Bigfoot99 News - Bigfoot 99 Radio

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |

Photo – Secretary of State Chuck Gray – Courtesy State of Wyoming

Election reform bills ran into stiff resistance on Monday, the opening day of the Wyoming legislative session.

The election integrity bills failed to achieve the two-thirds majority needed for introduction. Backed by the conservative Freedom Caucus, the bills dealt with paper ballots, ballot drop boxes, ballot harvesting, random hand-count audits, poll watcher expansion, and independent candidate requirements.

Secretary of State Chuck Gray supported the legislation, which were sponsored by the Joint Corporations Committee. A disappointed Gray issued the following comment.

Election integrity has been a key issue for the Freedom Caucus since it won control of the House after the 2024 election.

Chalk it up as a win for liberals in the legislature who are at battle with the Freedom Caucus.  The budget session requires two-thirds approval to introduce non-budget bills in a budget session. In a general session, which is less strict, all the bills would have advanced to committee.

The post Election Reform Bills Fail to be Introduced at Legislative Session first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 |

Photo – Penny – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Medicine Bow will wait until pennies are phased out or a software option becomes available before rounding up payments.

Due to their high production cost and limited real‑world value, President Donald Trump ordered the United States Treasury to stop minting new pennies in February of 2025, shortly after taking office. As the coins fall out of circulation, they will become harder to find. Local business owners say banks have already stopped selling rolls of pennies.

As reported by Bigfoot99, Wyoming Democrat Mike Yin introduced a bill to standardize how cash transactions would work without pennies. House Bill 71 requires all entities that accept cash to round final totals up or down to the nearest nickel or dime. Until an official solution is in place, whether through Representative Yin’s legislation or another approach, Wyoming businesses and municipalities must set their own rules for rounding pennies.

Without guidance from state officials, Medicine Bow has been working on procedures for handling cash transactions without pennies.

First discussed last month, the governing body chose not to adopt an official policy until Town Attorney Cameron Smith reviewed if the town can legally apply rounding based on a bill’s ending amount.

Speaking at Monday evening’s Town Council meeting, Attorney Smith said he reviewed the legality of penny rounding and found that state law does not prohibit it.

Clerk and Treasurer Karen Heath said the town’s utility billing program, Caselle, is developing a software update that will automatically round pennies. In the meantime, Treasurer Heath said she can round all utility payments by hand if the Town Council chooses.

Councilman Lee Cook asked if the town was running out of pennies. Treasurer Heath said yes, adding that a majority of residents prefer to pay with cash.

Councilman Cook asked how often Treasurer Heath purchases pennies from the bank. Heath replied that she doesn’t buy pennies and has instead been using her own coins to give residents change. However, as pennies become harder to find, Treasurer Heath said she will no longer continue that practice.

Until Caselle introduces the software update, Treasurer Heath said the Council can choose between two rounding methods: one that always rounds totals down to the nearest nickel and another that rounds up or down based on how close the amount is to the nearest five or ten cents. Councilman Cook said he couldn’t support either option if it meant losing revenue or overcharging residents for cash payments.

Treasurer Heath said Mayor Justin George, who was absent from Monday’s meeting, indicated that all utility payments, not only cash, must be rounded to the nearest nickel.

The town treasurer said Mayor George wanted a billing method that treated all residents equally.

Mayor Pro Tem Trevor Strauch said rounding up and down will balance out over time.

Councilman Lee Cook asked if Treasurer Heath will need to manually adjust every utility bill if the town adopts a penny‑rounding policy. Heath said she already reviews each bill by hand. Wanting to avoid adding to the treasurer’s responsibilities, Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield recommended waiting for Caselle to finish updating its software before taking an official stance.

The Medicine Bow Town Council agreed to wait for a software solution before adopting an official penny‑rounding policy, and the matter was tabled until the next meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Trevor Strauch said the Council can hold a special meeting if the issue requires action before then.

