EVANSTON — Several orders of business were attended to during a busy Tuesday, May 6, commission meeting at the Uinta County Complex in Evanston.  

Woody Smith, the president of Southwest Wyoming Crimestoppers, recognized Uinta County Sheriff's Sgt. Brandi Jones as the Public Safety Professional for the 2025 winter quarter. 

The honorary distinction, which had been discontinued for some time, has been resumed recently "to say thank you for your service and for everything you do," Smith said.  "In special recognition and appreciation for outstanding service and dedication to excellence," he said presenting Jones with a plaque and a gift card.  

The commissioners then approved a $30,894 proposal from Rocky Mountain Communications Systems to audit the county's current radio system.  

Commission Chairman Mark Anderson proposed the idea of a county-wide hiring freeze, citing uncertain budgetary constraints. Department heads from various county offices spoke regarding significant understaffing issues within their respective agencies. 

Uinta County Clerk Amanda Hutchinson spoke on behalf of Uinta County Public Health (UCPH) Nurse Manager ReaAnna Peltier about the need to hire an administrative assistant to maximize productivity.  

Road and Bridge Foreman Dustin Henstra and Uinta County Maintenance Jeff Breininger requested the ability to hire replacements for recent outgoing employees.

"We really do need to replace that person... Even with my assistance, we can't keep up with what has to be done with all the buildings," Breininger said of losing a couple of employees. 

The commissioners ultimately agreed to a temporary hiring freeze on new, full-time permanent positions while allowing seasonal, part-time and replacement hires for the designated offices that requested as such. The freeze begins immediately and will run through June 30. Any exceptions require approval by the commission. 

Hutchinson, again on behalf of Peltier, requested authorization of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the UCPH staff to perform blood draws with Wyoming Health Fairs. The commissioners approved. 

In her capacity as county clerk, Hutchinson requested approval of a business associate agreement with Welldyne and Springbuk Inc., a third-party insurance reporting agency. Hutchinson was further seeking approval of five-year leases at the Fort Bridger Airport. The commission approved both requests.

Breininger returned to the podium with several bid proposal requests. The commission approved all but one pending further information. A courthouse atrium glasswork and sealing bid was awarded to Deru's Glass Works for $28,654; two roofing projects, for the Road and Bridge east and west shops, were both awarded to Broken Arrow for $96,906 and $52,345, respectively; a Norris Construction bid of $65,795 was approved for asphalt work on the east side of the grandstands at the fairgrounds; and $131,326 was allocated to Asphalt Preservations for extensive repair and crack sealing work long overdue at the Uinta County Complex, the county jail and Road and Bridge west. 

The commissioners tabled Breininger's final request of up to $15,000 for a metal shipping container of unspecified dimensions with a door for target storage at the jail's on-site shooting range.

"It's more of an awareness for you; it's something they'd like," Breininger said, acknowledging that if it's not accomplished this year, it'll be in next year's budget request.  

Ron Taylor with Environmental Services received approval for acceptance of a Wyoming Department of Agriculture insect management grant award of $82,000 with a 50% county match for mosquito abatement expenses.

County Planner Kent Williams had several requests of the commission, including a conditional use permit (CUP) for G&L Rentals to operate a paintball field within an industrial zone, specifically located six miles north of Evanston at 6022 State HWY 89 North.

"It looks like a lot of fun to me," Williams said.  

Owner/operator Lane Bowen spoke in favor of the motion.

"We have some pretty tall nets we were going to use up at the front by the highway, the wind does not agree with our decision," Bowen said.

"We are going to use the back of the property up against the hillside instead. There is really nothing back there to be hit or damaged on anybody's property,” he said. “There's no personal property of any kind within reach of where we're going to do this."  

Longtime Evanston resident Cindy Crawford asked if Bowen was planning to use components from a previous paintball facility. Bowen said it was completely new. Crawford agreed it sounded like fun for community kids.

The commissioners approved William's request.

Williams held two public hearings — one for a Sage Industrial Park subdivision permit and map amendment from agricultural/resource/development (ARD) zoning to industrial; and for the  Cannonopolis subdivision map amendment and rezoning from ARD to residential — which no one spoke in opposition of. The commissioners approved both requests.  

Finally, Williams requested authorization of vacation of the Meadows at Fort Bridger phase 2 subdivision due to Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) concerns regarding sewage disposal. Three votes passed the motion.

During public comment, Bridger Valley resident Gary Nix voiced concerns over a letter evicting him from his hangar at the Fort Bridger Airport due to lease non-compliance.

"I'm just looking for an applicable solution," Nix said.  

Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson Kallas explained to the commissioners that not only was Nix's lease contract long-expired, but that Nix violated the contract by storing non-aviation-related materials within the hangar.  

"The basis for the termination, in this circumstance ... the photographs did identify a number of items that are not approved either by our lease or the FAA, which are classic cars," Kallas said. "There appear to be some form of snowmobiles or other recreational equipment and other items that were maintained. All of those items cannot be on the property."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could audit then fine the county millions of dollars for such contract violations due to the agency's financial contributions to the airport's renovations and maintenance.
Kallas said that not only is the facility long-overdue for a federal inspection, but that every lessee should receive notification of warning to ensure they are not violating the county's contracts.  

"We actually do have an FAA inspection coming up later this month," Fort Bridger Airport Manager Breininger confirmed.

Kallas clarified that it's the commissioners' prerogative whether to renew Nix's lease and under what parameters.

"You all can enter into a contract with any person you choose so long as they're in compliance with the provisions ... it's your property."

The commission agreed to review and consider a contract renewal with Nix.