Wyoming Department of Commerce DIVISION OF STATE PARKS & HISTORIC SITES STAFF HOUSING POLICY March 1997
WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DIVISION OF STATE PARKS & mstoric SITES STAFF HOUSING POLICY 1. Summary At certain locations, housing for SPHS is provided as a condition of employment due to the difficulties of the position. An "essential house" is one which the Department considers essential for the operation, management, and/or security of a state owned property or state project. The tenant in an "essential" state owned residence is assigned there as part of his or her own employment. The tenant's state telephone is listed as a public office, and there are signs to inform the public where the area manager or other personnel live. The manager is required to live on the property so he or she will be available to deal with any situation arising on the property. In exchange for being available, the manager and other staff required to live on site, will be provided with housing, the payment of utilities and appropriate supplies to keep up or improve the residence. This housing is provided with the expectation that the care and use of the facility will be in keeping with the fact that public funds are used to provide and maintain the facility. In keeping with this philosophy the occupants will provide a damage deposit of three hundred dollars ($300.00) prior to occupancy. Deposits will be returned to the employee upon termination or reassignment providing the final inspection proves no damages are due the department. This deposit is not retroactive and does not apply to current occupants. It is the intent of this policy to provide guidelines for decisions regarding construction, maintenance and improvement of state owned housing which is as equitable as possible to all concerned. The housing provided should be attractive, economical structures which will comfortably accommodate a family of up to four people. It is clearly understood that basic furnishings, wall decorations and drapes will be provided by the tenant. Implementation of this policy is understood to be subject to the availability offunds. ll. Maintenance of Existing Residences A. The Department Shall: 1. Provide equipment, materials and labor to keep a high standard of appearance of the residence and related landscape. This is to include trees, shrubs, grass, sidewalks, drainage and paint for the buildings. On historic properties the alteration to historic landscapes and buildings will be done so only with the authorization of the Division Director and in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office. 1
2. Provide labor, material and equipment for the maintenance of roads and driveways. 3. Provide for trash removal from the property. 4. Provide labor, time and material for the periodic maintenance of the facility, including painting, woodwork, flooring and general repairs as needed. 5. Provide labor and materials to paint the interior upon immediate occupancy and thereafter as required for normal maintenance. Prior approval of the immediate supervisor will be required in all instances. 6. Repair or replace any plumbing, heating or electrical parts, built-in appliances or other integral parts of the house which become unserviceable through normal use or determined to be obsolete by the supervisor. The immediate supervisor will be consulted regarding major repairs or replacements. The Department will not replace existing portable appliances as they wear out. 7. Provide initial extermination services for pests such as insects or rodents, as well as periodic or repeated services, with the approval of the immediate supervisor. 8. Provide adequate floor covering in a good state of repair, subject to approval of the immediate supervisor. Decisions will be made on the basis of economics, serviceability and durability. 9. Pay for basic utilities such as electrical, water, sewage and gas, so long as the use of these utilities is reasonable. 10. Provide, at the Department's discretion, one telephone with a public listing and pay installation, maintenance, local service charges, and all business charges on that phone. 11. Provide utilities and site for location of privately owned house trailers for seasonal personnel when possible. Materials for upkeep of the site will be provided by the department. B. The Tenant Shall: 1. Provide materials and labor for routine maintenance such as cleaning floors, carpets, windows, woodwork, replacing light bulbs, etc. All day-to-day cleaning and maintenance is the responsibility of the tenant. 2
2. Provide materials and labor for personal preference changes in paint and wall papering, subject to the approval of the immediate supervisor. 3. Provide materials and labor for the replacement of items such as paneling, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, carpeting, etc., when the replacement is done on the basis of personal tastes subject to approval of the immediate supervisor. These items will be considered to be a permanent part of the dwelling and will remain with the dwelling unless it is mutually agreed that the original item can be stored and put back in place upon an employees departure. The Department will pay only for those items that are replaced due to their loss of serviceability or function. Only neutral colors may be used. 4. Pay for personal telephone extensions and all personal phone charges and calls. 5. Provide labor and materials for annual landscaping (flowers, etc.) and periodic maintenance. Where desired, provide labor and materials for gardening of any type. Gardens on Historic Sites are restricted to the guidance of a qualified archeologist, immediate supervisor and, if necessary, by the State Historic Preservation Office. 6. Where desired, provide recreational and leisure facilities for private use (basketball court, above ground swimming pool, playground equipment, etc.), subject to the approval of the immediate supervisor. These facilities should reflect the natural or historic mood of the area and utilize natural or historically compatible materials as much as possible. 7. Where desired and as approved by the immediate supervisor, provide personal convenience appliances such as window air conditioning, garbage disposal, trash compactors, television antennas, and other such items. 8. Provide appliances such as refrigerator, cooking stove, window air conditioning units and humidifiers upon taking residence if the original state owned appliances are worn out or not existing. Such appliances will remain the property of the tenant and any maintenance or repair will be the responsibility of the tenant. 9. Provide furniture and drapes which will remain tenant's property. 3
