The County Commissioners’ meeting was called to order on March 2, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Patrick H. Wade, Vice-Chairman John Midkiff, Commissioner Elaine Griffith, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman present.
Chairman Wade led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Road & Bridge- Road and Bridge Foreman Fred Thomas met with the Commissioners and discussed road and bridge business.
He said that Jimmy and Carmen Shane had asked if a “No Outlet” road sign could be posted on Shane Road to try and deter traffic.
Josh Harkins with BenchMark of Torrington joined the meeting. He submitted a revised road agreement between Timberline Services, Inc. and Niobrara County revising Section 11.08- Appicable Law and Venue to read: District Court of the State of Wyoming, Eighth Judicial District, sitting in Lusk, WY instead of sitting in Torrington, WY.
2020 Winter Road Rehabilitation Project- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve the 2020 Winter Road Rehabilitation Project between Timberline Services, Inc. and Niobrara County for road rehabilitation work to be done on approximately five (5) miles of Cheyenne River Road beginning 13.2 miles west of U.S. Highway 85 for $177,529.80 to be paid from the County Road Fund account. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
The group went on to discuss fuel costs and Chairman Wade suggested requesting quotes for diesel prices from various fuel providers.
Elected Officials & Dept. Heads- Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan updated the Commissioners on the new generator at the fairgrounds. He said he had discussed the matter with the electrician to find out why it didn’t return to city power after a power outage and power had been restored.
He also said he was busy helping Dr. Melanie Pearce with the COVID-19 vaccination walk-in clinics.
Sheriff Cary Gill said there are two sheriff’s vehicles in need of repair and that he will have two deputies attending a short training at the law enforcement academy.
Assessor Teri Stephens, Treasurer Keri Thompson, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman said their offices were busy conducting day to day business.
UW Extension Educator Denise Smith said that they have begun to rent the fairgrounds auditorium. She noted there were a few minor issues to correct from the recent upgrade.
Clerk of Court Chrisanna Lund said that two of the civil jury trials have been postponed due to COVID, but there is a criminal jury trial set for the first week in May.
Vice-Chairman Midkiff said that he and Commissioner Griffith have also been assisting Dr. Pearce with the vaccination clinics.
The group went on to discuss legislative bills of interest for each office.
Sheriff Gill remained after the elected officials’ meeting and he and the Commissioners reviewed his budget.
Lumen Vesta E911 Maintenance- Commissioner Griffth moved to approve the Lumen (fka CenturyLink) Vesta E911 maintenance contract for one year for $7,933.62. Vice- Chairman Midkiff seconded and the motion carried.
Commissioner Griffith moved to sign a letter requesting reimbursement from the Wyoming Business Council for necessary items not originally included in the Fairgrounds Auditorium Upgrade Grant. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded and the motion carried. Said items were for fencing around the HVAC unit and for Neil Holmes of Holmes Ranch Excavation, LLC. as the owner’s representative to oversee the construction project.
County Attorney- County Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners and discussed county business. Sheriff Gill was also in attendance.
Executive Session- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to enter into Executive Session at 2:14 p.m. with County Attorney Wasserburger and Sheriff Gill to discuss personnel matters. Commissioner Griffith seconded and the motion carried. Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to reconvene the regular meeting at 2:31 p.m. Commissioner Griffith seconded and the motion carried. There was no action taken.
The Commissioners thanked Sheriff Gill for his time and input.
Executive Session- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to enter into Executive Session at 2:35 p.m. with County Attorney Wasserburger to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation. Commissioner Griffith seconded and the motion carried. Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to reconvene the regular meeting at 2:54 p.m. Commissioner Griffith seconded and the motion carried. There was no action taken.
Commissioner Directives- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to sign Directive 21-1 regarding comp. time and overtime restrictions and budget concerns and Directive 21-2 regarding elected officials’ and department heads’ signatures on timecards. Commissioner Griffith seconded, motion carried.
Consent Agenda- Commissioner Griffith, moved to approve the consent agenda. Vice- Chairman Midkiff seconded, motion carried. Items on the consent agenda were the minutes of the February 16, 2021 meeting and February receipts from the County Clerk for $4,382.13, the Sheriff for $620.00, the Clerk of District Court for $176.00 and Public Health for $341.92.
