Big Horn County awards $537,874 rock-crushing contract, approves permits, grants and appointments

The Big Horn County Commission on Nov. 4 approved a series of procurement, permitting and administrative actions, including awarding a $537,874 rock-crushing contract and approving payroll and vendor payments.

M. Leonhardt of the county Engineering/Road & Bridge department presented bids for a rock-crushing project and identified Frost Rock Products as the low bidder at $537,874; Commissioner Bruce Jolley moved to award the contract, the motion was seconded and carried. Leonhardt also said staff will prepare an estimate for as-built surveys at the request of the State Lands and Investments Office for county roads that lack recorded surveys.

Right-of-way permits were approved after discussion of underground utility hazards. Hovey presented two permits — one from the Rural Electric Association for Lane 42 and a ratification for Road 26 — and Commissioner Dave Neves moved to approve both. Mann presented a Town of Deaver permit to install a water line on Road 1; Jolley moved to approve that permit as presented. Leonhardt, Mann and Hovey also briefed the commission on maintenance work, reporting that a rented crack-seal machine is performing better than previous equipment and that surplus-auction proceeds totaled about $22,000.

Airports and land-planning staff presented several items. Paul Thur and Stephanie May reported that WYDOT requested waiver of a $300 floodplain-development permit fee for the Rairden Road bridge replacement; commissioners agreed by consensus to waive the fee because the bridge is on a county road and WYDOT is doing the work. Thur presented land-lease extensions related to removal work in the airport boneyard; Kirk reviewed and approved the documents and the leases and extensions were approved by motion.

Marquerite VanDyke and Carol Willard, deputy county clerks, presented accounts payable and payroll; Commissioner Jolley moved to approve the bills and payroll as presented and the motion was seconded and carried. Notable vendor amounts included Rinker Materials ($121,219.78) and Traveling Computers, Inc. ($32,706.86).

In old-and-new-business items, County Clerk Lori Smallwood presented grant and appointment items. The commission approved a Suicide Prevention grant from the Wyoming Department of Health and a Wyoming 250 grant for Otto Cemetery; commissioners also approved an indigent burial request, appointed Chad Petrich to the Byron Solid Waste Board, renewed employee health insurance with CIGNA, approved the 2026 commission meeting schedule and approved the Oct. 21, 2025 meeting minutes.

The meeting concluded with the clerk's presentation of October financial statements and certification of the minutes.