Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order.
Pete Gosar | Klaus Halbsgut | Terri Jones | Heber Richardson
Pete Gosar
1. Most of the Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone (APOZ) lies outside the Laramie city limits in the county and includes private domestic wells, but most of the water drinkers live within the city limits (Laramie municipal system and South of Laramie Water & Sewer District).
Please describe how you would work with the City of Laramie on aquifer protection issues.
During my first term, I made it a priority to work cooperatively with the City of Laramie on aquifer protection as well as other issues. We are now working with the City to update the Casper Aquifer Protection Plan, and that effort will return our community to a unified plan, rather than a City plan and a County plan that didn’t match up. When I became Chair of the County Commission following the 2020 election, Commissioner Ibarra and I immediately re-started the stalled effort to update the County’s aquifer protection regulations, and stronger aquifer protections were approved in November 2021.
Albany County is a poor county and we cannot afford to waste taxpayers’ funds by being territorial. As far as I’m concerned, maintaining our clean drinking water supply is essential to the county’s current well-being and its future growth and prosperity. Quite frankly, protecting our water is a no-brainer. Countless communities across the country would give anything to have a water resource like ours, and I will continue to promote and participate in cooperative efforts with the City and any other entities to keep our drinking water safe and clean.
2. Through the use of their zoning authority, the Albany County Commissioners are the only entity with the power to prevent pollution of the Casper Aquifer. Environmental agencies at the state and federal level, such as the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality or the federal Environmental Protection Agency, can step in only after water has been polluted to the point where water quality standards are violated.
If elected, can you foresee any circumstances under which you would seek to change current regulations protecting Casper Aquifer water quality – for example, to allow denser development or non-conforming uses?
Commissioner Ibarra and I have worked hard to update and strengthen the regulations protecting water quality in the Casper Aquifer. I cannot foresee any circumstances under which I would weaken these regulations.
3. The Albany County Commission relies on appointed boards to help make decisions (for example, the Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Environmental Advisory Committee).
In evaluating applicants to serve on these boards, how would you balance technical expertise, practical experience, political philosophy, and temperament? Which of these is most important to you in deciding among applicants?
I place a high value on expertise, but this has to be balanced by temperament and work ethic. It’s an unfortunate fact that previous County Commissioners have appointed board members who were inattentive and even abusive to members of the public. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior. I look for applicants who will take their responsibilities seriously, respect the science, do their homework, and who will listen attentively and politely to members of the public in order to provide quality recommendations to the County Commissioners.
4. Recent controversies before the Albany County Commission have involved discussions of “private property rights” – and these controversies have exposed different opinions on what is meant by that term.
Please describe what you think is meant by private property rights, and how you would deal with situations where: (1) private property rights are in conflict; and (2) where private property rights and the public interest might be in conflict (for example, the public’s interest in keeping its drinking water supply clean).
“Property rights” include public property rights. The public should have full access to public lands. Clean air and water are public resources which no private party has a right to abuse. Using the aquifer as an example, it would be fiscally irresponsible to allow private property owners to pollute our drinking water and then levy taxes on the entire county population to clean up the mess or provide alternative sources.
At the same time, private property rights are constitutionally protected – specifically, that private property cannot be taken for a public purpose without just compensation. To the extent their actions do not negatively impact the community, private property owners should be free to use their property as they think best. In the case of conflicting private property rights, I would look for guidance to the county’s planning and zoning regulations.
Klaus Halbsgut
1. Most of the Aquifer Protection Overlay Zone (APOZ) lies outside the Laramie city limits in the county and includes private domestic wells, but most of the water drinkers live within the city limits (Laramie municipal system and South of Laramie Water & Sewer District).
Please describe how you would work with the City of Laramie on aquifer protection issues.
Thanks to the last two elections we have a County Commission that is willing to engage with the city in a science-based approach to aquifer protection. With 85% of the county residents living in the city, it only makes sense that both entities work together to safeguard one of our most valuable resources. Unlike previous commissions that had an adversarial relationship with the city and did very little to protect the aquifer, I promise if elected to continue the current positive relationship with the city.
2. Through the use of their zoning authority, the Albany County Commissioners are the only entity with the power to prevent pollution of the Casper Aquifer. Environmental agencies at the state and federal level, such as the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality or the federal Environmental Protection Agency, can step in only after water has been polluted to the point where water quality standards are violated.
If elected, can you foresee any circumstances under which you would seek to change current regulations protecting Casper Aquifer water quality – for example, to allow denser development or non-conforming uses?
I have been a constant and very vocal supporter of aquifer protection and safe, clean water in all of Albany County. I currently cannot see any circumstance where I would vote in favor of weakening any part of the APOZ (Aquifer protection Overlay Zone) or the CAPP (Casper Aquifer Protection Plan).
It is a fact that we have a housing problem in Albany County and Laramie. We will not solve this problem with unregulated and rampant development on top of the aquifer that risks our valuable water resources. The County Commission and City Council thru incentives, regulations and proper planning and guidance can spur private business to develop in alternative areas. I am pro-development, pro-business, just not on top of the aquifer. We have a large county, with plenty of other areas for development that I would be willing to support.
3. The Albany County Commission relies on appointed boards to help make decisions (for example, the Albany County Planning and Zoning Commission and the Environmental Advisory Committee).
In evaluating applicants to serve on these boards, how would you balance technical expertise, practical experience, political philosophy, and temperament? Which of these is most important to you in deciding among applicants?
I would hope that when positions become available, that the Commissioners would have multiple choices to choose from. I personally will have no set standard of what an applicant should conform to. I would not want a person to be afraid to apply for a position, just because they do not believe they have the required skill set to serve.
As a commissioner, when an opening occurs on any board, committee, commission, I would look at the current makeup of the remaining board, committee, commission and try to find an applicant that will be a compliment/positive addition to that board, committee, or commission. I will on any decision be only one vote, working with the other two commissioners to find the best applicant would also be of value in the decision process.
I personally know that applying for these positions can be scary, intimidating, and challenging, but the rewards of serving your community are worth the effort.
If I am forced to pick one trait, I want to see in an applicant, I want to see passion and love for the county.
4. Recent controversies before the Albany County Commission have involved discussions of “private property rights” – and these controversies have exposed different opinions on what is meant by that term.
Please describe what you think is meant by private property rights, and how you would deal with situations where: (1) private property rights are in conflict; and (2) where private property rights and the public interest might be in conflict (for example, the public’s interest in keeping its drinking water supply clean).
I am well aware of the contentious debates regarding property rights. This is a topic that generates a lot of passion in our community. I personally have had a baptism of fire on this topic because of my support for aquifer protection and the Rail Tie project.
Property rights should be supported strongly by the County Commission, that does not mean that a property owner can violate county rules for zoning and development. When the greater good and safety of the county outweighs the property rights of the individual, the commissioners must be willing and able to do what is necessary for the greater good of the county, especially when dealing with having a clean and safe water supply.
Terri Jones
Did not respond to questionnaire.
Heber Richardson
Did not respond to questionnaire.
