[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6168227,"mediaKeyId","5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03","parentId",5408475,"title","Albany County approves Pilot Hill lease amendment, seeks 25-year reset to boost grant eligibility","audioSeconds",185,"startMs",1091000,"endMs",1276000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03&start=1091&end=1276","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03/thumbnail_1091000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6168227/Albany-County/Wyoming/Albany-County-approves-Pilot-Hill-lease-amendment-seeks-25-year-reset-to-boost-grant-eligibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168227-813a019171f6793abab61eb7660f2cbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505431&Signature=nZCseXGWudK0ZHF~VQH9fG788cEugMxxJba1B2aAn5l-ZjoxjSmTnB6hjmRqVTH9XRogamg-hCyAs~7bMfVvXByj4MkDBUZgMuQ6YUMAx5iHS-aw7eapC9iA7gTgJRW3ZrMN32gRt4h8YxJ-ja-B5tuXRfdvaQv01uMfpPSbmF6TXasRu7ABtxJvFghOKekyVZlujMyF5mE8vDrBMD6ljCqKMbjaERNAsdZdQ8Om2ejqfdehJXOqYQsKgnk3KpbB4z8ob~PptVsz5faGt88FKyQ~jZ3ly5PNpsefBhuvRRW88VjhDVq4gZkFUs7pYIw0KdgdG~CKnH8EM3RkVIlVsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Albany County WY","date","2025-07-17T04:12:57.327Z","article","Albany County commissioners approved a first amendment to the special‑use leases covering Pilot Hill that combines two previously separate lease parcels, summarizes on‑site improvements and allows the county to seek a reset of lease terms to 25 years.

Sarah Brown Matthews, executive director with Pilot Hill, told commissioners the Office of State Lands has agreed in principle to combine the two special‑use leases and that an auditor from the office visited the property. She said the county and partners documented improvements under Wyoming Game and Fish’s WHMA (wildlife habitat management area) category including fencing, weed mitigation, signage, gates and a reactivated well with guzzler tanks valued at $117,688. Additional improvements in the Pilot Hill area — fencing, trail work, wayfinding signage, benches and weed mitigation — were documented at $503,644, bringing the total value of improvements on the property to $621,332.

Matthews said the amendment \"does not change any of the restrictions around the use of the property\" but simplifies lease management by combining two leases that previously came due at different times and adjusts the annual rental increase to 3.25 percent, consistent with the original lease terms. She also told commissioners the Office of State Lands offered to reset the remaining lease term back to 25 years; the extra term would make some grant programs that require a longer lease or perpetuity eligible to apply.

Commissioners voted to approve the amendment and later amended the motion to explicitly accept the Office of State Lands' offer to reset both leases to 25 years. The county attorney and the attorney general’s office reviewed the amendment, and Matthews said the amendment, with the county’s approval, will be presented to the Office of State Lands board at its August meeting.

The motion carried by voice vote. Commissioners and staff said the consolidated leases will simplify payment schedules and county administration while preserving existing use restrictions on the property.

The action does not by itself change allowed uses on Pilot Hill; it consolidates administration, documents improvements and positions the county to pursue grant programs that require longer lease terms.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Albany County Government - County Commissioners Regular Meeting - 07/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The county approved combining two special‑use leases for Pilot Hill, recorded over $621,000 in on‑site improvements, and accepted a state offer to reset lease terms to 25 years to improve grant eligibility; the amendment will next go to the Office of State Lands board.","taxTitle","Albany County, Wyoming","taxId",52001,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168231,"Albany County approves contingency funds to help Laramie High FFA go to national convention",531,525000,1056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03&start=525&end=1056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03/thumbnail_525000.jpg","/articles/6168231/Albany-County/Wyoming/Albany-County-approves-contingency-funds-to-help-Laramie-High-FFA-go-to-national-convention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168231-12d67f907d2cfed2786c0661f188229d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505431&Signature=LDDS2Uz0plSt5XC9gX6EvmCAJeHg~zzjhep1W4Z~~BtEewLyzcNiJ9a1STGfcFmP2gjBGOerXES7mywZBSXIe6-pfxAWDxWoysgk97ce3maHpvw0JrupcrrfS88Qs~1jeoz-TXcLRFXCfc-hD~bZ5m~Ka~eqO4OZnJDlToA8WDczijpCs4a5er6jcvdB~RCzhyGFv55zxGPnZEIHuWNYcS9xoaSX-0gvFLdx2c96XcERZuxXe2-udbmVbsdBwnY0YEvMvYOPPuQ0YN6KQYRNOtpS-FBqq7PZ2xAegUGv94sFO5ekyvXvaXWANPgPE5hxvS9RWa2fT9uR9e4GKGcJJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Albany County commissioners approved a request to use the county’s 1% community contingency fund to help Laramie High School’s Snowy Range FFA chapter attend the national FFA convention this fall.

Shanna Stinson, president of the Snowy Range FFA chapter, and other students told commissioners the chapter qualified six state‑champion teams and 22 students will travel to national events. \"We had a super successful year at state convention having six state champion teams, which need to go to numerous national contests,\" Stinson said.

