Unapproved Record of the May 19, 2020 Proceedings of the Platte County Commissioners in Wheatland, WY – A Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was called to order at 5:00 P.M.. The meeting was held via Zoom Video Conferencing to avoid congregating people to avoid the spread of the infectious disease COVID-19. The purpose of the meeting was to connect with each Platte County Department Head and Elected Official to obtain the status of their departments and to discuss the County’s response during the spread of COVID-19. The elected officials present were: Sandy Kontour, Commission Chairman; Ian Jolovich, Commissioner; Malcolm Ervin, County Clerk; Kristi Rietz, County Treasurer; Clyde Harris, Sheriff; Danette Eppel, Assessor; and Mona McAuley, Clerk of District Court. Department heads present were: Nicole Sticka, Public Health; Terry Stevenson, Emergency Management; James “Beal” Angle, Road & Bridge; Julie Henion, Library; Jordan Ham, WyoLogic Inc. (County IT); and Stacy Bucholz, Ag. Extension. Members of the public present were: Merlin Hitt, Platte County Economic Development. Chairman Kontour asked for updates from Public Health and Emergency Management. Ms. Sticka said Public Health will begin vaccinations and other services that had been temporarily put on hold. Ms. Sticka also spoke about the difficulties surrounding starting classes at the Wyoming Cowboy Challenge Academy. Mr. Stevenson said information was still being shared throughout the state about what different counties were doing in response to the virus. Mr. Stevenson also spoke about the decision to close Greyrocks Reservoir and Wheatland Reservoir #1 to overnight camping while keeping them open to day use. Mr. Stevenson said the motivating factor in limiting camping at the reservoirs was limiting the number of people from out of state who would be visiting the county. Clerk Ervin said that the elected officials of Platte County did not have prior information about closing the reservoirs to overnight camping and asked who made that decision. Mr. Stevenson said the decision was made by the County Health Officer, who is Dr. Steve Peasley, and Wyoming Game & Fish with input from Sheriff Clyde Harris. Undersheriff Grady Winders informed the group that Game Warden David Elsworth, Wyoming Game & Fish, had informed the Sheriff’s Office that the ban on overnight camping at the reservoirs would be lifted by the weekend. The best place for the public to access information about how COVID-19 impacts Platte County is the County’s website, www.plattecountywyoming.com. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at approximately 5:40 P.M.
Public Notice No. 10710. To be published in the Platte County Record - Times June 3, 2020.
