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Wednesday, JANUARY 7, 2026 |

Photo – Map of area around planned natural gas power plant – Courtesy Carbon County Economic Development

Power Company of Wyoming representatives updated Carbon County officials Tuesday on the status of a planned natural gas power plant.

In April, Anschutz Corporation, a Colorado‑based energy investment company, proposed building a 2,000‑megawatt natural gas power plant south of Sinclair. Anschutz, through its wholly owned subsidiary Power Company of Wyoming, is looking to supplement electricity generation from the nearby 3,000‑megawatt Chokecherry Sierra Madre wind project to meet rising energy needs, including demand from news data centers that are planned to be built across the state.

Representatives from Power Company of Wyoming were present at yesterday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting to brief county officials on the status of the project. Power Company of Wyoming President and Chief Executive Officer Roxane Perruso explained that the power plant project originally began development eight years ago. However, due to decreased demand, the project was shelved. Perruso said that energy use has increased and the company revisited the idea.

Power Company of Wyoming is also spearheading the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project and the TransWest Express transmission line.

Executive Vice President of Engineering and Construction Ryan Jacobson said the proposed Seminoe Generating Station would sit on roughly 70 acres of private land owned by the Overland Trail Ranch. The facility would be located south of Rawlins and Sinclair and near the Chokecherry Sierra Madre wind farm. Referring to a provided map, Jacobsen said the site was selected to give the facility direct access to natural gas and electrical transmission lines.

Additionally, the location complies with the county’s zoning maps, and the nearby Grenville Dome will shield the facility from view. Jacobsen added that the site can be accessed by an existing roadway constructed to reach the Chokecherry Sierra Madre wind farm, which is under construction.

Executive Vice President of Land, Environment, and Operations Kelly Cummins said the proposed Seminoe Generating Station is intended to complement the nearby wind energy project. Cummins said the two facilities will provide a steady supply of electricity.

Cummins said any excess energy generated from the two projects could be sold to regional utilities, attracting additional development in the area.

Power Company of Wyoming Technical Design Manager Amy Groseclose said the Seminoe Generation Station will use 12 simple-cycle natural gas turbines and three combined-cycle turbines. Working together, the turbines will allow the facility to use waste heat to generate more electricity.

Groseclose said the operation will provide steady power and respond to changing demand. The 12 simple‑cycle turbines will allow the facility to adjust more quickly to shifting wind conditions and load.

Groseclose said the Seminoe Generating Station will also use advanced dry‑cooling technology, rather than water, to remove waste heat from the system, cutting the facility’s water use by 95 percent. Additionally, selective catalytic reduction will lower nitrogen oxide production by 90 percent, ensuring the powerplant complies with all ambient air quality standards.

Vice President of Communications and Government Relations Kara Choquette said the project will cost over $1 billion dollars and generate substantial property and sales tax revenue.

Choquette said the project is expected to create 350 new construction jobs, separate from the Chokecherry Sierra Madre and TransWest projects, along with 30 permanent operations jobs. However, she noted that the tax and employment estimates may change as the project makes its way through the industrial siting process.

Commissioner John Johnson said he approved of the project but asked where the facility will take in water.

Executive Vice President of Land, Environment, and Operations Kelly Cummins said the Power Company of Wyoming will rely on the Overland Trail Ranch’s existing water rights, with the option of using Rawlins municipal water when available.

Technical Design Manager Amy Groseclose added that the facility is expected to consume approximately 320 acre‑feet of water, or roughly 104 million gallons annually.

As a rancher, Commissioner Johnson explained that water rights are very important to him, adding that he personally opposes the sale of water rights. However, the commissioner said the Overland Trail Ranch owners are within their rights to sell.

The initial start-up of the Seminoe Generating Station is expected to begin in 2028, with operations ramping up over time until the facility reaches its peak output of 2,000 megawatts. The final completion date will depend on the TransWest Express transmission line.

The Power Company of Wyoming representatives jokingly mentioned changing the name of the power plant to avoid confusion with the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project.

The post Planned Power Plant Officials Update County Commissioners on Project first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, JANUARY 6, 2026 |

Photo – Beaver Creek Bridge – Courtesy Carbon County Road and Bridge

Weight limits have been reduced on two deteriorating bridges in Carbon County.

During the December 16th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz announced that the County Road 203 bridge over the North Platte River has had its maximum weight limit reduced by 36 percent. Fritz said county plow crews can no longer use the bridge to reach the area south of Brush Creek Ranch, forcing them to take a much longer route.

