The regular meeting of the Niobrara County Commissioners commenced on December 3, 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 Starkey. Commissioner-Elect Jeb Hanson, Brandie Collins and Phil Collins with the Lusk Herald, and Dan Ritter were also in attendance.
Road & Bridge- Colby Thurston met with the Commissioners and Foreman Fred Thomas to ask for approval to take off days without pay so he can attend upcoming fire district related meetings. The Commissioners were fine with it if Foreman Thomas approved. Mr. Thurston will need to coordinate with Foreman Thomas to ensure there is adequate help.
Foreman Thomas updated the Commissioners on the 2024 Road Rehab Headwall Project on 20 Mile Road. He said four core samples were tested on the concrete that was poured and two of the cores tested at 3,300 and 3,400 PSI (pound-force per square inch) and the other two tested broke.
Brian Wakefield with BenchMark of Torrington joined the meeting and echoed Mr. Thomas’s statements on the core samples. He said that the ideal PSI is 4,000, but the two that remained intact were within the range of acceptability per the road construction manual. Mr. Wakefield said the contractor wanted to grind the surface of the headwall, and if he does so, a change must be made in writing so the Commissioners can approve or reject the action.
Mr. Wakefield noted that there was no pay request for the contractor this time, however, BenchMark’s bill was higher due to the additional work they had to perform because of the problems which have arisen with the project.
Elected Officials & Dept. Heads- Sheriff Randy Starkey reported on missing livestock in Lance Creek. He also noted there was unexplained drone activity in the Lance Creek area. He said Homeland Security has been involved as well as he and his deputies patrolling the area at night.
Assessor Teri Stephens said it was business as usual in her office.
Clerk of Court Chrisanna Lund said that e-filings for court documents have been going on for over a month and reiterated that all court filings must be made electronically by January 1st.
4-H Youth Educator Kellie Chichester asked the Commissioners if she could close the extension office for two weeks, beginning December 23 and reopening on January 3. She and Crystal Zerbe are UW Extension employees and won’t be working then. Also, she stated that Isaiah had enough comp. time to cover the closure. The Commissioners approved. She said they are also working on the furnace.
Prevention Specialist Kassidy Miller updated the Commissioners on Prevention business.
Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan said that TWE out of Casper will be here to look at the automatic start switch on the courthouse generator.
At the request of Public Health Nurse Regional Supervisor Melanie Pearce, Clerk Freeman provided an update on public health matters. Ms. Pearce wanted to know if they could purchase an extended warranty for their generator. There were several things which needed clarification and Commissioner Griffith stated she would contact Ms. Pearce on the matter.
Coroner- Peter W. Pier met with the Commissioners to inquire about the MOU between the Niobrara County Hospital and Niobrara County and whether the requested changes had been made. It was determined that the Commissioners could not proceed with the MOU as the requested changes had not been made.
Dan Ritter inquired about the Sidewinder Project and asked if the Commissioners had any information about the project. Chairman Wade stated they did not.
Old Business- There was nothing new to report on the Community Juvenile Services Board or cleaning at the public health nurse office. Melanie Pearce created a job description request. Commissioner Griffith will visit with Ms. Pearce about advertising.
Fair Board Member Reappointment- Commissioner Griffith moved to reappoint Tandy Dockery to the fair board, for a three-year term. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Predator Board Sportsman Member Reappointment- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to reappoint Johnnie Lashmett to the Predator Board as a Sportsman member for a three-year term. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
The Commissioners tabled taking any action on the agreement between Forensic Radiology Group, LLC., and Niobrara County, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Niobrara County Hospital District and Niobrara County until an updated MOU with the Hospital is received.
Employee Bonuses- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve bonuses in the amount of $200.00 for full-time employees working 35 hours or more, and $150.00 for permanent part-time employees. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried. It was noted that elected officials are not included in the employee bonuses.
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 November 19, 2024 meeting, and receipts for November from the County Clerk for $3,602.10, from the Clerk of Court for $553.00 and from the Public Health Nurse for $1371.33.
