The County Commissioners’ meeting was called to order July 21, 2020 at 9:02 a.m. with Chairman Patrick H. Wade, Vice-Chair John Midkiff, Commissioner Elaine Griffith, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman, present.
Ken Dockweiler with Bridger Pipeline met with the Commissioners and Road and Bridge Foreman Fred Thomas and updated them on pipeline activities and said they are nearing completion.
Foreman Thomas discussed roads and said that work was completed on Gun Club Road. JW Services, LLC is working on Hat Creek Road and Buck Creek Freight is working on Stage Road. Gun Club and Hat Creek Road repairs were funded by the ONEOK cash settlement and Stage Road repairs were funded by Bridger Pipeline.
Landowner Bobbie Musfelt had asked that a 45 mph sign to be posted on Kirtley Road. Mr. Thomas stated that there has to be safety, crash and traffic studies done before signs could be posted.
Old Business- The Commissioners discussed the Tri-County Broad Band project. It was also noted there was nothing new to report on the courtroom audio upgrades.
County Attorney- Deputy County Attorney Doyle Davies met with the Commissioners and noted that he has completed contracts for two contractors for the fairgrounds auditorium upgrades as well as the lease agreement between the Niobrara County Rural Fire District and Niobrara County for the County to lease a motor grader from the fire district.
Ratify Letter of Support to Connect Wyoming Broadband- Commissioner Griffith moved to ratify the letter of support for Vistabeam Internet's (Inventive Wireless of Nebraska, LLC) proposal for funding from the State of Wyoming Broadband Grant Program and Wyoming Business Council to provide aid and relief to assist Covid-19 impacted communities. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, motion carried.
Memorandum of Understanding- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between Niobrara County Rural Fire District and Niobrara County to lease a 2017 Cat Motor Grader Model 140LVR for $1.00 per year with a lease term of 10 years. Commissioner Griffith seconded, motion carried.
Adoption of the FY 2021 Budget- The Commissioners reviewed comments from the budget hearing held July 20, 2020. There were minor housekeeping adjustments made to the final budget versus the proposed budget published in The Lusk Herald.
Resolution 20-09 - FY 2021 Budget Appropriations- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve
RESOLUTION 20-09 BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS
GENERAL FUND
WHEREAS, the Niobrara County Clerk, the budget making authority, prepared and submitted to the Board, a county budget for the 2021 Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021.
WHEREAS, such a budget was duly entered at large upon the records of this board and a copy of thereof was made available for public inspection at the office of the County Clerk; and
WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing on such budget, together with the summary of said budget, was published in the Lusk Herald, a legal newspaper published and of
general circulation in the county on the 8th day of July, 2020; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on such budget at the time and place specified in said notice, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, following such public hearing certain alterations and revisions were made in such proposed budget, all of which more fully appear in the minutes of this Board.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners that the county budget, as so revised and altered, be adopted as the official county budget for the 2021 Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following appropriations be made for the 2021 Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2021, and that the expenditures of each officer, department, or spending agency be limited to the amount herein appropriated.
County Commissioners
$121,998.16
County Clerk
$132,623.33
County Treasurer
$125,568.76
County Assessor
$143,278.11
Sheriff
$396,492.61
County Attorney
$155,338.31
1% Option Tax
$225,000.00
Dispatch
$281,277.16
Coroner
$28,099.11
Extension Office
$81,201.81
Magistrate
$12,000.00
Facilities