10. Restrict storage of recreational equipment, machinery, or vehicles to only items owned by the occupants. All vehicles and such are to be stored in an orderly arrangement within the area designated for dwellings or storage and not in the shop or working yard area. The storage of inoperable vehicles is prohibited except in the case of short term repairs or a hobby type project. All storage must be approved by the immediate supervisor prior to movement of the vehicle onto the site. 11. Be responsible for the maintenance of the site when trailer sites are provided for occupation by privately owned house trailers for seasonal staff. The department will not be responsible for maintaining the trailer house or appurtenances. 12. Be responsible for all privately owned animals. a. Livestock, including fowl, and pets must be controlled or not sheltered in department provided housing or lands. This is not to prevent tenants from owning house pets or in certain instances horses, but to insure health and safety requirements are maintained, and that state property will not be damaged due to excessive pet exposure. Any deviation will not be allowed without the prior written permission of the immediate supervisor under conditions deemed necessary. b. Pets that present a threat or nuisance to other occupants of staff housing or the visiting public will not be tolerated. All damage caused by pets or horses is the responsibility of the owner and all repairs made due to pet damage must be approved by the immediate supervisor before acceptance as satisfactory and complete. c. Bovine, swine, goats, fowl, etc. The department will not permit the tenant to run personal livestock on state owned or controlled property for domestic or educational purposes, nor as "pets". (No livestock, including horses, are allowed on Bureau of Reclamation property.) d. Horses. There will be a limit to not more than two horses allowed to be kept on state facilities. These animals will not be allowed in areas where they may come in daily contact with the visiting public and all unattended horses will be kept in corrals in designated "safe" areas. Fencing and enclosure material costs will be the responsibility of the owner. No grazing will be allowed in areas where they may come into contact with the public or endanger the staff. All corrals will be regularly cleaned and the manure hauled to designated landfills at the expense of the owner. All liability for injury to the public or staffby privately owned horses will be assumed by the owner. Stabling of horses owned by persons other than staff members will not be permitted. Prior approval of the immediate supervisor is required before horses will be allowed on any state lands. 4
e. House pets. Serious health problems and damage to state owned housing can result from too many pets. A limit of no more than five pets will be allowed on state property and in the dwellings. No more than two dogs will be allowed in or around each housing unit. Any damage effected to state housing or property will be corrected at the expense of the tenant. Birds will be required to be kept in cages at all times and wild fowl will not be trapped or caged in or around staff housing. Fish tanks are exempt from the five pet criteria. f Wild animals. All fowls or animals protected by the laws of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will not be trapped, kept or fed in violation of any of their regulations. Any wild animals not governed by the Wyoming Game and Fish will not be captured, retained or fed which may endanger public properties or render them unsanitary. ill. InspectionsfDamage Deposits A. All residences are to be inspected prior to occupancy by the prospective inhabitant, and their immediate supervisor. B. All residences are to be inspected by the former inhabitant and their immediate supervisor immediately after a tenant vacates the residence for any reason. C. Inspections are to be made on an annual basis by the Field Operations Section Manager or designee. At least 10 working days notice will be given before the inspection date. All permanent staff on the site will be members of and participate in the actual inspection. Other inspections can be scheduled if necessary to protect state investments. D. Inspections will be necessary to protect state facilities and to identify any maintenance problems or conditions. E. Residence occupants will provide a damage deposit of three hundred dollars ($300.00) prior to occupancy. This deposit is not retroactive and does not apply to current occupants. F. Damage deposits will be required for new employees or when employees move to state housing for the first time. Transferring from one state residence to another does not require a new deposit. G. Damage deposits will be kept in a fund solely established for that purpose. Deposits will be returned upon completion of a satisfactory residential inspection for an employee undergoing termination or reassignment to an area without housing. The Department reserves the right to withhold any portion of the deposit necessary to correct problems resulting from a tenant's occupancy. 5
