Piney road, bio-terrorism discussed

by Cat Urbigkit

Sublette County Road Superintendent Dan Holgate reported to the Sublette County Commission Tuesday that his department is going into fall "with a few of our projects wrapped up."

Holgate also presented the final costs on new road into the Pinedale Industrial Site, noting that county crews were able to do some of the road work, but the turning lane on the highway had to be engineered and bid out.

He said the county had $113,784 in out-of-pocket costs on entire project.

Holgate said the Nelson Engineering bill totaled about $48,000, while Bennett Construction did the construction work on the turning lane for $209,303.

Holgate cited the high costs of engineering, adding, "If we can do these projects in-house ... it's a big savings to the county."

The commission briefly discussed the South Piney/Fish Creek Road as it crosses through Dan Budd's private property. The county wants to improve the road, but the county has an easement agreement with Budd that requires Budd's written approval of any proposed improvements, which he has been unwilling to grant, according to the county. The commission has maintained that increased traffic and lack of improvement poses a safety hazard and are interested in pursuing Budd's approval. The commission decided to ask Budd to discuss the situation with the commission so the board can explain what the county's "options" are, should Budd refuse to allow any road improvement.

Commission Chairman Gordon Johnston noted, "I wouldn't have any problem at all doing it." Although not specified by Johnston, he apparently was referring to adverse possession.

The commission agreed to invite Budd to the commission's next meeting and also invited Sublette County Attorney Van Graham to attend the session as well.

"We're just doing fact-finding," Commissioner Bill Cramer said.

Sublette County Public Health Nurse Annie Sondgeroth reported on her agency's activities, noting that there were 1,000 people serviced at the blood draw for the Pinedale Health Fair, and that 85 children's car safety seats were placed in Sublette County in the last year, with a cost to the parents of only $20 each.

"In the last year, we've probably placed 200 helmets on kids' heads," Sondgeroth said, noting her agency sells bicycle and ski helmets to children for $5 each.

She also noted that some of the money generated through the health fair is used to provide these programs, and this year, some of the money was used to bring a heel scan machine to the health fair. She said the machine examines bone density, and 101 people used it this year, a third of which were referred to their physicians for follow-up.

Sondgeroth also warned the commission that her payment voucher includes payment for four massages. She explained that this is a provision to thank four nurses who donate their time to draw blood every year, since they don't receive pay for their services.

Sondgeroth also warned the commission of bio-terrorism money soon to come to the county. She said that Wyoming has received $2.1 million to reinforce the public health program's bio-terrorism efforts. Of that, Sublette County is to receive $32,000 to fund a half-time public health nurse to do nothing but bio-terrorism.

Sondgeroth predicted that the county probably won't find anyone both interested and qualified for this mandatory program, in which she said funding is coming to the county whether the county wants it or not. She noted that much of the work is already being done by local agencies such as the sheriff's department.