The post Town of Medicine Bow Discusses Rounding Utility Payments first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |

Photo – Town of Saratoga town hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

Despite objections from residents, the Saratoga Town Council has agreed to purchase industrial land for a new public works shop.

During the December 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner proposed moving his department out of the deteriorating and outdated former water treatment plant and police station on South River Street. Penner recommended buying a 12‑lot parcel at North State and East Rochester Streets, already zoned for light industrial and suitable for a new public works shop and material staging area. The site is owned by Danny McGuire, of Dan’s Trucking.

The Saratoga Town Council held a public hearing on the proposed land purchase before its regular meeting on January 21st. Opinions were divided, with some residents opposed to the deal because the town could be taking valuable industrial property off the market, land that could be used for future development. At least one meeting attendee supported the plan, saying that moving the public works department would improve the appearance of the river. After hearing from the public, the Town Council chose to hold another meeting before making a decision.

A second hearing was held on February 4th, where S‑E‑R Conservation District member Scott Kerbs raised the issue of taking private property off the tax rolls. Instead, Kerbs suggested using land the town already owns at Shively Field for a new public works shop.

Kerbs also recommended selling town‑owned properties to encourage additional development and growth. With no further comments, the governing body closed the public hearing and began its regular meeting. Later, Public Works Director Emery Penner said he agreed the town owns too much property and should begin selling some of those parcels.

Even if the Council chooses not to buy the proposed land, Penner said the town should sell some of its holdings to return those properties to the tax rolls. The public works director described 17 parcels of town-owned land that he would like to sell.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst addressed the recommendation to relocate the public works department to the northern portion of Shively Field. He said residents have already raised concerns about the debris pile west of Saratoga Middle High School. Additionally, Councilman Barkhurst said the shop and material staging area could interfere with future airport expansion.

Public Works Director Penner said he can’t guarantee that either location, the lots on the north side of town or Shively Field, is the best option. However, after careful consideration, Penner said the North State and East Rochester Streets property is the strongest choice for a future public works shop.

Penner added that whether the Council decides to purchase the industrial property or not, the public works department will need to be moved at some point.

Mayor Chuck Davis agreed that relocating the shop to Shively Field may impede development. Councilman Mike Cooley noted that water and sewer utilities would need to be extended to the corner of Shively Field, while the north‑side property is already connected to municipal services. Councilman Cory Oxford added that the industrial property is centrally located within an existing trucking route, making it easier for public works crews to move heavy equipment to and from the site. Mayor Davis said in his opinion, Shively Field is not the best location for the public works department.

At the January 21st public hearing, former council member Jon Nelson suggested relocating all town services, including town hall, the police station, and the department of public works, to Shively Field in the future. Speaking at the February 4th meeting, Councilman Mike Cooley said those buildings should remain at their current location.

The Saratoga Town Council voted to offer Danny McGuire $800,000 for the 12‑lot parcel at North State and East Rochester Streets. Additionally, the governing body authorized Public Works Director Penner to obtain appraisals for 17 town‑owned properties.

The post Town of Saratoga to Make Offer on Industrial Property first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |

Photo – Carbon County Land Use Plan – Courtesy Carbon County Commissioners

Despite issuing more building permits than the previous year, the county collected less revenue from permit fees.

During the February 3rd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Planning and Development Coordinator Kristy Rowan provided her annual report. Rowan explained that while her department issued 21 more building permits in 2025, the county still saw a $45,660.20 decrease in revenue compared to 2024.

Planning and Development Coordinator Rowan said the drop in building‑permit revenue stemmed from reduced income tied to transmission line projects, wind turbine generators, substation supply and demand changes, inflation, and possibly a recession.

Rowan said the 119 building permits brought the county’s valuation to $28.1 million. Previous reports show the total is down from $45.5 million in 2024. However, 55 new county rural addresses were created in 2025, compared to 27 the previous year.

Rowan reported that work on the Carbon County Land Use Plan, which identifies where specific types of development should occur in the county, has stalled. In 2023, the county began working with Y2 Consultants to update the land use plan. The planning and development coordinator said the Cheyenne-based engineering firm has not had anything to report since August of last year.

