Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

to continue justice for all.

Welcome to the July 7th Laramie County Board of Commissioners meeting. If you have a cell phone, I'd ask that you turn it to silent. If you're going to speak during one of the public hearings, please come forward to the microphone and identify yourself and your address for the record. I would note that Commissioner Hollingshead is excused. And with that, Madam Clerk, first item.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Item one is consideration of the minutes of proceedings for June 16, 2026.

Mr. Chair, move to approve.

Second.

Motion to second any discussion? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Thompson? Aye. Commissioners Wanitzer?

Aye.

Chairman Malm?

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 2, consideration of the budget hearing minutes of proceedings for June 25, 2026. Mr. Chair, move to approve. Second.

Motion to second any discussion by the commissioners? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Thompson? Aye. Commissioners Wanitzer? Aye. Chairman Maum?

Aye. Items 3 through 13 are considered routine county business and will be considered as one consent agenda item unless a member of the governing body would like to have one removed. Commissioners? Motion to approve.

Second.

Motion and a second. Any discussion? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer. I mean, sorry, Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm.

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 14, consideration of warrants in the amount of $3,457,976.74 for June 2026. Motion to approve. Second.

Second. Any discussion? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer.

Aye.

Chairman Malm.

Aye.

based by case basis, depending on where they're at in the construction process. With that, I'm happy to answer any questions.

Just want to confirm, eight and a half feet wide, not length.

Correct.

Correct. Apologies if that's what I said. No, you're fine. I just wanted to make sure people with pickups weren't calling me. Okay, commissioners. Mr. Chair, move to approve.

Second.

Motion and a second. Discussion by the commission. Discussion. Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer.

Aye.

Chairman Malm.

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 17, consideration of a professional services agreement between Laramie County, Wyoming and the Design Studio Incorporated in the amount of $131,256 to renovate existing coroner offices within the next year with the scope of services in attachment A. Ms. Cook.

Commissioners Molly Cook, Laramie County Public Works standing in for JD. The Coroner's Office in collaboration with procurement is requesting the approval of this agreement with Design Studio for the Coroner's Office upgrade and expansion. An RFP was issued and the Design Studio was selected for award at the conclusion of the evaluation process. The agreement will be For the amount not to exceed $131,256, this project will provide expanded space for the coroner's office to support operations and community support. I would say I could answer any questions. Unfortunately, I cannot. But there you have it.

I see a representative from the design studio here. So if there's any questions of the commission, Mr. Byers maybe can answer them. Commissioners? Mr. Chair, move to approve.

Second.

Motion and some seconds. Any discussion? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Thompson? Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer?

Aye.

Chairman Malm?

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 18, consideration of a memorandum of understanding between Laramie County, Wyoming and the University of Wyoming for the Laramie County 4-H program to participate in the Laramie County Fair and conduct 4-H program activities throughout the year.

Mr Voss, I don't see anybody from events here.

I thought this might be here today, but this is an agreement. As you know, the 4H has been participating in the county fair forever. This is the first year that the county is going to be doing all of the livestock sales as opposed to. all 4-H's livestock sales as opposed to 4-H and FFA having split them up. And this is an agreement just to indicate that 4-H is still going to be participating here. We've done previous MOUs with them for just use of the facilities when they were running the livestock sales, and this is very similar to that.

Okay. Any questions for Mark? Mr. Chair, move to approve.

Second.

Motion and a second. Discussion by the Commission? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer.

Aye.

Chairman Malm.

Aye. Next item, please.

Consideration of an agreement between Laramie County, Wyoming, and Blue Titanium Media, LLC, to film, tape, and record the principals, employees, contractors, inmates, and vendors at and around the detention center. And Chairman Malm, this item was postponed from June 16, 2026. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

So there has been a request by the sheriff and the sheriff's department to withdraw this item from the agenda. The request did not come in time, and since it was publicized, we've read it into the record, and the intent is to let it die for lack of a motion unless a member of the commission would like to so move. But we'll wait a minute and see. I would note the sheriff has a statement about its withdrawal in a press release if you'd like to read it. OK, seeing no action on that item, we'll move on to the next one. Item 20, please.