Fritz said she notified Carbon County School District Two that plow crews will be delayed in clearing the nearby school bus route.

Next, the Road and Bridge Superintendent reported that the maximum weight limit on the County Road Three bridge in Elk Mountain has also been reduced, this time by nearly half.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked if the County Road Three bridge was slated for replacement through the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Bridge Replacement Off System program, or BROS. Fritz replied that the County Road 203 bridge is next in line, with a bridge at Baggot Rocks to follow. County Road Three may be third on the list, she said, but the first project is still at least two years out.

WYDOT’s BROS program uses state and federal funding to replace or repair bridges owned by counties, towns, or tribal governments rather than the state itself. Local governments are required to contribute 9.51 percent of the total project cost.

Speaking to Vice Chair Bartlett, Fritz said work on the County Road Three bridge is unlikely to begin before 2032.

Commissioner John Johnson, who owns a ranch on County Road Three, said large oil tankers should no longer cross the deteriorating bridge, although he believes they will continue to do so. Fritz said she will not have her road maintenance crews use the affected bridges.

Emergency Manager Lenny Layman asked if the weight reductions applied to emergency vehicles. If so, Layman directed the Road and Bridge Superintendent to notify the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office so the information could be distributed to the appropriate emergency responders.

Fritz responded that the appropriate entities, including the Sheriff’s Office and Carbon County Fire Protection District, were already aware of the weight-limit reductions. Fritz added that the restrictions do not apply to emergency vehicles.

In the meantime, both county-owned bridges will remain under the lowered weight limits until they are addressed through WYDOT’s BROS program.

The post Two County Bridges Have Reduced Weight Limits first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, JANUARY 6, 2026 |

Photo – Rawlins Water Treatment Facility – Bigfoot99 file photo

The City of Rawlins will join a nationwide lawsuit against manufacturers of so‑called forever chemicals.

During the December 16th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells introduced an agenda item to authorize Interim City Manager Matt Hall to execute a legal services agreement with the New Orleans law firm Stag Liuzza, LLC. City Attorney Pinita Maberry‑Nave explained that Stag Liuzza is pursuing litigation against manufacturers of alleged hazardous chemicals, including polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, and aqueous film‑forming foam, known as AFFF.

PFAS are synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s to make products more resistant to water, grease, and stains. The chemicals have been used in a wide variety of items, including clothing, packaging, plastics, and firefighting foam. Often called “forever chemicals,” PFAS don’t break down easily in the environment or the human body. Extended exposure has been linked to high cholesterol, weakened immune system response, and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer.

Aqueous film‑forming foam is a specialized PFAS‑containing firefighting chemical used to put out gasoline, jet fuel, and other flammable liquid fires.

Stag Liuzza is one of dozens of law firms pursuing litigation against 3M, DuPont, BASF, and other chemical manufacturers. Billions of dollars from national PFAS settlements have already been set aside to help public water systems test for and remove these chemicals.

Back at the December 16th meeting, City Attorney Maberry‑Nave said the drinking water in Rawlins is, thankfully, free of forever chemicals. However, joining the nationwide lawsuit may help the city pay for cleanup costs at likely contaminated sites, including the municipal landfill.

The Environmental Protection Agency requires all public water systems to test their drinking water for PFAS over the next two years. The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality has set aside money to help towns pay for the federally mandated testing, which can cost between $300 and $600 per sample.

Attorney Maberry‑Nave explained to the Rawlins City Council that the PFAS lawsuit is unrelated to the EPA testing.

The Rawlins City Council unanimously authorized Interim City Manager Matt Hall to contract with Stag Liuzza on the PFAS lawsuit. Participation in the ongoing litigation will enable the city to seek settlement funds for testing and remediation related to forever chemicals.

The post Rawlins to Join Lawsuit Against Chemical Companies first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, JANUARY 5, 2026 |

Photo – Reverend Fitzhugh presents a check to Tink Day – Courtesy Tink Day

The Salvation Army of Carbon County reported a record‑breaking season of donations.

From November 15th through December 24th, Salvation Army of Carbon County bell ringers collected more than $20,000. Local Salvation Army leader Tink Day said the volunteer bell ringers brought in more than $17,500 in cash donations. Additionally, Saint Thomas Episcopal Church contributed another $2,500 through its Love Thy Neighbor grant program.

