Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Though not present at the regular meeting of the Crook County Commissioners due to social distancing requirements, boards, districts, employees and local agencies submitted reports to detail the work that has been taking place across the county this month. Highlights included:
WYDOT
According to a report from Preston Beckstead, Resident Engineer in Sundance, construction continues on the new bridge over the Belle Fourche River near Hulett. Once the deck has been poured, it must cure for one week before it can be used for transportation, after which the only remaining tasks are removal of the old bridge and reclamation; the project is expected to be complete by early summer.
Reclamation work is also all that remains on the Arch Creek Bridge, which includes special wetland conditions that are weather-dependant. This project, too, is expected to be complete by early summer.
Bridge rehabilitation will be taking place in several locations on I-90, including five bridges near Beulah and two near Moorcroft. Each is receiving a joint replacement and the ones near Beulah will get new bridge deck overlays. All work will be done with traffic narrowed to one lane, except during the Sturgis Rally, when all traffic control will be removed.
To balance the budget, some projects have been moved into the 2021 fiscal year. WYDOT plans to mill and overlay both sides of the interstate at Wind Creek and mill and overlay U.S. 14 from the end of Rupe Hill west.
Forest Service
Discussions continue with stakeholders on sustainable timber targets, according to District Ranger Mike Gosse’s report. Meanwhile, seasonal employees are being brought on throughout the month of May and the wildland fire program is fully staffed, with discussion ongoing as to how to provide seasonal training and orientation during the pandemic.
Archaeological assistance has been provided to Devils Tower for their trail construction project. The Cook Lake project has been delayed due to the virus.
A regional closure order affects all Forest Service recreation facilities until May 31, but Gosse reported that discussions are being held about asking for an exemption for just the Black Hills National Forest on May 22 so recreation sites can open on Memorial Day weekend.
Free firewood permits are available until the end of May outside the Bearlodge office.
Bureau of Land Management
According to Cindy Larom, Natural Resource Specialist, the Rapid City Office is still teleworking for the foreseeable future and the March meeting of the Keyhole Emergency Management Exercise/Orientation Seminar for Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Review and Communications Drill was cancelled and will be rescheduled when feasible.
Due to the outbreak, it was also necessary to cancel the Fire Fuels Reduction Project bordering the Town of Pine Haven. This will also be rescheduled when feasible. This project is a partnership with Keyhole State Park, Montana Conservation Corps, WY State Forestry Division and the Town of Pine Haven/VFD.
Devils Tower National Monument
According to Superintendent Amnesty Kochanowski, work is ongoing in accordance with federal and CDC guidance and local public health authorities to gradually increase access and services at Devils Tower. To that end, staff are performing continual risk assessments, monitoring public health data and conferring with health officials.
“At the Tower, our operational approach is to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance,” Kochanowski said.
Considerations include potential for exposure given the park’s small size and concentration of use within the visitor’s center, restrooms and Tower Trail; potential for crowding and high tourist visitation; and very limited staff capacity and access to personal protective equipment.
Opening back up is likely to consist of three phases, starting with access to roads, trails and picnic areas, followed by access to the campground and then to the visitor center. At present, 12 employees are working behind the scenes to maintain critical park functions and prepare for opening.
Summer staff start dates have been delayed until May 31 with some not hired. The accessibility improvement project has continued. The Old Settlers Picnic has been cancelled for this year.
Emergency Management
Emergency Management Coordinator Ed Robinson reported that, over the past month, he has staffed and participated in Emergency Operations Center along with Public Health.
He has also submitted an Emergency Management Performance grant for next year with the help of the County Clerk’s Office and a State Homeland Security Grant application for the Sheriff’s Office. The old shelter trailer has been emptied and will be turned over to Clerk’s Office, while Robinson has also assisted Weston County Emergency Management with resource management and state paperwork.
Crook County Library
According to Library Director Jill Mackey, the three county libraries are still closed to foot traffic, but all staff are working. Services still being provided to the public include curbside delivery of tax forms, books and DVDs, faxes and copies, inter-library loans within the county and the sharing of online resources through email and Facebook.
The Library Board held their April meeting by teleconference and formally approved the COVID-19 shutdown policy, as well as reviewing the initial budget request.
A draft plan to re-open has been submitted to the board for review and also to Public Health.
UW Extension
According to Sara Fleenor’s report, fencing has been donated for the hoop house and 4-H has requested use of the pig barn for two members through a request to the Emergency Operations Center. The members would have no contact with each other and would be scheduled to not be there together.
“The 4-H program also is looking for guidance on the 307 Show Clinic scheduled for June. There are ways that it could be limited to ten for the species and spread out so there is appropriate social distancing,” Fleenor reported.
The Crook County Extension Facebook page is still the main means of communication, as is 4honline for members and leaders. The Extension Office has continued to provide services in terms of soil samples, pesticide books and testing, as well as other information to the public, and several members have taken the virtual opportunities for quilting, livestock judging and livestock shows.
Crook County Natural Resource District
Seven cover crop contracts were signed at the May meeting, according to a report from Bridget Helms, Office Manager.
“This year we’ll also be offering a cost share on temporary electric fencing to encourage livestock integration with the support of the project sponsor, the Plank Stewardship Initiative,” she reported.
Water sampling will begin June 1 and the district is still accepting applications for a part-time conservation field technician. The proposed budget has been approved by the board and forestry projects are currently underway, with contractors busy with fuel treatments, fuel breaks and defensible space projects.
“We were awarded $127,000 in bark beetle mitigation funds but they still haven’t been received, so those projects are waiting for funding to arrive before we can move forward on those,” Helms said.