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Commission approves REA permit, BLM right-of-way renewal and Shell Creek flood‑plain permit waiver
Summary
Big Horn County commissioners approved an REA permit for Lane 43, a 20‑year BLM right‑of‑way renewal for Lane 22½ and waived the Shell Creek flood‑plain permit fee so the Shell Creek Bridge project can proceed to bid; commissioners were also told a Red Gulch box‑culvert grant will go to SLIB in February.
Big Horn County commissioners on Dec. 16 approved several road and bridge items that clear the way for upcoming construction and grant reviews.
Chair Deb Craft opened the meeting and road and bridge staff Hovey and Mann updated the commission on multiple projects, including use of recycled WYDOT material on Road 38 shoulders, incoming materials for Sidon Irrigation District crossings (Lane 13 and Road 5) and a pending crushing project scheduled to begin after the holidays. Hovey presented a permit for REA on Lane 43, which Commissioner Dave Neves moved to approve; the motion was seconded and carried.
Bridges staff recommended approval of a 20‑year Bureau of Land Management right‑of‑way renewal for Lane 22½; Commissioner Bruce Jolley moved to approve the renewal and the commission carried the motion. Bridges staff said a flood‑plain permit for the Shell Creek Bridge is the final requirement before putting the project out to bid; Paul Thur of the county’s Airports and Land Planning office later presented that flood‑plain permit (26‑002) and requested waiving the application fee. Commissioner Jolley moved to approve permit 26‑002 and waive the fee; the motion was seconded and carried.
Bridges also told the commission that a box culvert grant application for the Red Gulch project will be reviewed by the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB) in February, and that Orchard Bench Road work is planned as a 2027 project. Bridges requested an executive session for potential litigation related to bridges, which the commission approved; that session ended with no action taken.
Why it matters: approving the permits and the BLM renewal removes administrative obstacles that allow the Shell Creek Bridge and other road projects to move toward bidding and construction. The SLIB review in February will determine whether state grant funding moves Red Gulch forward.
What’s next: the Shell Creek Bridge permit waiver allows the county to proceed to bid; the SLIB decision on the Red Gulch box culvert is expected in February. The commission held the requested executive session on potential litigation and took no public action.