Day said the 2025 bell‑ringing season saw the highest number of donations in the Salvation Army of Carbon County’s history, surpassing the previous record of $15,076 set in 2022.

In 2023, citing a need for time off, Day stepped away from the Salvation Army. At that time, WYO Help, a statewide charity, took over management of the organization. However, the group was unable to fulfill its commitment to Carbon County and ended its involvement with the Salvation Army in December of 2024, which meant no money was collected that year.

Day returned to lead the local Salvation Army branch in May.

At the time she spoke with Bigfoot99, Day had not yet calculated the total number of volunteers who helped collect donations this season, though the number is likely higher than 40. The Rawlins High School boys’ soccer team also took part, playing music for passersby. Day said the soccer players were curious to see how effective their approach had been.

The soccer team not only played music during their shift as bell‑ringers but also had a special way of celebrating each donation.

Bell‑ringing also counts as community service, allowing students to include the hours on their college applications.

Day said 90 percent of all donations stay in Carbon County, helping residents with their rent and utility bills. With a $200 limit per family, Day said she expects the donation money to go fast.

The end of the holiday season doesn’t mean donations to the Salvation Army of Carbon County have to stop. Contributions can still be mailed to P.O. Box 301, Rawlins 82301, or given directly to Day.

For help with a utility bill or rent payment, call Saint Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County at 321‑6688. Day will be notified and arrange a meeting in Rawlins.

The post Salvation Army Rings In Record Breaking Donations first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

January 5, 2026 |

Wyoming’s top leaders announced their broad support over the weekend for the U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

The Army’s elite Delta Force stormed Maduro’s home in Caracas, taking the former union boss, his wife and others into custody.

President Donald Trump described the operation.

U.S. Senator John Barrasso, who is on record describing former U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision during his term to turn to Venezuela for oil rather than develop domestic supplies as  “reckless.” Barrasso described Maduro as “a dictator,” adding,  “Venezuela, America, and the world are safer with this dangerous dictator removed from power.”

Senator Cynthia Lummis echoed the message in a statement on social media, “This corrupt dictator ran a narco-terrorist operation that poisoned American communities for years while oppressing the Venezuelan people.”

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon also addressed the weekend strike on social media, saying that Maduro was a corrupt and undemocratic leader and his regime “was not a product of free and fair elections recognized by democratic standards.”

Wyoming’s governor added, “The Venezuelan people have suffered under his repression and corruption for years. They now have a chance to be free.”

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife during the operation and flew them out of the country. Trump later told Fox News that Maduro was detained by U.S. special operations forces and transported by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship in the Caribbean, before being transferred to New York.

U.S. officials said the strikes followed accusations that Maduro was running a “narco-state” and had rigged Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election. Maduro, 63, a former bus driver who succeeded Hugo Chávez in 2013, has long denied those allegations, claiming the United States was seeking control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth summed it up this way.

Critics, mostly Democrats, note that Congress did not authorize the attack. Hollywood celebrities also denounced the raid on Ortega at his well-guarded confines inside a military command center. Ortega was seen on camera after arriving in New York  wearing handcuffs while being walked before cameras.

In the video, the ousted dictator can be heard saying “Good Night, Happy New Year,” to the federal agents surrounding him.

Ortega will be in court later Monday to address a variety of criminal charges.

The post Venezuela President Captured first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, JANUARY 5, 2026 |

Photo – Sinclair’s new bus with representatives from donating organizations – Courtesy Monte Thayer

Supported by multiple grants and a contribution from the town, Sinclair now has a new public transit bus.

On December 30th, Sinclair Community Events Director Monte Thayer announced the purchase of a new 14 passenger shuttle bus. Speaking to Bigfoot99, Thayer said the town’s previous transport van, a 2000‑era Ford Econoline, was dirty and unsafe.

Thayer said his goal for the past three years was to purchase a new shuttle bus, one that was fully handicap accessible and equipped with a wheelchair lift. The community events director said he secured $35,000 from state and local organizations, including HF Sinclair and the Wyoming Community Foundation, to help finance the project.

With the grant money in hand, Thayer said the Sinclair Town Council committed to funding the rest of the project. After receiving a $116,492 quote from Model 1 Commercial Vehicles in Indiana, the town paid the remaining $81,000.