Item 20, consideration of amendment number one to agreement 23-12-05-17 between Laramie County, Wyoming and HDR Engineering Incorporated in the amount of $77,880 to add additional scope of services, extend the completion date to August 31, 2026, and bidding assistance completion date to February 26, 2027 for street and infrastructure upgrades to Division Avenue and Wallach Road. And Mr. Chairman, this is a spot six penny project.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. Ms. Cook?

Commissioners, Molly Cook, Laramie County Public Works. This addendum is to accommodate for additional support to Laramie County from HDR in support of this project and the new 5th-6th school through Laramie County School District 1, located off Wallach Road. Since the inception of this agreement with HDR, that has been a new addition, and so this is to account for that additional coordination. Happy to answer any questions.

Okay, any questions for Ms. Cook? Mr. Milley? Move to approve, please.

Second.

Motion and a second. Any discussion? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Thompson? Aye. Commissioners Wanitzer?

Aye.

Chairman Malm?

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 21, consideration of the post moment of a public hearing regarding a vacation of tracks 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. Lucky Star Ranch subdivision and approval of a modest subdivision permit and plat for Lucky Star Ranch second filing.

Mr. Arnold. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning and Development. Unfortunately, the planning department didn't get the materials out for the staff report and resolution for sufficient timing to get everything reviewed prior to getting it on the agenda. So we want to apologize to the applicant and request that this be postponed until the July 21 meeting.

Okay. Request for postponement. I will say, because it was advertised as a public hearing, if anybody is here to speak on this, I will open it up for a public hearing briefly. Public hearing going once. Anybody online?

There's nobody online.

Okay. Public hearing having met its purpose. Commissioners?

Mr. Chairman, I would move to postpone to the July 21st meeting.

Second. Motion and a second. Discussion? Discussion? Just extend my apologies to the applicant on behalf of the county and look forward to hearing it on the 21st. Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm. Aye.

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 22, public hearing regarding a subdivision permit and plat for Furtig Ranch Subdivision, situated in the northwest quarter of Section 11, Township 14 North, Range 65 West of the 6th PM, Laramie County, Wyoming.

Mr. Arnold. Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning and Development, Stiles Surveying Services, LLC, on behalf of landowner Redco Inc., has submitted a subdivision permit and plat application for Furtig Ranch Subdivision, formerly Redco Ranch, located north of East 4 Mile Road and Road 215. The application has been submitted to subdivide 83.22 acres into 13 residential lots of roughly 6 acres each. The current use of the property is vacant agricultural land and is situated in the land use zone district. The overall subdivision would access from Road 215 via a previously recorded access easement, while internal lots would access from the newly dedicated right-of-way. The plat proposes to vacate a portion of the access easement created for this anticipated subdivision, which would still apply to the exempt subdivision to the north. Pertinent Laramie County land use regulations or statutory provisions include statutes 185301 through 306, 3412101 through 341215. Section 21101, subsection A through E, governing the minor subdivision, Permit and Platte. And Section 42114, governing the Randy's Zone District. And lastly, Section 12104, governing public notice. And I do believe Shane Hansen, the agent for the applicant, was going to hop online today to answer any questions you may have. He had a health issue.

Mr. Hansen online. Yes, I'm here. Any questions for Mr. Hansen? Okay, doesn't seem like there's any questions, Shane. Full report, please.

