The regular meeting of the Niobrara County Commissioners commenced on June 18, 2024, at 9:03 a.m. Present were Chairman Patrick H. Wade, Vice-Chairman John Midkiff, and Commissioner Elaine Griffith. Also present were County Clerk Becky L. Freeman and Sheriff Randy L. Starkey. Brandie Collins with the Lusk Herald, Joe McDaniel and Jeb Hanson were also in attendance.
Chairman Wade opened a public meeting to receive comments on the issuance of a special use permit for the installation of a 504 sq. ft. prefab telecommunications hut and generator which will be surrounded by a 30’ x 65’ fence on a parcel of land, being 75 feet x 75 feet square, situated in the NW1/4 of Section 8, T39N, R61W.
Mike Steinmetz with Advanced Communications Technology, Inc., dba Range attended via Zoom.
Mr. Steinmetz gave a brief explanation of the project. There were no other comments in favor of or in opposition to the issuance of the special use permit and Chairman Wade closed the hearing and reconvened the regular meeting.
Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to approve the issuance of a special use permit for Advanced Communications Technology, Inc., dba Range. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Road & Bridge- Foreman Fred Thomas met with the Commissioners and discussed the 2024 County Road Rehabilitation project and said the contractor should have his bond in place by this afternoon.
Commissioner Griffith said there was an auto gate on Gun Club Road that needs repaired.
The Commissioners reviewed the road and bridge budget request.
County Attorney- Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners to discuss county business. She said the public health nurse contracts were in order and could be signed.
The group discussed opioid settlement funds and she said the money can be used for transport to a treatment facility or other opioid treatment services. They also discussed the funds available for the prevention of problematic gambling behavior. Commissioner Griffith said that the Prevention Program Coordinator should be able to manage these funds.
Dru Bower, President of DRU Consulting, LLC., met with the Commissioners via Zoom and updated them on the BLM Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as well as the BLM’s Greater Sage Grouse conservation plan.
WYDOT Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Presentation - Mark Williams, District Construction Engineer, gave the annual STIP presentation. Others in attendance were Jeremy Holken, Mark Nelson, Brooke Allen, Bob Musfelt, WYDOT representatives, House District 2 Representative Allen Slagle, Richard Ladwig and Fred Thomas.
Mr. Williams explained WYDOT’s areas of focus and strategies and discussed their six-year construction plan.
Leslie Stewart met with the Commissioners and updated them on the review of the old jail with Ayers Associates. She said he took pictures and can create mockups, drawings etc., for future use.
She said the steering committee is comprised of Greg & Janette Starck and Dan & Barbara Cushman.
There will be an open house this weekend from June 22, 2024, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Melanie Pearce, Public Health Nursing Supervisor, met with the Commissioners via telephone and presented a Community Prevention Grant Agreement and a Public Health Nursing Unit and Maternal Child Health Unit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Wyoming Department of Health and Niobrara County for approval.
Commissioner Griffith moved to sign the MOU between the WYDOH, Public Health Division and Niobrara County for Public Health Nursing Services and Maternal Child Health Services that support Title V MCH Block Grant priorities. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Commissioner Griffith moved to sign the Prevention Grant agreement for two years for a total of $175,000. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Neil Holmes, project oversight coordinator, met with the Commissioners and updated them on the fairground lighting project and the courthouse generator project. He said the lighting project is complete. He said the electricity for the new sign is installed, but the sign is not set up yet.
He said the courthouse generator will be hooked up and tested tomorrow.
Commissioner Griffith moved to request funding from the Wyoming Gaming Commission for the prevention and treatment of problematic gambling behavior. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Election Judges’ Compensation- Commissioner Griffith moved to set the compensation for election judges, absentee, and counting board members as follows: Election Judges $145.00 per election, absentee and counting board members $10.00 per hour per election, compensation for attending judge’s training $10.00 per election, mileage beyond five (5) miles at the current IRS rate and employees assisting in an election, their current hourly rate. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Library Board Member Reappointment- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to reappoint Kathy Coon and Ingrida Heil to the library board for three-year terms each. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Cleaning Contract Extensions- Commissioner Elaine Griffith moved to approve a two-year extension of the cleaning contract with Traci Bruegger for the courthouse, library, and justice center, with no changes, and a two-year extension of the cleaning contract with Jameson Cleaning and Maintenance for the fairgrounds with an increase to the monthly contract price to $8,000.00, and removal of the floor waxing clause except when necessary. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Consent Agenda- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda were the minutes of the June 4, 2024, meeting, receipts for May from the Sheriff for $86.25, a Tax Roll Supplement for Remuda Energy Development LLC., from the 2022 Tax Year for $288.77, and a Petition of Affidavit for Reduction of Taxes for Remuda Energy Development, LLC. from the 2022 Tax Roll for $288.70.
Treasurer Keri Thompson met with the Commissioners to ask that they increase the spending limit on the treasurer’s credit card to $10,000.00. Commissioner Griffith moved to sign a letter authorizing an increase on the treasurer’s credit card limit to $10,000.00. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
There being no further business, Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to adjourn the meeting at 3:30 p.m. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 6114. Published in The Lusk Herald on July 10, 2024.