Thayer said Model 1 Commercial Vehicles already had a fully assembled shuttle bus that met the town’s specifications, with safety handrails, room for wheelchair users, and a gasoline powered engine.

The vehicle was almost immediately put into service, with Thayer taking local students to a trampoline park in Cheyenne. The community events director said the kids enjoyed the new bus.

Thayer said he plans to place decals on the shuttle bus recognizing the town and the organizations that contributed to the purchase.

The community events director thanked Mayor Cullen Meeks and the Sinclair Town Council for approving the project.

The post Town of Sinclair Receives New Public Transit Bus first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, JANUARY 5, 2026 |

Photo – Old Saratoga Water Treatment Plant – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga is in talks to purchase land to relocate the public works department garage.

During the December 17th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner outlined a proposal to move his department out of the former water treatment plant and adjacent garage on South River Street. Penner said the existing buildings are dangerous and outdated.

Penner explained that a suitable property has been difficult to locate, adding that the River Street site could be put to better use.

Built in 1935, Saratoga’s water treatment plant became obsolete in 2003. Since that time, the facility has been dormant, used mainly for storage. In 2023, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairwoman McCall Burau suggested having the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality conduct a brownfields assessment to determine if the site contains any harmful materials, such as asbestos or toxic chemicals. Burau said the defunct water treatment plant sits on valuable waterfront property that could be sold or turned into a shared community space.

After being assured that the town would not be required to clean the site if extensive contamination was found, the governing body agreed to contact Wyoming DEQ. No recent updates on the project have been announced.

At the December 17th meeting, Public Works Director Penner proposed buying a 12‑lot parcel of land on the corner of North State and East Rochester Streets, a property held by Dan’s Trucking owner Danny McGuire. The public works director said the site on the east side of town would meet his department’s current and future requirements.

Penner added that the McGuire property is out of the flood plain.

If the purchase is approved, the public works director said the Town Council could either buy the property outright with cash or secure funding through the United States Department of Agriculture. Penner recommended applying for a USDA loan.

To help fund the project, Penner suggested putting select town‑owned properties up for sale, specifically two parcels on Bridge Avenue. Penner said the Town Council should consider selling those parcels regardless of whether the purchase moves forward.

Penner said the two properties are set up for development, with utilities and infrastructure already in place. However, the two parcels are not properly zoned for the public works department’s needs.

Mayor Chuck Davis agreed that the town has no property suitable for relocating the public works department garage and voiced his support for the purchase. Councilman Bub Barkhurst also backed the plan but said the town must secure an appraisal and site study before moving forward with the contract.

Public Works Director Penner said he will ensure the agreement contains the required stipulations, adding that Wyoming DEQ has agreed to perform a site assessment at no cost to the town. If the state agency takes too long, Penner said he has contacted private firms to conduct the studies.

Penner said the site assessment is a non-negotiable part of the process.

The Town Council voted to allow Penner to continue investigating the land purchase. In the meantime, the Saratoga Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the matter at 6:00 p.m. on January 21st at the Saratoga Town Hall.

The post Town of Saratoga Discusses Purchase of Property on East Side first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, DECEMBER 23, 2025 |

Photo – Carbon County Comet logo – Courtesy Carbon County Comet

Carbon County officials have delayed selecting an official publication for legal notices in 2026.

Wyoming state law 18-3-519 requires that all government legal notices be published in a newspaper that has printed at least one edition every week for a year and has a minimum circulation of five hundred paid customers.

This year, three newspapers submitted bids to become the official publication of Carbon County for 2026: The Rawlins Times, The Saratoga Sun, and The Carbon County Comet, which held the role in 2025 despite some controversy with the selection.

After the Comet was selected as the county’s official publication last year, the Saratoga Sun filed a lawsuit against the County Commissioners and the Comet, alleging that the rival newspaper did not meet the statutory definition to publish legal notices.

At the time, Saratoga Sun Operations Director Joshua Wood argued that the United States Postal Service requires an official publication to deliver at least half of its copies to subscribers.

Considering that most copies of the Comet are found for free around the county, Wood said the publication did not meet the legal requirements to become Carbon County’s official newspaper.

The legal battle continued until this October, when a judge dismissed the case. The Platte Valley‑based newspaper not only lost the court case. It also lost an advertiser.  Because of the lawsuit, the Carbon County Republican Party announced that it would no longer use or remit any funds to, the Saratoga Sun.

