TORRINGTON – Undersheriff Jeremy Wardell reported on a federal grant Tuesday during the Goshen County Commissioners meeting.
Homeland Security awarded the Sheriff Department $20,000 to buy portable radios. The current radios have been with the department for a long time and past the time of being able to repair them. Wardell said the money was not a matching grant but a full grant to the department.
Through the first of June, the contract housing to date has billed out $405,284 today $407 and this week an additional $21,000 will be billed out. The detention center is renting inmate space to different law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area. Scottsbluff has a high volume of use of the county detention center until they finish the expansion at their jail.
The Wyoming Department of Corrections (DOC) contacted the Goshen County Sheriffs department asking what the availability for long term housing for some of their inmates. DOC may be using a couple of our pods, Wardell said.
The commissioners amended the county budget to include $100,000 needed for a short fall in different departments.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation presented to the board plans for road projects for the next six years and the projects in Goshen County.
In 2018, WYO 156 Sugar Factory Road West overlay and drainage work between mile post seven and 14, Torrington Industrial Park Ave phase II paving.
2019-Veteran Road FDR Overlay between mileposts seven and 14, Bridge Replacement Off System (BROS) Horse Cheek Bridge.
2020-U.S. 85 Mill, overlay and rehabilitation between mileposts 115 and 130. Torrington, Valley Road and Main Street intersection ADA upgrade.
2021-WYO 92 (Huntley road) East section widen, mill and overlay between mileposts seven and 14.
2023-WYO 154 Veteran Road mill and overlay between mileposts 14 and 23. U.S. 26 mill and overlay between Torrington and Nebraska state line.
2024-WYO 158 Table Mountain Road overlay and chip seal between mileposts zero and eight.
WYDOT also offers communities programs to help maintain and improve local roads.
The board asked the three candidates for sheriff to come to the meeting where they were asked questions, each separately. The commission voted for the candidate to fill the position of retired Sheriff Donald Murphy. Undersheriff Jeremy Wardell was selected for the position, Wardell will serve out the term through December 2018.
He will have to win the election primary then beat any candidates from another party or write in. Winning the general election in November to continue the new term as Sheriff.
