WHEATLAND – Last week, the Platte County commissioners chose to pursue the possibility of a grant that would fund a permanent bridge on Palmer Canyon Road where it crosses the Laramie River.
In the absence of commissioner Ian Jolovich, at a meeting last Thursday, commissioners Steve Shockley and Kayla Mantle chose to approve an agreement with MC2 Engineering to assist in writing the EPA grant which has a $20 million cap and does not require matching funds.
The decision to extend the MC2 Engineering agreement was postponed at the commission’s August 14 meeting until the firm could confirm the requirements that would be placed on the county if they accepted the federal grant funds from the EPA.
Shockley had said he wanted to identify any “hooks” in potential grant funding before any decision was made. After representatives of MC2 Engineering spoke with the commission via a Zoom call last Thursday, Mantle and Shockley agreed to pursue the grant.
If approved, the EPA grant will be able to fund the $2.2 million bridge, but the county will need to partner with a non-profit community organization to add projects to their proposal. Anna Edwards said, “The community partnerships will need to focus on projects that benefit the community in multiple ways and all the projects need to tie together to build resilience in the community.”
She explained the grant has two other components that need to be satisfied: reducing pollution and climate action. Focusing on the bridge, it will help with the climate strategy of the grant, at the very least, because it is a critical fire exit route and is an example of keeping the community resilient in a potential fire emergency. A possible county project to reduce pollution is the need for a new HVAC system in the county’s Coleman building in downtown Wheatland, in addition to several other possible projects that were mentioned during the meeting.
“We are ready to move forward with tying projects to the bridge – how do we find those projects?” Shockley asked the MC2 representatives.
In answer, MC2’s representative, Lisa Mueller, said her company has done background work on-site in Wheatland and has ideas that can help with the projects and potential partners that will benefit the environment and the community. They have identified options available as projects within the county that would meet the community partnership requirement. Additionally, with the county as the primary applicant, they would manage any funding that comes through, and have the right to determine what percentage the total amount of funds would go to county projects, and how much would go to the partner organization(s).

Shockley and Mantle chose to postpone a decision until the full commission is present, and the opinion of the planning and zoning office is obtained, on a request for waiver of building permit fee for Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power / Black Hills Energy for construction of 72 miles of electrical transmission lines across Platte County. The current standard in Platte County is typically one-half percent of the entire project cost. CLFP contends the fee is not applicable to the project.
The commission expressed their desire to weigh the full impact such a decision would make on setting precedence for other businesses and residents of the county, such as the Wheatland Rural Electric Association, and future building projects.
“Black Hills Energy appreciates your thoughtful consideration – it’s one of the concerns. If there is a precedence set, it affects our sister utilities like the REA. I’d hate to know the decision was made without consideration and due diligence. We want to set the right precedence,” Randy Harris, Director of Land for Black Hills Energy, said.
Shockley explained, in the past, the county has always included in building certificate costs, the entire scope of the project under the building certificate: if someone was building a home, there is one permit issued, which includes all the plumbing, electrical, sewer, etc. “The certificate is for the entire project cost. That’s the way I’ve looked at it in the past,” Shockley said.
“That sounds reasonable, but don’t want to do something to raise taxes. I also want to take the opportunity extend my appreciation in working with the officials and community in this project,” Harris said.
Planning and Zoning
Laura Bookout presented an issue before the commissioners, citing multiple concerns the Croell gravel pit next to her property off Sybille Road has expanded beyond the parameters of a permit issued in 2010. She said she is still in the process of gathering information, and had only recently contacted county planner Doug Dumont, but wanted the commissioners to consider revoking the permit or pausing operations until they are in compliance. Dumont said he recommended she submit a complaint form to the planning and zoning department, who will look closer at the issue. Dumont told the commissioners he will drive out to look in person at the operation
Don Canaday of Guernsey addressed the commissioners, seeking information as to why he hasn’t had any certified letters or notification as to the status of his complaint against his neighbor filed in June.
At the commission’s July 2 meeting, Dumont told the board he had looked into the complaint, and though the property didn’t look like it was being used commercially, there was a possible repair shop on site and there was enough in question to warrant sending a certified letter to the landowners.
Last week, Dumont told the commission board the party in question has been given three options to resolve the issue: to re-zone the property, get a special use permit, or contest the complaint. They have until September 5 to submit their decision to the county’s planning and zoning office. He assured Canaday, anyone on the title of the neighboring properties will receive a certified letter at that time, giving an opportunity for comment to be considered by the planning and zoning board.
Canaday further expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the sheriff’s department when he has called them with various complaints. He was not satisfied with the resolution the sheriff’s office deemed was appropriate in the situations, and after talking with the governor’s office, Canaday is planning to lodge an official grievance against the sheriff’s department. “They’re not doing their job to protect me,” he concluded.
In a public hearing last Tuesday, the commissioners approved a special use permit request by Bill and Amy Connelley to operate a trailer dealership on property currently zoned RAM (residential, agriculture, and mining) on US Highway 26. Dumont said the couple wants to continue to operate their ag operation as they do currently but utilize a building already on site for the trailer dealership, so there will be no infrastructure changes. The only public comment on the application was from the State of Wyoming, recommending an amended water use permit be applied for if they wanted to utilize water to wash the trailers.
The commission welcomed the idea of the opportunity for Platte County residents to purchase trailers locally. The Connelleys will be selling Elite and Easley brand trailers. “We are looking at well-built trailers – some stock trailers, and some with living quarters,” Bill Connelley said, adding the closest dealer for Easley trailers is in Dalhart, Texas.
“It is a good location that will be usable to all of Platte County,” Dumont said.