Rowan said Carbon County received $1.5 million in wind energy tax revenue in 2025, an increase of roughly $650,000 from the previous year. Commissioner Sue Jones explained that the change reflects large‑scale wind projects, including Ecola and TB Flats, coming off their three‑year tax exemption. Commissioner Jones said the wind tax is shared between the state and counties, with counties receiving the larger portion.

Commissioner Jones said the wind energy tax goes into the county’s general budget, where it helps cover road maintenance and emergency response services for the wind farms.

Planning and Development Coordinator Rowan said Planning Commission Vice Chairman Jay Grabow retired in October. Grabow served on the commission for many years, helping review land‑use applications and advise the county on zoning and development matters. Rowan said the county appointed Richard Wilson as his replacement, along with several other Planning Commission members, in 2025.

Rowan thanked Treasurer Lindsey West for helping her prepare the annual report. The Board of Commissioners commended Rowan for her detailed report and concise presentation. A copy of the 2025 Carbon County Planning and Zoning Annual Report can be found on the county’s official website.

The post Planning and Development Coordinator Gives Annual Report to Commissioners first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |

Photo – Governor Mark Gordon – Courtesy State of Wyoming

The four-week session of the Wyoming Legislature opened on Monday with Governor Mark Gordon’s State of the State address.

Among the Governor’s key points, he asked lawmakers to restore $250 million into permanent state savings. Lawmakers cut that amount in the run-up to the session. The governor recalled how the fund, created in 1975, continues to be cornerstone of the state’s financial security.

Lawmakers, noticeably did not applaud the governor’s appeal.

The governor then steered into two hot button issues. The first was the looming battle with downstream users on the Colorado River, where the political currents are turning swift and rapid against upstream states such as Wyoming.

The governor then called for increased funding for the state engineer’s office, including adding two natural resource attorneys to the office.

Governor Gordon then turned to another vexing issue—abortion.

The standing-ovation from lawmakers lasted a full 30-seconds with Democrat lawmakers refusing to applaud.

The 2026 Budget session of the Wyoming Legislature then got into full swing with floor sessions in both the House and Senate. The session is scheduled to go until Friday, March 6 with any veto overrides scheduled for Wednesday, March 11.

The post Wyoming Legislature Opens for Four-Week Session first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, February 9, 2026 |

Photo – City of Rawlins crew works on a water line – Courtesy City of Rawlins

To continue repairing the city’s water infrastructure, Rawlins officials say water rates can’t be lowered, even for senior citizens.

During the February 3rd Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Derek Elliot opened a discussion about lowering the city’s water rates. Councilman Elliot said water rates increased by 50 percent in 2024, adding financial pressure on low‑income residents. When water service is shut off for nonpayment, an extra fee is required to turn it back on. Councilman Elliot said the city must reduce the rates to ensure all residents have access to water.

Rawlins’ residents rely on a century‑old water system to bring clean water from the Sage Creek Springs, south of the city, to the water treatment plant. Until recently, much of the transmission line connecting the two points was made of wood stave pipe. Before 2022, the City of Rawlins hadn’t raised water rates in seven years, even as inflation steadily increased. A 15 percent increase in 2022 wasn’t enough to stabilize accounts, and by 2023, the city’s water enterprise fund was nearly depleted, preventing any substantial water‑infrastructure repair projects. In 2024, the City Council voted for another 50 percent increase to the overall utility bill, including sewer and water.

Councilman Elliot said high water bills can lead to service shutoffs, foreclosures, and families being unable to pay for food or healthcare. The Ward One representative shared an example of a southside resident who couldn’t afford both groceries and her water bill. Elliot said residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the increased water rates.

Despite the higher fees, Councilman Elliot said his constituents report seeing no progress on water‑infrastructure repairs. Instead of replacing failing sections of the lines, the councilman said public works crews only respond to breaks, which results in greater costs to the city.

