Commissioners pause biathlon grooming agreement amid building and fuel‑safety concerns

The Natrona County Board of Commissioners removed the biathlon club’s grooming and related operating agreements from the consent agenda on Jan. 7 after county building and parks staff reported unresolved life‑safety code violations at the club’s facilities.

Michael Brown of the county development/building department described several concerns: an illicit temporary power connection to a timing shed with chewed wiring, batteries stored on the ground outside of appropriate enclosures, and diesel and gasoline tanks operated from exposed 12‑volt batteries. Brown said the batteries were sometimes kept indoors when not in use but that fueling and battery‑connection practices during grooming could present an ignition hazard in the presence of fuel vapors.

Staff estimated a straightforward mitigation (for example, a coded power run or secure battery enclosure and spark‑protected switch) could be substantially less than $5,000 and possibly around $2,000; commissioners did not adopt a fixed amount. Commissioners and county counsel discussed options: require the club to make corrections before the county executes the grooming agreement, hold funds in reserve or back‑charge the club if the county must contract for fixes, or earmark a portion of grooming funds for remediation. County staff confirmed the prior season’s grooming payment was issued Dec. 6.

The board instructed staff to remove the grooming/operating agreements from the consent agenda pending resolution, to contact club representatives and counsel, and to seek corrective action before approving further agreements.