IV. Repair and Rehabilitation Projects A. The Department may provide changes in the facility or structure, including remodeling, rewiring, replumbing, or room additions where there is a real need based upon the health and safety of the occupants or when modernization is necessary to meet existing building and safety codes. B. In special cases where a large family may consider moving into a small house, it is the responsibility of the Department to inform the potential tenant of what changes will or will not be made to the residence. C. Any major changes must have proper budgetary considerations and prior approval through normal channels. v. Residency on Properties A. As a condition of employment, assigned personnel will reside full-time on the properties where facilities are available. B. Department provided sites are to be used by currently employed personnel. Only immediate family and occasional visitors are allowed to live at these sites. Exceptions require written prior approval from the Field Operations Section Manager. C. Upon written approval from the immediate supervisor and that person's supervisor, personnel who have terminated employment for whatever reason will have up to fourteen (14) days to vacate the residence. D. All privately owned fixtures, appliances, and any other personal property must be removed within 48 hours of vacating the residence by the tenant. Any personal items not removed will be considered abandoned and will become the property of the state after this time. Appendix A: Housing Specifications Appendix B: Housing Inspection/Consent Form Housing Annual Inspection Form 6
VI. Signatures HOUSING COMMITTEE: W~ /r- David Taylor, superint: \rt j ~ sonn=ch, Superintendent Wve;, Superintendent Dave Wilson, Superintendent > Mi ~k~kif ldo e ~M~~~----------------- l"uje, ie peranons anager 10 -/0-7'0 Date David Peck, President APPROVAL: (2-;27-17 Date 7
Appendix A SPHS HOUSING SPECIFICATIONS March 1996 I. Introduction These specifications are the minimum standards. In some areas, recommended alternative improvements are listed. There are two types of housing - new and existing. Each is addressed separately. Il. New Housing A. Types of Housing 1. Custom built on site 2. Pre-fabricated (assembled at site) 3. Modular 4. Mobile home (single or double-wide) B. Square Footage C. Style Based upon the needs of a family offour, the minimum square footage of any new housing shall be twelve hundred (1200) + square feet, and include three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Examples of dimensions would be: Houses (including modulars) - 28 x 44 Mobile homes (single) - 16 x 80 (dw) - 24 x 50 Where basements are feasible, permanent housing (including modulars) should be constructed with a basement. An example of recommended permanent housing is the Boise Homes residence of the Superintendent at Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park. The style of housing may be individualized for each location. D. Heating, cooling and Insulation Heating may be gas (natural or propane) or electric, whichever is most economic and effective for the location. Other possible additions or alternatives (hot water, solar, heat pumps, wood or pellet stoves) may be incorporated as recommended by current technology.
If possible, central systems that include air conditioning should be included. At a minimum, insulation shall meet the requirements of the R-Value recommendations as set by the Department of Energy for the climate zone the building is located in. Current examples of these requirements for most of Wyoming would be: exterior walls - R-19, ceilings - R-33 to R-50, floors - R-19 or more if not set on a basement. E. Other Elements Windows and exterior doors shall be weather-tight and insulated. Connections for a washer and dryer shall be included in all new housing. F. Garages and Storage Buildings Where feasible, a double garage (24 x 24) should be attached to new permanent housing. Mobile homes and other temporary housing should have a storage building located nearby for use by the residing staff G. Codes All applicable codes shall be met in new construction. III. Existing Housing A. Existing housing shall be evaluated by the minimum standards set for new housing. It will be a priority to bring existing housing up to these standards. B. Unless an individual existing house has architectural or historical value as established by local, state or national guidelines, the long-term goal will be to replace housing that cannot be brought up to the minimum standards.
Appendix B DEPARTMENT PROVIDED HOUSING INSPECTION/CONSENT FORM PRE-OCCUPANCY INSPECTION: Note below are the observed conditions ofbull.ding #,located at, WY prior to occupancy. ------------------------------------ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Occupant Date: _ Supervisor Consent: I,, proposed occupant of building # agree and consent to provide $300.00 as a damage deposit during occupancy of said building. The deposit is intended to cover repairs required beyond normal wear to building # or furnishings based on mutual agreement and the preoccupancy and Department inspection. Unused monies will be returned to the employee upon completion of a satisfactory inspection for an employee termination or reassignment. The supervisor will forward the deposit to SPHS Headquarters, Cheyenne. Date Occupant DEPARTURE INSPECTION: Noted herein are the observed conditions of building # upon vacation by relative to the Pre-occupancy inspection. Please note apparent damage or deterioration due to occupancy beyond normal wear. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Date: _ Occupant Supervisor c: Occupant, Supervisor, Headquarters Office