Councilman Elliot pointed to the January 10th high‑pressure line break near Exit 211 on Interstate 80 as an example of the city falling behind on maintenance. In that case, crews replaced roughly 60 feet of pipe at a cost of $21,000.

Additionally, Councilman Elliot recommended creating a program to prevent senior citizens from having their water disconnected for nonpayment. The councilman asked the governing body to relieve people from the higher water rates, especially seniors and disabled residents.

Under the new rates, the city’s water enterprise fund increased from less than $500,000 in 2023 to $3.8 million by the end of fiscal year 2025. Councilman Elliot asked if the money was being used for its intended purpose, repairing the city’s water lines. City Manager Matt Hall said the enterprise funds have been used to match the $2.835 million Wyoming Water Development Commission grant for cathodic protection repairs on the transmission line and to repay old loans.

City Manager Hall said the city is currently using the enterprise funding for two water‑transmission‑line projects, repairing cathodic protection, which prevents the pipes from deteriorating, and replacing valves, with both projects expected to begin this summer. Mayor Jacquelin Wells added that the city replaced 10,000 feet of transmission line several years ago.

Councilman Steve Sanger explained that all water projects must be paid through the water enterprise fund. Under Wyoming law, enterprise funds must be run like a business, bringing in as much money through fees as they spend on services. In addition, Councilman Sanger said reducing the water rate would prevent the city from applying for loans, including those through the United States Department of Agriculture. To qualify for a USDA loan, water rates must equal a set percentage of residents’ income. Councilman Sanger said that even at the current rate, the city is unable to secure a USDA loan for water projects.

In 2024, the Wyoming Water Development Office created a water master plan for Rawlins. The document listed four priority one projects that should be addressed as soon as possible: revitalizing the Sage Creek Springs, repairing blow-off valves on the transmission line from the springs to the water treatment plant, addressing the high-pressure line running beneath Interstate 80, and replacing the city’s two treated water storage tanks. The state agency estimated that repairs will cost $50 million.

At the February 3rd meeting, Councilman Steve Sanger said lowering the water rates will take away the city’s ability to apply for grants and loans. Councilman Sanger added that the current situation was not created by the sitting City Council. Instead, decades of unchanged water rates have left the city unable to keep pace with inflation. Because of that prolonged underfunding, Mayor Wells said the city lacks the resources to properly maintain its aging water system.

As a Public Health regional nurse supervisor, Mayor Wells said she understands, better than most, the challenges senior citizens are facing. However, the mayor said creating an ordinance specifically to help seniors with their water bills is against the law.

Councilman Terry Patterson and Public Works Director Cody Dill said laws are already in place that prevent the city from shutting off residents’ water during the winter.

Continuing, Mayor Wells said Rawlins isn’t alone in its water problems. Municipalities across Wyoming are seeking help from Cheyenne to address their aging water systems.

The mayor said she understands the financial impact the water‑rate increase has had on residents. However, she said the fees must be paid in order to have reliable access to clean drinking water.

Mayor Wells said she wanted the public to understand that the city can’t make any repairs to its water system without funding.

Vice Mayor Darril Garner said months of meetings were held before the Council agreed to the rate increase, adding that the city is following the recommendations set forth in the 2024 water master plan. Vice Mayor Garner said that lowering the water rates would leave the city unable to carry out any of the needed repairs to its water system.

City Manager Matt Hall said he will meet with elected officials and department heads in the spring to discuss the state of the water enterprise fund and determine which projects the city should tackle next. In the meantime, residents can visit rawlinswater.org for up‑to‑date information about the city’s water system.

The post Rawlins’ Council Member Concerned About Water Rates first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, February 9, 2026 |

Photo – Penny – Bigfoot99 file photo

State lawmakers are looking to set formal rules for cash transactions while towns debate how to handle pennies.

