PUBLIC NOTICE
The Special Meeting of the Niobrara County Commissioners was called to order on July 8, 2022, at 9:01 a.m. with Chairman Patrick H. Wade, Vice-Chairman John Midkiff, Commissioner Elaine Griffith, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman present. Members of the audience included Heather Goddard of The Lusk Herald.
The purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the Sheriff’s Office hiring policies, budgeting for the library and fair boards and cyber security updates. Undersheriff Kelly Dean, Sheriff Cary Gill and Deputy County Attorney Doyle J. Davies were in attendance and County Attorney Anne Wasserburger attended via phone.
Undersheriff Dean provided several policies that the Sheriff’s Office uses for each department. For these and any new policies to be in effect, the Sheriff must sign them.
Attorney Wasserburger noted that when a department adopts new policies, in addition to being signed by the sheriff, the County policy and the other policies should be in harmony and not contradict one another.
The group discussed at length, the need for clear instructions and policies on hiring new employees and making sure all steps are completed through Wyoming Peace Officer Standards Training (P.O.S.T.)
Immediate steps to be taken when hiring include the supervisor taking the application of the potential hire and following a checklist ensuring the completeness of the application. That application is then submitted to the undersheriff to certify the accuracy and completeness of the application. At that point it is given to the sheriff, who has the final say on who is hired. He signs off on the checklist thus approving the application. The sheriff then gives the approved application to someone who has the authority to submit to P.O.S.T. If P.O.S.T. approves the application, then a P.O.S.T. number is granted that would allow the potential hire to complete necessary duties at the Sheriff’s Office. This was not done in the recent past, which resulted in a statutory violation, however, there is no provision in statutes for P.O.S.T. to assess a penalty.
The Commissioners asked if there were any pending offers of employment or applications and Undersheriff Dean said no. There are two positions open in detention and possibly two in dispatch. They have advertised on social media as well as traditional publications.
The group went on to discuss disciplinary action policies for Sheriff’s Office employees.
Currently, the policies state the rules for disciplinary action is under the authority of the Sheriff.
Executive Session- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to enter executive session at 9:39 a.m. to discuss personnel matters. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
