BHC Commission approves P&Z recommendations

The Big Horn County commissioners reviewed a recommendation from Planning and Zoning at their July 15 meeting.

Stephanie May from land planning relayed that the recommendation was to exempt simple subdivisions from fencing requirements and/or Special Improvement Districts, Homeowners Associations (HOAs), mutual benefit corporations for common areas, roads and water supply systems.

May explained the HOA portion was addressing whether, when there were common roads, the HOA would allow for a collection of fees for the road maintenance. The recommendation to exempt is because of the simple subdivisions. 

County Engineer Willie Bridges was asked his thoughts. He believes that the exemption for the simple subdivisions makes sense. He doesn’t see how it would be a big problem for the county or adjacent landowners. Most of the locations have boundary fences already. The way the statute is written, it would require the landowner to fence each individual lot.

The commissioners also discussed a request for a temporary crossing to be built by the county while the Red Gulch Bridge is closed. Bridges said he didn’t believe there was room in the right-of-way to build a bypass. 

“Because of the way all the drainage works in that area, all four corners have irrigation water that drains down into the drainage right there,” he said. “Trying to build a little bypass would take quite a bit of work and pipe because we would end up burying a lot of stuff trying to keep the drainage where it needs to go.”

He continued that, if you go downstream about 75 feet onto private property owned by Flitners, it would be simple to build a little crossing for locals to get back and forth without having to go all the way around. If the county chooses to do this, he would not want it labeled as a detour. 

“It would just be the few local people that would have the ability to get back and forth across. It would help us when we go in to do the construction work (on the closed bridge) as it would allow us to get back and forth across, too,” Bridges said.  

He added it would require a temporary easement from the Flitners. He also noted that the crossing would only be used for pickups and/or a side by side, not for hauling heavy loads. 

Commissioner Deb Craft asked what the county’s liability would be. Bridges said the county could post a weight limit sign. The county has a 30-foot used pipe in their stockpile that could be used, thus keeping the cost to a minimum. Plus, it would be a benefit to the county to use the crossing during the construction. Bridges was directed to talk to Greg Flitner regarding this matter.

A request was received asking the county to remove a mailbox. The landowner reported the neighbor’s mailbox is on their land. The county works with U.S. Postal Service, but the postal service determines the locations of the boxes. The county road policy requires that, if the mailbox is placed on the roadway, the county is to widen the road so the mail carrier may pull off the road to deliver. Commissioner Dave Neves said he would let the landowner know of this discussion.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Prevention Specialist Travis Sylvester discussed possible funding to address problem gambling.

• An executive session was held to discuss confidential security. It included a video conference with Wyoming Supreme Court.

• The commissioners and county attorney’s office held a discussion about the State of Wyoming Firearm Policy. The majority of the discussion was how the county would implement the law. A policy is currently being written. Further information will be forthcoming regarding the policy.