Last Thursday, Teton County Democrat Mike Yin introduced House Bill 0071. The measure, titled No more pennies: rounding cash payments, would set specific guidelines for handling cash transactions when pennies are unavailable. Under the proposal, totals ending in one, two, six, or seven cents would be rounded down to the nearest nickel. For example, a $1.07 purchase would be rounded to $1.05. Totals ending in three, four, eight, or nine cents would be rounded up to the nearest nickel. Finally, if the amount is exactly one or two cents, the total would be rounded up to five cents.

The bill states that rounding is to be done only after all applicable sales and use taxes have been calculated, ensuring the full tax amount is collected. Credit, debit, check, and exact‑change cash payments would not be rounded. Vendors that accept cash payments must also display a sign in their place of business indicating that payments made without exact change will be subject to rounding.

For comparison, nickels are even more expensive to produce, with each coin requiring nearly 14 cents to manufacture. In 2024, the U.S. Mint lost more than $100 million on nickel production. Dimes, on the other hand, cost less than their face value to make, at roughly 6 cents each.

As pennies become scarcer, and with no official guidance from state lawmakers, Wyoming businesses have had to develop their own approaches to handling cash transactions. At the January 12th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, Mayor Justin George, owner of J B’s Stop‑N‑Shop, said he has had to create his own strategy to deal with the lack of pennies.

Mayor George added that the local bank will no longer provide boxes of pennies for his business.

Private businesses aren’t the only entities forced to improvise how they handle pennies. Municipalities also accept cash for utility payments. The Town of Medicine Bow considered adopting an official penny policy during its January 12th meeting. Under the proposal, change from cash utility payments would be rounded to the nearest nickel. Other payment methods would not be affected.

Councilman Lee Cook asked if the town is legally permitted to lose money. Public Works Director Brian Lashley said businesses are prepared to absorb a few cents on certain transactions. Councilman Cook asked if the town, as a government entity, can do the same.

Uncertain about the legality of rounding pennies for municipal utility payments, the Medicine Bow Town Council voted to table the issue until the town attorney can review the question. That uncertainty is what Representative Yin’s bill is designed to address.

House Bill 0071 has received bipartisan support, with Republican Representatives Lloyd Larsen, J.T. Larson, Robert Wharff, and JD Williams joining Senators Brian Boner and Bill Landen as cosponsors. Should the measure pass as written, the state’s official penny rounding policy is scheduled to take effect on July 1st.

The post Introduction of House Bill Addresses Penny Rounding first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, February 6, 2026 |

Photo – Example of cure – in – place epoxy – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

Work on Saratoga’s sewer improvement project will stop for the winter.

Last March, the Saratoga Public Works Department and Engineering Associates drafted plans to use 6th Penny Specific Purpose Tax funding to modernize sewer lines on the west side of town. Known as the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project, the plan called for using cured‑in‑place epoxy lining to repair roughly 7,000 feet of deteriorating pipe. Lines deemed beyond repair will be excavated and replaced with new synthetic sewer pipes.

Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel of Cheyenne was selected to perform the West Bench Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project for a total cost of $2,025,666. Work began late last August, with an anticipated completion date of February 17th.

The contractor was expected to suspend work in December due to winter conditions, but warmer‑than‑average temperatures and a lack of snow have allowed crews to remain on site until now.

During Wednesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner presented a letter from Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel requesting a winter shutdown. Penner explained that the contractor encountered a heavy frost layer while digging and has asked to return in the spring. The public works director said he supports the temporary shutdown because work has been advancing faster than anticipated.

The letter from Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel states that, due to current winter weather and increasing ground frost, continuing work has become impractical and could damage equipment.

Submitted on January 23rd, the letter requested authorization to halt work for the winter effective that same day. The contractor wrote that operations would resume once conditions improve and frost levels recede enough to allow safe and productive construction.

Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel did not specify when work might restart, noting only that the company will remain in contact with the town regarding a potential return date.

At Wednesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner said the shutdown will inevitably affect the project’s completion date, though he still supports the seasonal stoppage. The governing body unanimously voted to allow Rocky Mountain Sand and Gravel to leave the job unfinished until spring weather allows digging to resume. At that point, a new completion date will be discussed.

