EVANSTON — During the June 17 county commission meeting, Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson Kallas swore in Ashlee Richins as the new Uinta County Assessor, replacing outgoing Lori Perkins who retired last month. Perkins vacated the position midway through the current term.

Richins, previously the deputy assessor, will serve in the role for the duration of the term until the November 2026 election.

The commission agreed to sign a contract for up to $6,500 with DeCoria and Company to perform an internal audit of compensated absences of county employees as requested by Uinta County Clerk Amanda Hutchinson.

Hutchinson, on behalf of Uinta County Maintenance Technician Jeff Breininger, further requested final approval of two federal financial reports and a request for approval for the Fort Bridger Airport apron and taxiway project, which the commissioners agreed to.

Human Services Coordinator Rebecca Osterberg was seeking commission approval to accept a four-year Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) for a reimbursement grant for the amount $489,165 to help provide financial support to low-income individuals, families and agencies including SAFV Task Force and Disability IN:Uinta County.

“We didn’t even know we were going to be awarded this grant,” Osterberg said. “We will receive $122,291.25 per year, which is an additional $6,000 a year which is good for Human Services.”

The commissioners approved Osterberg’s request once Kallas had an opportunity to review the grant.

Uinta County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) Lt. Brenden Morrow sought approval of a contract amendment between the law enforcement agency and the Wyoming Department of Corrections to extend housing conditions for inmates of a rehabilitation program for up to 90 days, and to increase the contract amount by an additional $50,000 to $378,500 total. The commissioners approved the motion.

UCSO Deputy and Director of Special Operations Aaron Hutchinson requested that the commissioners approve increased two-year contractual fees to High Country Behavioral Health for counseling services rendered to clients of the Court Supervised Treatment Program. The proposed increase allows for $491.72 per client, with a program cap of $123,913.44. The commissioners agreed to the upgraded contract. 

Hutchinson further introduced the commissioners to the program’s newest treatment provider, Kelsee Ficker, a provisional addictions therapist (PAT), who was a former treatment program graduate.

“Kelsee’s story is rather unique… She’s one of our great success stories,” Hutchinson said. “We’re really excited to have her.”

“I’ve done some changes the last 10 years,” Ficker said.

Commissioner Eric South said, “That’s proof how this drug court system helps a lot of people and actually works.”

“We get accolades on our drug court from around the state,” said Commission Chair Mark Anderson. “It’s one of the best programs out there, and it’s people like you that make it possible, who are willing to step up and help.”

Public Health Nurse Manager ReaAnna Peltier sought approval of a four-year grant totaling $40,000, requiring a 10% in-kind payback, between the county and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) to set the terms and conditions for the position of the appointed County Health Officer Michael Whisenant.

Peltier explained to the commissioners that Whisenant oversees the agency’s emergency preparedness and response protocols. She further requested the approval of a contract $89,000 between the county and the WDH to fund Whisenant’s position through June 2026. Any additional funding would be the responsibility of the county. The commissioners approved both of Peltier’s requests.

Finally, the commissioners revisited the previously-tabled issue of mosquito abatement contract renewal. Contract approval had been delayed for the past month due to ongoing budgetary concerns, and commissioners saying the service isn’t a statutory obligation.

“Due to some budget shortfalls and revenue changes, we were worried this was going to be something we had to take a serious look at,” Anderson said.

Commissioner Brent Hatch explained to attendees that the municipalities had all received assessments to assist funding.

“Lyman was assessed about $2,080; Mountain View $1,770 ... the community of Evanston was assessed about $18,000. They’ve chosen to only pay $5,000 and the town of Bear River was assessed $3,130 and they ... have said it’s not in the budget,” Hatch said.

South said Bear River Mayor Clyde Kofoed had told him that the contract hadn’t been received in a timely enough manner prior to the town’s budget session.

Of the $318,000 total contract cost for mosquito spraying, Hatch explained that weed and pest contributes $40,000. Grants account for another $82,000, and the county pays the difference, roughly $170,000.

“We are going to move forward with this,” Hatch announced, suggesting that, while the service will be funded and provided for another year, it’s not guaranteed going forward.

Four community members spoke during public comments to reiterate why it should be renewed. 

Jack Sims spoke on behalf of Wyoming Downs owner and operator Eugene Joyce.

“The county earned it,” Sims said. “You allowed them to be here … $551,000 last year ... they’re pretty sure that amount will be over $1 million in ‘26 due to the new horse racing facility they’re building. There will also be taxes from that.”

Sims said that there are approximately 200 mares in the county.

“Without a doubt, each of those mares brings in a minimum of $8,000 into this county,” from the racetrack, Sims said. “The horse money is asking for mosquitos to be sprayed. Those horses bring a lot of money into this county, and it’s going to keep getting better and better.”

Sims asked how to guarantee funding for the spraying each year going forward. Anderson suggested talking to elected state representatives. Kallas explained that it could be a proposed ballot initiative that the voters would then decide on.

“If we decide to let [the spraying company] go, I don’t know that we’ll get somebody back in to do it,” said Uinta County Environmental Ron Taylor. “We get a lot of bang for our buck with them,” Taylor said explaining the expansiveness of spraying the Bridger Valley by plane.

Laura Rigby and Suzanne Small, both of Evanston, spoke of the dangers of West Nile virus if the commission chose not to spray.

“She was a sick kid,” Rigby said of her daughter. “Nobody wants anyone in their family to go through what she went through, and she was young and healthy.”

“It’s important that, I think, we all don’t have to suffer,” Small said. “Our winters are long, and our summers are short, and it would be a shame not to be able to waste well-wasted time, enjoying our summer evenings on the porch and on our summer walks.”

Mason Huffaker also approached the podium.

“I had to start a fire and pour oil on it just to smoke them out,” he said. “I almost had the fire department called.”

Both a one-year contract for VDCI mosquito abatement services and the lease renewal for the building they utilize were renewed.