LUSK – The Niobrara County Commissioners approved a written policy by the sheriff’s department on random drug testing during Monday’s meeting. 

The second meeting of the month was moved to Monday, Oct 18 because of a joint commissioners meeting which was held on Tuesday to select a new District 2 Representative.

County Sheriff Cary Gill, Undersheriff Kelly Dean, and Jail Detention Supervisor Jim Frye presented the commissioners and Deputy County Attorney Doyle Davies, who was present via telephone, with a written plan for court ordered random drug testing as agreed upon at the last meeting. 

Gill said he talked to Goshen and Platte County for their policies, while Dean and Frye called other counties as well. 

According to Dean, a written policy for random drug testing for the jail is unique in Wyoming. 

“We’re the only county in the state that’s doing anything like this,” Dean said. 

Dean added other counties either have an assigned deputy coordinate the drug tests or do not do them at all. 

Gill said Frye will be going over the new policy with his staff at the jail. 

Another issue brought up at the last meeting was the lack of policy around inmates with drugs on them getting tested for drugs in their system. Gill said it has also been addressed in the new policy, and inmates will be searched and tested if they have probable cause to do so. 

Dean said there was also an issue of not knowing who was already on the random test list, but it will now be flagged in the system. 

Chairman Patrick Wade acknowledge the effort put into making the policy and emphasized the need for it. 

“We realize it has taken some effort, but it is that important,” Wade said.

In other business, Bree Burton and Reid Hensen with Y2 Consultants called into the meeting to discuss updates on their socioeconomic report of Niobrara County. 

Hensen said the report will not just be internet sources of data, but instead meeting with people the community to understand the economic situation of the county.

Hensen also went through an exercise with the commissioners to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Wade said a strength is sustainability in the county. 

“The last thing we need to have happen is to lose ground from where we’re at,” Wade said. 

According to Wade, the most successful businesses in the area have sustained for a long time.

Commissioner Elaine Griffith said one issue has been a lack of workers, while Wade added affordable housing for employees is also lacking in the county. Hensen said those are common issues in other places he has worked with in the past year. 

Griffith said another weakness is broadband in the area, especially with the increasing need for it since the beginning of the pandemic. Hensen agreed broadband is a necessity to increase the county’s economic growth. 

Commissioner John Midkiff said tourism is an opportunity because a lot of people travel through the county to go North to the Black Hills or South to Colorado. Wade said tourism will be limited since there is a lack or restaurants in the county. 

In terms of threats, Griffith said if any business closes it will have a ripple effect on the community. 

“When you have to have your car worked on and there’s nobody here you have to take it out of town, and while you’re there you’re going to buy groceries,” Griffith said. “Maybe you’ll go to Walmart and buy the hardware stuff you need… if one business closes it effects all the other businesses.” 

Wade added regulations to bedrock agriculture could also be a threat to the county’s economy.   

The commissioners received a revised contract for the study with Y2 Consultants which states a cap of $10,000 on the study. 

Road and Bridge Foreman Fred Thomas discussed road cleanup from the snowstorm. Thomas said his crew did as much as they could when the storm hit one Wednesday and worked all day Thursday as well. Thomas added they plan to widen out some areas which are trouble spots. 

Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan presented the commissioners with two options for the Homeland Security Gant the county received. 

The initial plan was to use the grant for purchasing and installing a new generator at the courthouse. The county received $30,000 but still need more the $26,000 for the project. 

Santistevan said they can hold on to the first grant and apply again for “phase two” to get the second half of the funding. 

The other option is to change where the grant will be applied to and use it to fix the roof at the county fairgrounds. Wade said the grant could be used for the fairgrounds because it is an emergency shelter for the county. 

The commissioners agreed to keep the funding for the generator projects and apply for the rest of the funding. The commissioners will ask for $50,000 since they received half of their requested funding last time. 

Santistevan clarified the county will have to pay for the project and will get reimbursed by the grant. 

Santistevan also led the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) as chairman of the board for the committee’s first meeting since July 20. The committee discussed Threat Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) report for the county and when active shooter training will take place. The committee agreed it can take place in January. 

The next LEPC meeting will be Jan. 18. 

Regional Supervisor for Public Health Melanie Pearce told the commissioners she needed written permission from them to replace nurse Anna Foreman whose last day is Nov. 30. 

Pearce also gave an update on the search for a new Public Health Response Coordinator and said she wants Niobrara County to have their own response coordinator rather than share with Goshen County. 

The commissioners agreed with Pearce and requested to put out a job description and a salary range which the commissioners will discuss. 

Pearce said she has received interest in the position from a few local people.  

The commissioners looked discussed bids they received for trimming and pruning trees around the courthouse and jail. The commissioners approved to work with Mike Mayville of Mountain Diversified Services for four to be trees removed and five trees for pruning for $4,400. 

In other business, the commissioners approved a catering permit to Silver Dollar Bar for the Western Firearms Committee’s Son of a Gun Banquet on Oct. 23. 

The next regular meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. at the Niobrara County Courthouse.