The post Saratoga’s Sewer Improvement Project Halted for Winter first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, February 6, 2026 |

Photo – CCSO logo – Bigfoot99 file photo

County officials authorized $109,000 to purchase new Tasers for the sheriff’s office.

During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken requested permission to buy 20 Axon‑brand Tasers. Sheriff Bakken said the new equipment will replace his inventory of aging and broken units.

Sheriff Bakken said the purchase was included in his annual budget request. When he asked to buy the devices earlier in the year, the Board told him to check back halfway through the fiscal year, in January. The sheriff said that when he first sought approval in June, the quote was $106,692; adjusted for six months of inflation, the cost is now $109,188. The purchase includes everything deputies need to become and remain Taser‑certified, and Axon will provide replacement cartridges.

According to Axon, the Taser 10 fires 10 electrified probes. Any two can form a circuit. If more than two make contact with the suspect, the device automatically uses up to four of the strongest connections to produce neuromuscular incapacitation.

As well as the Tasers, Sheriff Bakken said the purchase will give him access to Evidence.com, Axon’s cloud‑based management platform. The sheriff said information stored on the site will allow him to track when and how long a Taser was activated.

Sheriff Bakken said the total cost can be spread over five years at $21,877.60 annually. The Board of Commissioners agreed that the new Tasers were needed for officer safety but debated whether to pay the $109,188 in full or finance the purchase. Commissioner John Espy said additional property‑tax relief bills may make buying the equipment outright the wiser choice.

Sheriff Bakken said Axon offers many different Taser packages across a wide range of prices. The sheriff said he chose the lowest‑priced items that still met his department’s needs.

When asked if he received quotes from other suppliers, Sheriff Bakken said Axon is effectively the only Taser provider on the market. Consequently, the Board would need to waive its policy requiring multiple quotes and the selection of the lowest bidder.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners unanimously voted to buy 20 new Axon Tasers and training equipment for a one‑time cost of $109,188. Since Axon is the sole vendor, the Board also waived its standard procurement policy.

The post Sheriff’s Office Will Purchase New Tasers for Deputies first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, February 6, 2026 |

Photo – Two dogs available for adoption – Courtesy Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter

Pets at the Rawlins animal shelter are hoping for a place to call home.

The Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter is currently home to two cats and nine dogs, including seven enrolled in the Cage to Save Program, where Wyoming State Penitentiary inmates spend nine weeks training the dogs in obedience and basic manners. The program is expected to graduate its 100th dog this April.

The animal shelter is run by Rawlins Police Lieutenant Daria Hooper. Lieutenant Hooper thanked Pet Partners of Carbon County, a local stray and feral cat rescue, for helping keep the shelter’s cat numbers down.

Each month, Bigfoot99 works with the Rochelle Animal Shelter to highlight a few animals ready for adoption. This month, Lieutenant Hooper asked to feature Batman, an older tan‑colored shepherd‑terrier mix. The police lieutenant said that despite his age, Batman will make a great companion but must be the only pet in the home.

Lieutenant Hooper also asked to spotlight Versace, a nine‑year‑old graduate of the Cage to Save Program. Like Batman, she said Versace should be the only pet in the home.

Lieutenant Hooper said their need to be only pets has made it difficult to find permanent homes for Batman and Versace. Even so, she said both older dogs will make great companions.

Lieutenant Hooper also wanted to mention Denver, a younger black cat. The police lieutenant said Denver is skittish, but likely to grow more comfortable in the right home.

The Rawlins shelter is in need of pet supplies and bedding for animals in its care. Lieutenant Hooper said monetary donations help cover unexpected medical expenses.

To meet an animal, volunteer, or drop off donations, visit the Rawlins Rochelle Animal Shelter at 2711 East Murray Street during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., or call 328‑4534 to schedule an appointment. All adoptable animals are posted on the shelter’s Facebook page and on Petfinder.com. Adoption fees are $35 for cats and $50 for dogs.

The post Animal Shelter Features Two Older Dogs for Adoption first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.