The regular meeting of the Niobrara County Commissioners commenced on September 3, 2024, at 9:01 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 Starkey. Members of the audience included Brandie Collins with the Lusk Herald, Jeb Hanson, commissioner candidate, and Kurt Gaukel.
Road & Bridge- Foreman Fred Thomas updated the Commissioners on road and bridge matters.
He said the contractor has not begun work on the 2024 Road Rehab project and the time for completion of the project is running short.
Mr. Hanson asked Foreman Thomas if there was any way for WYDOT to make sure heavy trucks are following weight loads and not avoiding the port. Sheriff Starkey said there were six counties that enforce size and weight loads. Chairman Wade said some counties have portable scales with deputies to enforce the load restrictions, but that requires additional employees.
BenchMark of Torrington- Engineer Brian Wakefield and Shea Frank, land surveyor in training, joined the meeting to discuss the 2024 Road Rehab Project. The question was posed about extending the completion date of the project, and Mr. Wakefield said that more discussion will be held at the next meeting.
Old Jail- There was nothing new to report on this project.
Community Juvenile Services Program- Commissioner Griffith said the Board met last week to discuss the vacancy in the juvenile justice coordinator position. Lacy Jo March’s last day was August 12. Commissioner Griffith said WyoHelp has made applications available for the job, but so far, there has not been much interest.
Jerry Miller stopped in to submit an estimate for roof repairs at the road and bridge shop.
After review, Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to accept the estimate from Miller Construction for roof and drywall repairs at the shop with a cost of between $10,000.00 to $15,000.00. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Commissioner Griffith said she had talked to Todd Skrukrud about painting yellow safety stripes on the steps at the courthouse and he said they have the supplies that they use for their own painting. He will visit with Bruce Himes about it.
Elected Officials and Dept. Heads- Sheriff Randy Starkey said the jail is currently housing three state inmates.
Treasurer Keri Thompson said tax notices were sent out and that she and her staff conducted the tax sale.
Assessor Teri Stephens said they have been reviewing oil and gas equipment. She also discussed the long term homeowner’s exemption. She said they do not have the applications yet but should receive them from the State soon.
Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan discussed the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan which must be revised every five years and is comprised of Converse, Natrona, and Niobrara Counties. He said that FEMA has unofficially approved Niobrara County’s portion of the plan, but Converse and Natrona Counties still have some issues to address.
County Clerk Becky Freeman thanked everyone for their assistance during the Primary Election.
Commissioner Griffith noted that the Conservation District is sponsoring hazardous waste collections at the fairgrounds on September 20th.
Teri Stephens stayed after and discussed IT support for her office. The current contractor is extremely busy and can no longer offer IT support. She has reached out to Converse County’s IT personnel and has asked them to attend a Commissioner meeting to discuss options for her office.
24-Hour Malt Beverages Permit Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to approve the 24-Hour Malt Beverage Permit for Colten Gydesen to provide malt beverages the Gydesen/Lotten wedding reception being held September 21, 2024, at the fairgrounds. Commissioner Griffith 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 August 20, 2024, meeting, and receipts for July from the County Clerk for $4,154.50, from the Clerk of Court for $2,550.50, and from the Public Health Nurse for $389.34.
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment: Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor- Department- Description- Amount- August Payroll- $146,633.26, 14 County Tire- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $50.00, 3 Sister’s Truck Stop- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $57.13, Aflac- Various- Supplemental insurance- $8,333.06, Alsco- Various- Supplies, shop towels & coveralls- $506.92, Amanda Dawson- Elections- Election help- $20.23, Amazon Capital Services- PHN Grant- New equipment- $3,983.90, Amber LaNae Smith- Elections- Election help- $51.78, Anne Wasserburger- Various- Supplies- $612.04, BAM Document Destruction & Recycling, LLC.- Various- Document shredding- $425.90, Barb DeGering- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $203.24, Barbara Orr- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $165.72, Becky Blackburn- Elections- Election help- $197.98; BenchMark of Torrington- Various- Road Rehab project & Draft Land Use Plan Revision- $2,894.67, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Various- Supplies- $597.59, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $318.06, Brenna Brimer- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $255.50, Budd-Falen Law Offices- Commissioners- Legal review of Draft Land Use Plan Revision- $600.00, Cade Pflughoeft- Detention- Travel expense- $305.52, Carla Stroh- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $176.89, Carmen Shane- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $162.15, CenturyLink- Various- Telephones- $1,357.31, CenturyLink Business Services- Various- Telephones- $73.94, Chris Jensen- Co. Road Fund- Auto gate- $4,000.00, CNA Surety- General County- Treasurer’s bond- $200.00, Coast to Coast Solutions- Sheriff- Supplies- $427.10, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements - $663.90, Cory Wilcox- Coroner- Deputy coroner stipend- $150.00, Crimson Fire Protection- Facilities- Fire extinguisher inspections- $368.99, Crook County- Assessor- ESRI GIS Maintenance- $4,249.84, CS Consulting- Assessor- Equipment repairs- $34.60, CSG Forte Payments, Inc.