Danielle Coco, one of the students’ agriculture teachers, told commissioners the school district does not fund student travel to national competitions. \"None of that is funded by the school district to travel,\" Coco said, adding the group raises funds but still faces significant costs.

Commissioners discussed limits on the contingency fund and whether similar school groups might request help. One commissioner said, \"If we're gonna support animals, we dang sure should be supporting kids,\" while another said the county should adopt rules to make eligibility clear for future requests. The FFA travel dates were given as Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, and the presenters estimated the per-person cost at roughly $1,800 when airfare, hotels, registration and meals are considered; the chapter said it will also send adults to chaperone.

The board voted to approve the request from the community contingency pot; no annual guarantee was promised and commissioners said the funding is finite and may be subject to rules and eligibility criteria in the future. The motion to allocate contingency funding carried by voice vote; the meeting record shows the motion passed with ayes but does not record a dollar amount from the motion on the public transcript.

Commissioners congratulated the students and encouraged fundraising and future planning. The county clerk will process the paperwork for reimbursement under the community partners program as described in the county’s contingency funding process.","Albany County approved a request from Laramie High School’s Snowy Range FFA chapter to use community contingency funding so students can attend the national FFA convention in October; commissioners discussed setting rules for future requests.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6168232,"Albany County homeowners say new survey requirement for small projects causes delays and costs",462,0,462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03&start=0&end=462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5408475-34ec5f7e8b8bd1d3ff6bd967c739fb03/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6168232/Albany-County/Wyoming/Albany-County-homeowners-say-new-survey-requirement-for-small-projects-causes-delays-and-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168232-232f721bf26cfa71a40e741916f587d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505431&Signature=UC-HwIoUMAupioJoFW4fOM3TEGDVPz5J3Hz7YN9I~zgY8b1gsXsC-OsXhb5kSmEMYGZsTDMecqiFN4gkmgh4XKbibpYpnvuqHzq7QINSgWPmoKXEE9cRjle1D2VWtQwHFnHMgRKmVriG~rw3mm68iDDXDf-gIGz-L5uBj1lve5IVzm4UA-9RyXCRl~ufqbavScoLW6Dxa1WncTTSIn2acpMte11rFbBOgP4SAnKftWJaHvJzkokwjG~fcMpp86AJQB5wy~r7rYxTq9j90i~rFCePxqA0Kuo2eFjLwkySpBbu-gEZVBR6Uiy1FGI2nbZ49l2cVezamUWSOA3s1JBIvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Albany County commissioners heard multiple public comments expressing concern that a new rule requiring a certified survey and site plan for properties under 2 acres imposes an unexpected financial burden on small-property owners.

The commenters described attempts this summer to obtain routine permits that were delayed or returned for more information. One public commenter who identified herself as Jessica said she sought a permit on June 25, 2025, to add a small addition to an existing shop and discovered the May change. \"This new requirement came with an unexpected and significant financial burden,\" she said, adding that the first surveyor she contacted quoted between $1,200 and $2,000 and that the county returned her application after a contracted county engineer requested further clarifications.

The issue matters because, commenters said, the survey requirement can equal or exceed the cost of modest improvements and must be repeated for each improvement even when boundaries have not changed. \"This approach is not only redundant but also places an ongoing and unnecessary financial burden on small property owners,\" Jessica said in a prepared letter she read to the commission.

A county staff member explained the rule applies to any structure that requires a permit. \"Any buildings that require permit would require a resurveys by a surveyor,\" that staff member said during the public exchange. The same staff member and commissioners acknowledged the rule was intended \"to help people know where their boundaries are to avoid problems in the future,\" but also said the county could consider alternatives.

Commissioners and staff discussed possible next steps short of immediate rule change. One commissioner said the issue could be brought to planning and zoning for further review. The public commenter asked the commission to consider allowing previously approved permits and existing county records to satisfy site-verification requirements for lower-impact projects and to exempt small, low-square-foot additions or repeat work where boundaries have not changed.

No formal change to the requirement was taken at the meeting. Commissioners did not vote on a policy amendment; instead, the matter was left as a topic for potential future discussion with planning and zoning and county staff.

Commissioners and staff noted situations in the county where structures had been built on another person’s land and said the rule was intended to reduce boundary disputes going forward. Commenters asked the commission for clearer public information about the rule’s scope, and one resident said she could not find the updated language in the publicly available Albany County zoning resolution and asked for improved notice and guidance.

The commission did not set a deadline for follow-up. Residents who raised the issue asked that the county consider a lower‑cost verification path for small or previously surveyed properties, and asked that the county clarify whether repeat surveys would be required for each subsequent minor improvement.","Public commenters at an Albany County Commissioners meeting urged revision of a May rule that requires certified surveys and site plans for properties under 2 acres, saying the rule creates significant, recurring costs and delays for routine improvements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Albany County approves Pilot Hill lease amendment, seeks 25-year reset to boost grant eligibility

Albany County approves contingency funds to help Laramie High FFA go to national convention

Albany County homeowners say new survey requirement for small projects causes delays and costs