County Commission Considers Fire Ban, Shooting Range Lease
The Natrona County Commission will consider placing fire restrictions because of impending drought and rising fire danger, according to a resolution on its agenda for Tuesday's meeting in the old courthouse at 5:30 p.m.
Effective Tuesday, open burning on all private, county, and state and federal lands in the county is restricted to containers with spark arrestors in 10-foot cleared and approved areas between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., according to the resolution.
Likewise, wood fires must be contained in established fire rings. Fires also are prohibited in areas other than those provided at developed campgrounds or within fully enclosed stoves, grills or stoves using pressurized liquid gas.
In other business, the commission will support an application to the Wyoming Business Council through the Community Readiness Grant and Loan Program on behalf of the Casper-Natrona County Economic Development Joint Powers Board. The grant would be for up to $1.5 million to pave a road within the McMurry Business Park north of the Mountain View Regional Hospital.
Casper City Council is scheduled to approve a comparable resolution, since both the city and the county participate in the joint powers board.
The commission also will approve standards that Rocky Mountain Power must meet regarding a retail electric rate hike.
During its work session at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, the commission will discuss a lease of county land by the Platte River Gun Club.
Two years ago, a homeowner's house was hit by a bullet that apparently traveled about a mile from the club's Poison Spider Shooting Range. At the time, commission Chairman Ed Opella said this had been the first incident of its kind.