The Laramie County Comprehensive Plan, Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning. The Laramie County Comprehensive Plan identifies the area as rural ag interface. According to the adopted Amec memo dated January 31st, 2014, the property lies within zone two of the study area. That states that the zone shall be a minimum of five acres in order to sufficiently recharge groundwater and 5.25 acres gross in order to do the same. Public notice was provided as required, with no public comment being received. Agency review comments have been addressed. The subdivision was submitted as RedcoTrack's second filing, changed to Redco Ranch to distinguish it from the exempt subdivision to the north, and upon this submission has been renamed to Furtig Ranch. The Planning Commission met on June 25, 2026, and recommended approval by a vote of 4-0. Based on evidence provided, staff recommends the Board find that A, this application is in conformance with Section 45100, Romanette 2, governing the criteria for a subdivision permitting plat, and B, this application is in conformance with Section 24104, governing the land use zone district, and C, a non-adversity EQ recommendation has not been received as of the date of this resolution. and that the Board approve the subdivision permit in Platte for Furtig Ranch with the following conditions. One being a non-adverse Chapter 23 recommendation is received by the Planning Department prior to Platte recordation. Two, the development of the subdivision shall build Railway Lane and Railroad Road as shown on the Platte up to the access of the exempt subdivision to the north. and shall build Furtick Ranch Road and Raymond Trail, as shown on the plat, to the 2025 local county road rural subdivision with build-out volume less than 350 average daily traffic, as shown in the attached Exhibit A and 3. The developer of the subdivision shall build the remainder of the private access easement duly recorded in Book 2421, page 1003, also known also shown in the attached exhibit A to the 2025 LCLUR private access standards. And with that, I stand for any questions.

Any questions for staff? Questions? All right, this is a public hearing. If you'd like to speak on this item, please come forward now. Anybody online?

There's no one online.

One more time in the room, public hearing. Public hearing having met its purpose, the public hearing is closed. Commissioners?

Mr. Chairman, I move to approve further grant subdivision permit in Platt, situated in the northwest quarter of section 11, township 14 north, range 65 west of the 6th PM Laramie County, Wyoming, to the Laramie County Board of Commissioners, and adopt the findings and facts of A and B of the staff report with the following conditions. One, a non-adverse chapter 23 DEQ recommendation is received by planning department prior to the Platt recordation. 2. The developer of the subdivision shall build Railway Line and Railroad Road as shown on the plat up to the axis of the exempt subdivision to the north and shall build Fertig Ranch Road and Raymond Trail as shown on the plat to the 2025 local county rural subdivision with build-up volume less than 350 ADT as shown in the attached exhibit A. 3. The developer of the subdivision shall build the The remainder of the private access easement duly recorded at BK2421, page 1003, also shown in the attached exhibit A to the 2025 Laramie County Land Use Regulation private access standards.

Second. Motion and a second. Good job, auctioneer. Any discussion? Any discussion? Hearing none, roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Swannitzer. Aye. Chairman Malm. Aye.

Next item, please.

Item 23, public hearing regarding a zone change for the Archer Complex PUD to amend the uses allowed within the Gateway Zone and the Interstate Transition Zone located within a portion of the north half of Section 27, Township 14 North, Range 65 West, Office 6PM, Laramie County, Wyoming.

Mr. Arnold.

Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning. Fritual Energy LLC authorized by the Board of County Commissioners has submitted a zone change application for the above-mentioned parcel of land. The purpose of the application is to seek approval to update the existing PUD or planned unit development for the Archer Complex PUD to include language for the Gateway Zone and the Interstate Transition Zone to include truck stops. Vehicle fueling stations, including electric truck and automobile charging stations, battery energy storage systems, alternative energy fueling stations, including hydrogen vehicles, mobile data center sites. Building height within the gateway zone shall be limited to 45 feet. Vehicle repair and maintenance that takes place entirely within a building, screened outdoor storage, convenience store, restrooms, showers, green space, including a small pet relief area. The subject property is 85 acres, currently zoned planned unit development zone district specific to the Laramie County Archer Complex, which consists of five separate zones based on the planned land use and character. Surrounding parcels are zoned land use zone district, community business, and light industrial. Amending the current PUD to include the language suggested falls within the intended plan to integrate intelligent design solutions, low water consumption, efficient energy use, integration with the Wyoming's natural high plains environment. Permanent regulations include section 21103 of the 2025 LCLUR and section 24111 of the 2025 LCLUR. Actually, we do have agents for the applicant here to answer any questions you might have related to the project.