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment:
Aflac Insurance- Supplemental insurance-$7651.60, Allbright’s True Value- Supplies, parts, maintenance, new equipment- $255.77, Alsco- Shop towels- $274.30, Barnes Law, LLC.- Court appointed attorney- $30.00, Becky Blackburn- Reimburse for supplies- $27.29, Becky L. Freeman- Travel expense- $278.54, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Supplies- $293.41, Black Hills Energy- Utilities- $2651.62, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming- Health insurance- $18187.00, Body Builders Body Shop- Fairgrounds auditorium upgrades- $2600.00, Boldon Welding & Repair, LLC.- Equipment repairs- $586.28, C & H Tire & Trailer Repair, LLC.- Parts- $67.89, Canon Financial Services, Inc.- Copier service agreement, property tax fees- $428.76, CenturyLink- Telephone- $1356.44, CenturyLink Business- Telephone- $81.45, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Copier service agreements- $316.11, Cory Wilcox- Deputy coroner- $100.00, County Clerks’ Association of Wyoming- 2021 Dues- $300.00, Decker’s Market- Inmate meds & meals, supplies- $118.40, Delta Dental of WY- Dental insurance- $1168.80, Dennis C. Meier- Office rent- $1000.00, Dept. of Health- Reimbursement to State for Co. quarterly share of Public Health Nurse salary- $4044.62, Double A Properties, LLC.- Office rent- $1000.00, Falen Law Offices, LLC.- Natural resources plan update- $4872.82, Frank Parts Company- Parts, oil- $505.65, Fusion Cloud Services, LLC.- Telephone- $848.81, Geographic Innovations- Professional mapping, county map printing costs- $1360.00, Great-West Trust Company- Deferred Comp,- $17835.00, GreatAmerica Financial Services- Canon copier- $103.00, Helpmate Crisis Center- CARES Act Charitable Relief funding- $12,300.00, Hiway Brake & Alignment- Vehicle repairs- $321.12, Holmes Ranch Excavation, LLC.- Project management for fairgrounds auditorium upgrade- $12,500.00, Honey Bader Towing & Recovery, LLC.- Transporting emergency mgmt. vehicle for repairs- $425.00, J. G. Construction, LLC.- Fairgrounds auditorium upgrades- $24784.44, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance, LLC.- February fairgrounds cleaning contract- $6800.00, Katie Krein- Prevention grant expenses- $109.05, Ken Brown- Court appointed attorney- $660.00, Leonard O. Pullis- Reimburse for parts- $117.09, Long Building Technologies, Inc.- Building/equipment maintenance- $2107.07, Lusk Does Drove #64- CARES Act Charitable Relief funding- $3800.00, Lusk Herald- Publications- $2310.00, MasterCard- I T expense, supplies, telephone, jury fees, new equipment, medical supplies, postage, inmate meds & meals, schools, transports, travel expense, vehicle repairs- $3613.89, Mobius Communication Company- Supplies- $13.21, NCHS Tiger Pride Boosters- CARES Act Charitable Relief funding- $2803.40, NCIC Inmate Communications- Phone cards for inmate commissary account- $420.00, Nebraska Safety & Fire Equipment, Inc.- Justice center maintenance- $435.00, New Jersey Family Support Payment Center- Garnishment- $819.00, Niobrara Alumni Association- CARES Act Charitable Relief funding- $1511.80, Niobrara County Circuit Court- Garnishments- $1303.95, Niobrara County Hospital District- 1% Option tax & employee medical- $13599.64, Niobrara County Library- Library deferred comp.- $1725.00, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention grant indirect costs- $278.70, Niobrara County Treasurer- Postage- $27.95, Niobrara Electric Association- Radio tower- $50.36, Niobrara Senior Center, Inc.- CARES Act Charitable Relief funding- $5000.00, Peterson Construction- Library maintenance- $180.00, Platte County School District #1- Annual random drug testing fees- $210.00, Rancher’s Feed & Supply, Inc.- Parts- $4.13, Rawhide FFA- CARES Act Charitable Relief funding- $5457.00, Russell’s Transmission- Vehicle repairs- $1344.50, Sashanna Miller- Inmate medical- $1015.00, Schindler Elevator Corporation- Quarterly maintenance agreement- $1282.14, Smith Psychological Services- Employee medical- $400.00, Team Laboratory Chemical, LLC.- Fairgrounds supplies- $175.50, The Master’s Touch, LLC.- Mailing service- $1000.00, Thomson Reuters-West- Law library- $159.14, Torrington Office Supply- Supplies- $699.42, Town of Lusk- Utilities- $3137.77, Traci Bruegger- February courthouse, library, justice center cleaning contract- $4500.00, Valley Motor Supply- Parts- $451.05, Verizon Wireless- Computer & I T expense, cell phones- $280.17, Vision Service Plan- Vision insurance- $445.47, Visionary Broadband- I T expense- $610.12, Wal-Mart Community- Supplies- $27.46, WEBT- Life insurance- $216.00, Westco- Diesel- $4185.59, Western Detention- Justice center maintenance- $715.50, Whitaker Oil- Fuel- $3307.63, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services- Unemployment compensation- $1682.66, WY Department of Public Health Laboratory- Medical supplies- $93.00, Wyoming Machinery Company- Parts- $504.20, Wyoming Network, Inc.- Website hosting & design- $200.00, Wyoming Signs, LLC.- Parts- $55.78, Xerox Corporation- Xerox copier service agreement- $132.83
Grand Total- $201,377.29
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman
Niobrara County Clerk
Public Notice No. 5601. Published in The Lusk Herald on March 24, 2021.