The process for this year’s official publication selection process appears to be less contentious. The same three newspapers submitted bids to carry the county’s legal notices in 2026. The Board of Carbon County Commissioners opened their sealed bids during the December 16th meeting. All three publications were asked the same questions, such as price for different types of advertisements, number of subscribers, and how Carbon County focused they are. Commission Chairman Travis Moore read the submissions in the same order they were opened, the Carbon County Comet was first.

Comet subscriptions are broken down into 681 individuals and 21 commercial, or business subscribers. The newspaper is published on Saturdays, with all advertisements due by noon on Tuesday before publication.

The newspaper was asked what percentage of stories from the previous year were focused on Carbon County. The publication reported that the figure was 61 percent. Each bidder was asked to detail how many stories were about specific areas of the county. Chairman Moore read the Comet’s response.

In its official bid documents, the Comet reported having two staff reporters living in Carbon County, both assigned to cover the area, and said it would extend the contract for another year at the Board of Commissioners’ discretion.

Next, Chairman Moore read the bid submission from the Rawlins Times.

Rawlins Times subscriptions include 461 individual accounts and 74 vendor copies, with no commercial subscribers. Publication dates are set for Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Like the Comet, the Rawlins Times was asked what percentage of its 2025 coverage focused on Carbon County. The newspaper responded that it prints two county‑specific stories per week, one in each edition. Chairman Moore then read the Times’ breakdown of how many stories were published about each area of the county.

The Rawlins Times reported having three staff members living in Carbon County. However, none of them are assigned to cover the county specifically.

The Rawlins Times also indicated it was open to extending the contract for another year if selected as the county’s legal publication.

Finally, Chairman Moore read the bid submission from the Saratoga Sun.

The Saratoga Sun reported 529 individual subscriptions, 251 vendor copies, and no commercial accounts, with a Thursday publication date and a deadline of noon the preceding Monday.

Chairman Moore said the portion of the bid document detailing the percentage of Carbon County–specific stories had not been completed. However, when asked what type of articles it publishes, the Saratoga Sun responded that every staff-written story is about Carbon County.

The Saratoga Sun reported that all its staff reporters live in Carbon County and cover the county exclusively but did not provide the number of employees. Like the other two bidders, the Saratoga Sun indicated that, if selected, it was open to extending its contract with the county for another year.

Chairman Moore added that the Saratoga Sun’s bid was neither signed nor dated.

When asked for her input on the matter, Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett said she would like more time to review the bid submissions. Commissioner John Espy concurred and said he needed a breakdown of the type of advertisements the county places each year to ensure both the county and residents are getting the most for their money.

Commissioners Sue Jones and John Johnson agreed that more time was needed. The decision was postponed until the January 6th meeting of the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. In the meantime, County Clerk Lisa Smith will compile the information the Board requested.

The post Commissioners to Choose Official Publication for Legal Notices first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, DECEMBER 22, 2025 |

Photo – Saratoga Town Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Town of Saratoga has greenlit a new communications tower at town hall.

As reported by Bigfoot99, Saratoga officials have been negotiating with Mountain West Technologies on a plan to build a new communications tower at town hall. The existing antenna is decades old, possibly as much as 70 years, and Mountain West recommended replacing it with a completely new structure.

Speaking at the December 3rd Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mountain West Technologies Chief of Operations Lesha Thorvaldson explained that the company will build the structure if the town agrees to pay for the materials.

Mountain West presented the Town Council with two tower designs: a guyed anchor system that would attach to points around town hall, and a non‑guyed version that would rely on a large concrete base for support. The Mountain West representatives recommended the free‑standing tower, which at $38,856.89 would cost roughly $5,500 less than the guyed anchor option.

The Town Council agreed to pursue the self‑supporting tower design and allocate $24,496.89 for the project, with Mountain West Technologies covering the remaining $14,360 in labor costs.

Under the proposed lease agreement, the town will own the tower while Mountain West Technologies rents space for its communications equipment. Mayor Davis said he will have Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip review the contract, and if it meets her approval, the governing body will make a decision at its December 17th meeting.

At the December 17th meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis explained that Attorney Waldrip was still finalizing the lease agreement. Mayor Davis added that the governing body had promised to make a decision at this session and should honor that commitment.

Mayor Davis asked the Council for a decision on the tower project. Councilman Bub Barkhurst responded that the town’s hands are tied and that the deal is too good to resist. Mayor Davis added that the existing tower may give out at any time.