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment: Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor- Department- Description- Amount- November Payroll- $132,672.36, Aflac- Various- Supplemental insurance- $8,591.73, Allbright’s True Value- Various- Parts, supplies, maintenance- $364.43, Alsco- Various- Supplies, shop towels, coveralls, floor mats- $437.24, Amazon Capital Services- Various- Supplies, car seats- $1,147.33, Anne Wasserburger- Various- Supplies- $39.66, Barb DeGering- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $163.09, Barbara Orr- Elections- Election judge- $145.00, Barnes Law, LLC.- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney fees- $205.80, BenchMark of Torrington- Various- 2024 Road Rehab Project engineering fees, Land Use Plan Update- $6,221.04, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Various- Supplies- $815.58, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $1,117.52, Brenna Brimer- Elections- Election judge, mileage - $178.50, Buckaroo Motor Company- Road & bridge- Vehicle repairs- $709.13, Budd-Falen Law Offices- Commissioners- Land Use Plan Update review- $525.00, Cade Pflughoeft- Detention- Travel expense- $229.14, Canon Financial Services- General County- Copier Service Agreements- $330.00, Carla Stroh- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $166.60, Carmen Shane- Elections- Election judge- $155.88, CenturyLink- Various- Telephones- $1,370.05, CenturyLink Business Services- Various- Telephones- $72.39, Computer Projects of IL, Inc.- Dispatch- Computer expense- $198.00, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements - $473.26, CSG Forte Payments, Inc.- Public Health- Supplies- $433.76, Danese Reed- Elections- Election Judge, mileage- $169.79, Decker’s Market- Detention- Commissary account- $5.69, Delta Dental of WY- Various- Dental insurance- $898.90, Denise Baars- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $163.76, Dennis C. Meier- Circuit Court Magistrate- Office rent- $1,000.00, Dept. of Health- Public Health- Co. quarterly share of PHN salary- $5,460.29, Donna Thompson- Elections- Election judge- $145.00, Double A Properties, LLC.- Various- Office rent- $1,500.00, Elaine Francis- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $151.70, Election Systems & Software, Inc.- Elections- Test deck, ballot on demand setup- $2,987.25, Empower Trust Company, LLC.- General Co.- Deferred Compensation- $19,705.00, Frank Parts Co.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $72.87, 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, Hiway Brake & Alignment- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $191.52, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Fairgrounds cleaning contract, fairgrounds event booking contract- $8,600.00, JoAnn Wade- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $166.44, Julianne Greenough- Elections- Election judge- $155.88, Karen Gaukel- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $157.73, Kassidy Miller- Prevention Grant- IT expense, travel expense- $227.60, Kathleen Heine- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $164.43, Kathy Coon- Elections- Election judge- $155.88, Ken Brown- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney fees- $1,092.00, Kremers Construction- Public Health- Public Health Building improvements- $2,250.00, LeAnn Dixon- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $178.50, Lexie Painter- Extension- Contract labor- fair board bookkeeping- $600.00, Lorrie Reed- Elections- Election judge- $145.00, Lusk Herald- Various- Publications - $1,288.92, Lusk State Bank- General Co.- Payroll taxes- $38,282.17, Madison Rae Rutt- Detention- Inmate medical- $700.00, Matthew Bender & Co., Inc.- Clerk of Court- Supplies- $212.10, McKesson Medical Surgical- Public Health- Medical supplies- $11.08, Medico-Mart- Public Health- Vaccines- $2,176.00, Michelle Kremers- Various- Travel, supplies- $223.11, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- NCIC Tablets- $390.89, Niobrara County Circuit Court- Payroll- Garnishment- $630.57, Niobrara County Fair Board- Quarterly allocation (2 qtrs.)- $28,978.76, Niobrara County Hospital District- Various- 1% Option Tax, inmate medical - $23,762.21, Niobrara County Library- Deferred comp. reimbursement- $1,875.00, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention Grant- Indirect costs- $570.17, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $61.95, Office Depot- Various- Supplies- $1,012.72, Palen Law Offices, LLP- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney fees- $624.00, Pamela Thomas- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $161.75, Randy Starkey- Detention- Transport- $13.24, Rawhide Drug Co.- Detention- Inmate medical- $350.44, Ronda Pfister- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $158.40, Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.- Public Health- Vaccines- $642.38, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention- Inmate commissary account- $279.35, Teri Bruegger- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $178.50, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- Law library- $194.75, Torrington Office Supply- Various- Supplies- $29.16, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $2,675.59, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- CH, Library, Justice Center cleaning contract- $4,300.00, Tyler Technologies- Treasurer- Computer expense- $82.69, Velvet Dorwart- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $151.03, Verizon Wireless- Various- Phones, base charge $434.18, Vickie Scott- Elections- Election Judge- $155.88, Visa- Various- Supplies, travel expense, postage, computer expense, IT expense, schools, 4-H educator travel - $2,363.26, Vision Service Plan- Various- Vision Insurance- $404.77, Visionary Broadband- Various- IT expense- $469.14, Vivian Fahy- Elections- Election judge, mileage- $159.07, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $6,455.83, Wyatt Electric- Facilities- Library maintenance- $1,102.50, WYDOT- Financial Services- Sheriff- Fuel - $2,217.79, WYDOT- Motor Vehicle Services- General County- County license plates- $360.00, Wyoming Educators’ Benefit Trust- Co Admin- Health & life insurance- $25,128.04, Wyoming Gun Company, Inc.- Sheriff- Firearms- $3,010.00, Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate Meals- $2,855.55, Xerox Corp.- Co admin- Copier service agreement- $128.49, November Total- $360,543.40.
There being no further business, Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:45 a.m. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 6180 published in The Lusk Herald on December 25, 2024.
