614 E Pershing.
  

• A public hearing was held regarding a subdivision permit and plat for a property located at 3030 S Avenue B-6 and 3050 S Avenue B-6 to be platted and known as "Hope Subdivision, 8th Filling." No one from the public spoke about this item, and it was approved.
  

• Public hearing held regarding a solar energy site plan and solar energy permit for the Cowboy Solar I & II Project, situated in Sections 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, and 35 of T13N, R65W, as well as Sections 26 and 25, T13N, R66W, and Section 2 of T12N, R65W of the 6th PM, Laramie County Wyoming, which is located on Chalk Bluffs Road South of Cheyenne. A property owner who owns land directly adjacent to the proposed site spoke against the project and voiced concerns about potential dangers from up to 1700 lithium-Ion storage batteries, which will be transported to and stored on the solar farm project site. Members of families who own the properties where the proposed Cowboy Solar project will be located spoke in favor of the endeavor. The project developer, Enbridge, will lease the land for 25 years and then return it to its former natural state, allowing for future agricultural or ranching use. Commissioner Thompson requested additional information on the project's fire safety issue with the Lithium Ion battery storage system. Commissioner Thompson's questions were answered to his satisfaction. The project was approved.

July 16th Laramie County Commissioners meeting:

• The consent agenda items were approved. These are regular county business items that do not warrant discussion. They are all listed in detail on the meeting agenda notes.
  

• A real property sublease (8-09807) was approved between Cheyenne Laramie County Public Health and the State of Wyoming, Department of Administration and Information General Services Division, to sublease 1,950 square feet of office space located at 100 Central Ave for the Department of Health, WIC program, in the amount of $34,804.50 per year, commencing July 1, 2024, and terminating June 30, 2026.
  

• An agreement was approved between Laramie County, WY, and Cheyenne/Laramie County Economic Development Joint Powers Board of 200,000 for FY24-25 to promote and support economic development activities in Laramie County. The term of the agreement is from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

For complete details, visit the County Commissioner's website.

July 2nd Laramie County Commissioners meeting:

The meeting started with Commissioner Malm recognizing Ken Horn for his nearly ten years of service in making the commissioners' meetings accessible to the public, allowing for greater transparency. Ken owned a company that worked with the county's IT department to make the videos of the commissioners' meetings available to the public.

• The consent agenda items were approved. These are regular county business items that do not warrant discussion. They are all listed in detail on the meeting agenda notes.
  

• A resolution adopting the Cheyenne/ Laramie County Emergency Operations Plan was approved.  Emergency Management Directory Jeanine West outlined the document to the commissioners and its importance in effectively handling county emergencies. 
  

• A grant application was authorized for submittal and acceptance to/from the US Dept. of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration to fund the Cheyenne Regional Airport to rehabilitate the air traffic control tower for $850,000.
  

• A subgrantee agreement between Laramie County and the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center to provide Gambling Prevention Funds for $72,098.82 for community gambling prevention and treatment services to run through Dec 31, 2025
  

• An agreement was approved for Great Western Installation to provide and install inclusive playground surface and equipment at the Archer Complex for not exceeding $131,780.71.  This project was ARPA-funded.
  

• An addendum was approved to the Converus End User License Agreement and the EyeDetect Subscription software addendum between Laramie County and Converus, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $28,000 to provide EyeDetect subscription software intended to enhance the county's ability to screen applicants in the hiring process. HR Director Heather Rudy spoke about this item; she said it relates to a lie detector system for the Sheriff's Office. 
  

• Agreements were approved for AVI PC, Inberg-Miller Engineers, Jones Land Surveying, Inc., and Trihydro Corp. to provide the county public works department with engineering and surveying services as needed.
  

• The second amendment was approved to the agreement (231003-30) between Laramie County and the Voss Family Limited Partnership in the amount of $5,500,000 for the purchase and sale of the property located at 2020 Carey Avenue.  This item was opened for public hearing, but no one commented.  Commissioner Thompson commented on the reasons for the purchase, expressing the county's obligation to house the various county governmental services and that the current governmental complex building is at capacity.  Current leases in the property to be purchased will pay for some of the needed repairs to the structure, and overall, it is a good investment for the county.     
  

• A resolution was approved appointing Jeremiah Johnson and Lowel Classy to the Eastern Laramie County Solid Waste Disposal District for a three-year term expiring June 30, 2027.
  

• A resolution was approved appointing Ericks Smith to the Laramie County Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board for a three-year term, expiring June 30, 2027.
  

• A public hearing was held regarding an administrative plat for Tract 1, Church of Christ Subdivision, 1st Filing, and a zone change from AR - Agricultural Residential to MU - Mixed Use for Tract 2, Church of Christ Subdivision, 1st Filing and Tract 2, Church of Christ 2nd Filing, Laramie County Wy—the property located at 4707 Allen Rd. Several residents who live in the area spoke about the proposed zone change and expressed concerns about the property being rezoned to MU - Mixed Use. Their concerns ranged from the possibility of condominiums being built in the area to businesses that may spoil the residential feel of the area.  Many residents moved out of the area because it was zoned as residential.  Commissioner Thompson spoke to their concerns and indicated that any proposed future uses could be brought back before the commission, allowing for further public comment and consideration.  The plat and zone change were approved.
  

• A public hearing was held regarding a zone change from A2—Agricultural to AR—Agricultural Residential and a subdivision permit and plat for Mesa Tracts, 5th Filing; the property is located at 8420 East Pershing Blvd. No one from the public spoke on the issue, and it was approved.
  

• A stage 1 fire ban was approved for Fire District 10 in Southwest Laramie County due to the dry conditions in the area.  County Fire Warden Matt Butler spoke on the issue and indicated that the County Fire Chiefs believed the rest of the county had received sufficient moisture in recent weeks. 

For complete details, visit the County Commissioner's website.