Mr. Crowder.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Jason Crowder on behalf of Fretchley Energy, LLC. I'm happy to be here today and answer any questions for you. I'd like to introduce some folks in the audience. If we have questions that are bigger than me, they can answer it too. We have Christine Michael, who's the CEO of Fretchley, LLC. Cindy Delancey, counsel from Holland & Hart. Steve Friel, he's a broker out of Casper. And then online, we have Jennifer Vecchi with Vecchi & Associates, our planning consultant. Would just like to thank the Commission and and the planning staff or professional work that they've done bringing this application this far Helping us along through the process I'm happy to answer any questions like I said and just highlight the fact that this seems to be compatible with surrounding land uses which is one of the intents that we have for the project and Really will help the traveling public as they go in and out of the Archer area and up and down I-80 so With that, happy to answer any questions of these additional uses for the Gateway Zone and the Interstate Transition Zone.

Any questions for Mr. Crowder? Okay, not seeing any. Thank you, sir. Full report, please.

Mr. Chairman, members of the Board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning. The Laramie County Comprehensive Plan designates this area as urban-rural interface intended to accommodate a mix of more intensive land uses than other areas. These areas may have public water and sewer services, a higher level of vehicular access, and a greater overall level of community services. Future land use designates this area as MUE, or mixed-use employment, which the proposed action complies with. Both plans are in general agreement for this proposal. The property will eventually be tied into the City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities. All agency review comments have been addressed accordingly. Public notice was provided and public comments have been detached to the report for your review. The Planning Commission met on June 15, 2026, and recommended approval by a vote of 4-0 in favor of. Section 21103, subsection E, states that prior to making a recommendation for any zone change map amendment, the Planning Commission is required to find, excuse me, one. The zone change request supports and upholds the safety and health of the community and that endorses the general welfare of the inhabitants of Laramie County and that one of the following two is also determined and declared to be a finding. A, the existing zoning classification of the land does not fit the overall development pattern of the area or B, there have been changes of physical, economic, or social nature within the area which have prompted the request and which enable the zone change to better meet community needs. criteria romanette i and b are met by the type of action proposed and by meeting all of planning's application criteria based on the evidence provided staff recommends the board find that a this application does meet the criteria for a zone map amendment pursuant to section 21103 of the lcour in b the proposed change in zone district is in conformance with the requirements of section 24111 of the lcour and that the board approves the archer complex pud to amend the uses allowed within the gateway zone and interstate transition zone as shown on the attached exhibit a zone change map and exhibit exhibit b amended pud language located within a portion of the north half of section 27 township 14 north range 65 west of the sixth principal meridian laramie county wyoming with no conditions and i stand for any questions any questions for staff before we open it up to the public

Mr. Chairman, just a clarification.

Since we have this up on the backdrop behind us, we're currently just going through a PUD amendment, not the building site plan process. Purely what we're seeing here is a preliminary site plan. I just want to make that clear that we still need to go through that process at a later date. This is purely a PUD change.

Mr. Chairman, through you, Commissioner Zwanitzer, you're correct. It's a conceptual map, and we'll get to the details through the commercial site plan process forthcoming.

Okay, thank you. Any other questions? Okay, this is a public hearing. If you'd like to speak on this item, please come forward now. One more time in the room. Anybody online?

There's nobody online.

All right, one more time. Public hearing having met its purpose. The public hearing is closed. Commissioners?

Mr. Chairman, I move to adopt a zone change for the Archer Complex PUD to amend the uses allowed within the Gateway Zone and the Interstate Transition Zone as shown on the attached Exhibit A Zone Change Map and Exhibit B Amended PUD Language, located within a portion of the north half of Section 27, Township 14 North, Range 65 West of the 6 p.m. Laramie County, Wyoming, to the Laramie County Board of Commissioners and adopt the findings of Facts A and B of the staff report with no conditions.

Second. Motion and a second. Discussion by the commission? Discussion? Okay, I would just briefly say that this is exciting. So the intent of the PUD at Archer was always to incorporate both public and private investment. The thought was those northbound parcels would always bring amenities to not only the Archer Center but residents in the area and things like that. Well, unfortunately, until voters approved the sewer connector on the last six penny, the land wasn't really as developable as it is today. potentially could be because of the lack of sewer capacity in the area. And so it's exciting that because of the voters' investment in that item that we're able to be here today and look at a potential PUD change that will allow for the first development of what I hope is many investments by the private industry in building out the Archer Center with amenities and things for visitors and for those who are traveling the I-80 corridor. So it's exciting. Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath. Commissioner Heath. Aye. Commissioner Thompson. Aye. Commissioner Zeronitzer.