- County Clerk- New equipment- $484.71, Decker’s Market- Various- Supplies- $26.31, Delta Dental of WY- Various- Dental insurance- $945.45, Denise Baars- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $185.82, Dennis C. Meier- Circuit Court Magistrate- Office rent- $1,000.00, Dept. of Workforce Services- General County- Unemployment insurance- $291.00, Donna Thompson Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $162.15, Double A Properties, LLC.- Various- Office rent- $1,500.00, Elaine Francis- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $235.40, Election Systems & Software, Inc.- Elections- Ballot layout- $1,043.60, Empower Trust Company, LLC.- General Co.- Deferred Compensation- $20,555.00, Frank Parts Co.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $702.08, Fritz’s Septic- Elections- Maintenance- $275.00, Geographic Innovations- Various- Professional mapping services- $1,500.00, GreatAmerica Financial Services- Sheriff- Copier service agreement- $103.00, Heather Irvine-Goddard- Elections- Election Judge, school- $162.15, Herren Brothers True Value- Road & Bridge- Parts- $83.74, Hiway Brake & Alignment- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $2,609.16, Holmes Ranch Excavation, LLC.- Facilities- Placing gravel on North side of Sheriff’s garage- $1,365.00, Honey Badger Towing & Recovery, LLC.- Sheriff- Abandoned Vehicles- $211.00, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Fairgrounds cleaning contract, fairgrounds event booking contract- $8,600.00, Jennifer Kottwitz- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $213.29, JoAnn Wade- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $175.77, Julieanne Greenough- Elections- Election Judge, school- $162.15, Jyl Abbott- Election help- $47.65, Karen Gaukel- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $191.18, Kassidy Miller- Prevention Grant- IT expense- $40.00, Kathleen Heine- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $201.23, Kathy Coon- Elections- Election Judge, school- $162.15, Kelsi Overstreet- Elections- School & mileage- $38.14, Ken Brown- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney fees- $372.00, Kurt Gaukel- Elections- Election night help- $17.37, LeAnn Dixon- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $255.50, Lexie Painter- Extension- Contract labor- fair board bookkeeping- $600.00, Lori Himes- Elections- Election help- $83.05, Lorrie Reed- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $181.13, Lusk Herald- Various- Publications, annual subscriptions- $3,736.90, Lusk State Bank- General Co.- Payroll taxes- $42,431.10, Madison Rut- Detention- Inmate medical- $900.00, McKesson Medical Surgical- Public Health Nurse- Medical Supplies- $30.50, Melanie Pearce- COVID Grant- Vaccination outreach- $222.44, Michelle Kremers- Various- Travel expense, supplies- $154.77, Miller Construction- Facilities- Courthouse improvements-$3,350.00, Mobius Communications Company- General County- New equipment- $3,316.12, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- NCIC Tablets- $353.69, Niobrara CDC Jury Account- Juror fees- 3,300.65, Niobrara County Hospital District- Various- 1% Option Tax, employee & inmate medical- $43,422.10, Niobrara County Library- Deferred compensation reimbursement- $1,875.00, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention Grant- Grant admin.- $257.36, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $58.10, Onsolve, LLC.- Dispatch- Computer expense- $2,888.81, Pamela Thomas- Elections- Election school, travel- $46.85, Rawhide Drug Co.- Detention- Inmate medical- $421.18, Ronda Pfister- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $204.00, Ryan’s Custom Design- Road & Bridge- New equipment- $1,500.00, Safeguard Business Systems- County Clerk- Supplies- $801.43, Schindler Elevator Corp.- Facilities- Quarterly elevator mtnc.- $1,514.97, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention- Inmate commissary account- $433.71, Teri Bruegger- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $235.40, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- Law library- $174.56, Tina Christianson- Elections- Travel expense- $24.12, Toni Gaukel- Elections- Election help- $21.45, Torrington Office Supply- Various- Supplies- $322.01, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $3,295.50, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- Cleaning contract- $4,300.00, Tyler Technologies- Various- IT expense- $882.69, USI- Public Health Building Grant- New equipment- $1,649.95, Velvet Dorwart- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $165.05, Verizon Wireless- Various- Phones, base charge $433.75, Vickie Scott- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $162.15, Visa- Various- Supplies, ammunition, travel expense, postage, new equipment, IT expense, TANF grant, medical supplies, schools, commissary- $7,787.64, Vision Service Plan- Various- Vision Insurance $404.77, Visionary Broadband- Various- IT expense- $469.14, Vivian Fahy- Elections- Election Judge, school, travel- $194.53, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $6,126.05, WEX Bank- Various- Fuel- $2,559.04, WYDOT- Financial Services- Sheriff- Fuel- $2,165.51, Wyoming Educators’ Benefit Trust- Co Admin- Health & life insurance- $27,574.11, Wyo Lawn & Tree- Facilities- Lawn care- $204.00, Wyoming Machinery Company- Road & Bridge- Parts- $202.79, Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Public Health Lab- Public Health Nurse- $6.00, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate Meals- $2,402.30, Xerox Corp.- Co admin- Copier service agreement- $129.07, Zell Heating & Cooling, LLC.- Public Health Nurse- Utilities- $354.00. August Total- $396,593.02.
There being no further business, Commissioner Griffith moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:45 p.m. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 6146. Published in The Lusk Herald on September 25, 2024.
