Two new service districts now official

Crook County now hosts two new improvement districts, one for the Beulah area and one for a subdivision located north of Hulett.

Votes for both districts during the recent primary election were the final steps in forming the districts.

Yellowstone I&S

Late last year, developer Yellowstone L&R Ranch, a South Carolina limited liability company, filed a petition to form a district for the 46 parcels that make up one of the county’s newer large-acre subdivisions.

The purpose of the district is to repair and maintain the roads within the subdivision, though it will not maintain private easements or rights-of-way within the boundaries. It may also provide governance for homeowners and may “provide any other legal purpose authorized by law”.

The board of directors will be authorized to establish monthly assessments for the tracts to establish a fund for service, repair and maintenance of the common roads. It is not anticipated that any financing will be necessary in the first year.

The subdivision is located on Highway 112 north of Hulett. The assessed valuation of these large-acre parcels is just under $5.5 million.

Of those parcel owners, 38 signed the petition to form the district representing 87% of the land, meeting the criterion of 60% of landowners owning at least 60% of the assessed property.

As many of the tracts were for sale at the time, most of the landowners listed on the petition were associated with the developer: Wyoming limited liability companies with themed names ranging from Indigo Aggie and Blue Bulldog to Yellow Gator and Violet Tide. Each was signed by managing member Les Lindskov of Hulett and South Dakota.

The petition was also signed by three private landowners with South Carolina addresses, one from Cody, one each from Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota and North Dakota and two trusts.

During the primary, the formation election for the district carried by four votes for and two votes against.

Brenda Mattison was voted in as director of the district, to serve a two-year term. Write-in candidates Les Lindskov and James W. Roquemore will serve a two-year and four-year term respectively.

The county commissioners last week signed a resolution declaring that the Yellowstone L&R Ranch Improvement and Service District has been organized.

Beulah I&S

After months of dissatisfaction with the LLC providing water to the area, the residents of Beulah came together earlier this year to form a service and improvement district to take over the water system owned by the homeowner’s association but at the time operated by Beulah Land Water (BLW).

Residents cited issues including violations that were found by the Wyoming Department of Quality (DEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but had not been addressed, and that BLW was spending money on extending the system towards a property it wished to develop instead of on the required upgrades to the system.

However, the final straw came when BLW filed with the Public Service Commission (PSC) for a 380% increase on its rate. This would have increased the amount each customer paid from $50 to $240.06 per month.

This increase was ultimately not granted but, in February, the PSC allowed for an interim rate just over half that much permanent with BLW required to continue reporting on its business and maintenance practices.

During the primary, 25 votes were cast for and zero against the formation of the Beulah Improvement and Service District.

Pat Bundy and Jean Quade were voted directors of the district for four-year terms. Eric Sutton, Dylan Tramp and Bob Waddell were voted directors for two-year terms.

Last week, the county commissioners signed a resolution declaring the district officially organized.