County receives grant for Forest Service road in the Big Horns

At the July 16 Big Horn County Commissioner meeting, the commission learned of a grant for a Forest Service road in the Big Horns when County Engineer Willie Bridges told the commission that the county received a grant from the Federal Highway Administration.

The Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant, which awarded $6 million to the county, will be used for work on Forest Service Road 17. No match from the county is required. The grant is for fiscal year 2030.Bridges explained that the grant is to reconstruct the road. The cattle guards would be replaced and/or reset, pipes would be replaced and new culverts would possibly be constructed. The road surface would receive six inches of road base.“For the road going up the hill where it is so rocky, we would get a reclaim machine in there and work that over so it’s not so bad,” Bridges explained. “That is the scope of the work.”The county will have to perform a NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) study sometime in the next few years so the county has the necessary data before the work begins.South Big Horn County Road and Bridge Supervisor Shannan Hovey told the commissioners that the slough on Lane 33½ is back. There was back and forth discussion on the causes and what needs to be done to rectify the issue more permanently.

North Big Horn County Road and Bridge Supervisor Eric Mann noted they replaced a culvert on Road 6½. Also discussed was a wastewater issue on Road 1.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Sabrina Burke-Northern Wyoming Treatment Court gave an agency update.

• District Court Clerk Serena Lipp discussed a mural for the District Court courtroom.

• County Maintenance Supervisor Jeremy Pouska and Fair Manager Cash Duncan gave a facilities management report. An executive session was requested during this portion of the meeting to discuss personnel.

• The land planning and airport reports were presented by Paul Thur and Stephanie May.

• Program updates were given by Travis Sylvester, county prevention coordinator.