Councilman Jerry Fluty noted that the original contract did not specify that the town would own the tower, instead deferring ownership to Mountain West Technologies. Councilman Fluty asked if Attorney Waldrip had corrected the oversight. Mayor Davis said the town attorney has amended the lease agreement to ensure the structure belongs to the town.

Councilman Fluty asked for clarification on the proposed lease agreement. Mayor Davis explained that the town will split construction costs with Mountain West Technologies. Once the tower is complete, Mountain West will lease space on the structure alongside the town’s equipment.

Mayor Davis asked Mountain West Technologies Chief of Operations Lesha Thorvaldson if his interpretation was correct. Thorvaldson said yes, adding that the original lease agreement simply contained a clerical error.

Mayor Davis said that if the council is satisfied with the agreement, it should make a decision so Mountain West can begin ordering the tower materials. The mayor recommended approving the less expensive stand-alone tower design. The Saratoga Town Council voted unanimously to allocate $24,496.89 for construction materials.

Following the vote, Mayor Davis asked the Mountain West representatives how billing would be handled. Mountain West Technologies Infrastructure Manager Tim Meads said the company will procure the materials through its existing vendor network and send an invoice to the town at a later date.

Town Treasurer Corina Daley expressed her approval of the plan, and the Council instructed the Mountain West representatives to prepare a draft agreement for signing while Attorney Waldrip continues to work on the lease.

The post Saratoga Agrees to New Communication Tower Terms first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Monday, DECEMBER 22, 2025 |

Photo – County Road 603 showing slide area – Courtesy Carbon County Road & Bridge Department

County officials have a plan to address flooding on County Road 603.

In October, Road and Bridge Superintendent Kandis Fritz announced the closure of County Road 603, located south of Baggs near the Colorado border. Fritz reported that underground water combined with heavy rainfall caused a portion of the road to slide down the adjacent hillside. The road has remained closed ever since.

During the December 3rd Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Road and Bridge Superintendent Fritz explained that the Wyoming Department of Transportation is using federal Bridge Investment Program funds to replace a bridge over the Little Snake River at no cost to the county. Fritz said if the road isn’t fixed by next spring, the project may be cancelled.

Fritz said that if the state’s contractor is unable to reach the project location, the county must repay WYDOT for all encumbered engineering costs, totaling roughly $600,000, money the road and bridge superintendent said would be better spent fixing the road.

The Board of Commissioners approved a $65,000 contract with Engineering Associates to design water mitigation efforts for County Road 603. The Board asked for representatives from WYDOT and Engineering Associates to attend the next meeting to ensure any proposed plans meet the state’s requirements.

During the December 16th County Commissioners meeting, Superintendent Fritz reported that she had been working closely with Engineering Associates Saratoga Office Manager Craig Kopasz and a representative from WYDOT. Fritz said the plan they’ve created has been approved by the state agency.

Commissioner John Johnson asked Kopasz to explain how he plans to remediate the flooded area. The engineer said he will use a low‑density aggregate to rebuild the area of the road washed out by the runoff. Kopasz added that a long‑term solution will require a larger financial investment from the county.

Kopasz described his design as a large French drain, essentially a gravel‑filled trench with a perforated pipe at the bottom that carries water away from the problem area. The engineer said a more detailed analysis is necessary to develop a permanent remedy.

Commissioner Johnson said he is concerned that irrigation runoff may worsen the landslide issue and asked Kopasz how he plans to mitigate the impact. The engineer responded that newly installed culverts will divert the majority of the water away from the site.

Commissioner Johnson asked if a ditch could be dug to move surface water away from the slide‑prone area. Kopasz said he could consider that option but noted that he was hired specifically to reduce the impact of groundwater on the road surface itself.

Next, Commissioner John Johnson asked Kopasz if, in his professional opinion, focusing on the road surface will alleviate the water‑saturation problem. Kopasz replied that the area was being managed by an existing French drain and culverts. However, those mitigation measures eventually failed. The engineer said replacing those systems should prevent further landslides, adding that completely eliminating the groundwater issue will require a larger financial commitment from the county.

Kopasz said he expects to have a finalized plan ready for WYDOT approval by the end of the month, with the goal of soliciting contractor bids in January.

The WYDOT representative expressed support for the proposed plan and acknowledged that Carbon County is making a good‑faith effort to ensure the road can be used for the future bridge‑replacement project.

The post Plan in Place to Fix County Road 603 first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.