Aye.

Chairman Malm.

Aye. Next item, please.

Item 24, public hearing regarding a vacation of Tract 1, Thunder Basin Estates, fifth filing, and Tract 19, Thunder Basin Estates, second filing, and approval of a small subdivision permit and plat for Roots to Branches End, Laramie County, Wyoming.

Mr. Arnold. Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning, presenting on behalf of the project planners, Sunny and Portio. Style Surveying Services, LLC, on behalf of landowners Gregory and Erin Brim of 4521 Iron Horse Road, Burns, Wyoming, have submitted a subdivision permit and plat application for routes to Branches End. The application has been submitted for the purpose of subdividing the property into three tracts of land with the residential use to remain requiring tract one. Thunder Basin Estates fifth filing and track 19 Thunder Basin Estates second filing to be vacated with the existing easements to remain. The property is designated land use zone district and is residential. The surrounding area consists of residential uses as well. Permanent regulations include Section 12104, governing public notice, Section 41102, governing the criteria for a vacation of a subdivision plat or any part of a subdivision plat, Section 45100, Romanette I, governing the criteria for a subdivision permitting plat, and Section 24104, governing the land use zone district. And again, we have Shane Hanson, agent for the applicant, online to answer any questions you may have.

Mr. Hanson.

I'm still available for any questions you may have regarding this project.

Any questions for Shane? Okay, full staff report, please.

Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Justin Arnold, Laramie County Planning. The Laramie County Comprehensive Plan identifies the area as rural ag interface. According to the adopted Amec memo dated January 31st, 2014, the property lies within zone two of the study area requiring 5.25 acres gross to sufficiently recharge the aquifer from a pumping well. Public notice was provided as required with no public comments being received. Based on evidence provided, staff recommends the board find that A, this application meets the criteria for a subdivision permit in Platte pursuant to section 45100 Romanette I of The land use regulations and be this application is in conformance with section 24104 governing the land use zone district and that the board may approve the vacation of track one Thunder Basin Estates fifth filing and track 19 Thunder Basin Estates second filing and the subdivision permit and plat for routes to branches and Laramie County, Wyoming with the following condition that being One, the vacation of track one, Thunder Basin Estates, fifth filing, and track 19, Thunder Basin Estates, second filing, will become effective upon recordation of the routes to branches and subdivision of Laramie County, Wyoming. With that, I stand for any questions, and this will require two motions.

Any questions for staff? Okay, this is a public hearing. If you'd like to speak on this item, please come forward. One more time in the room. Anybody online?

There's nobody online.

Okay, public hearing having met its purpose. The public hearing is closed. Commissioners?

I move to approve the vacation of Tract 1, Thunder Basin Estates' fifth filing and Tract 19, Thunder Basin Estates' second filing, Laramie County, Wyoming, with the following condition. The vacation of Tract 1, Thunder Basin Estates' fifth filing and Tract 19, Thunder Basin Estates' second filing will become effective upon the recordation of routes to branches and subdivision Laramie County, Wyoming.

Second. Motion and a second. Discussion by the commission. Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Thompson? Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer? Aye. Chairman Malm?

Aye. Commissioner Zwanitzer?

Mr. Chairman, I move to adopt the findings of Act A and B of the staff report and to approve the subdivision permit in Platte for Roots to Ranch's End, Laramie County, Wyoming, with no conditions.

Second. Motion and second. Any discussion by the commission? Discussion? Roll call, please.

Commissioner Heath? Aye. Commissioner Thompson?

Aye.

Commissioner Zwanitzer? Aye. Chairman Maum?

Aye. Madam Clerk, is there anything else to come before us today?

Mr. Chairman, there is no further business.

All right. We are adjourned. Thank you all.