Public Notice No. 6188

Posted

PUBLIC NOTICE

The regular meeting of the Niobrara County Commissioners commenced on December 17, 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, Sheriff Randy Starkey, Commissioner-Elect Jeb Hanson, and Brandie Collins with the Lusk Herald.
Road & Bridge- Brian Wakefield and Rachelle Anderson with BenchMark of Torrington met with the Commissioners and Foreman Fred Thomas to discuss the status of the 2024 road rehab project. Mr. Wakefield had asked the testing lab to provide results on the concrete samples after the thirty-day curing period, and they did not meet specifications. Mr. Wakefield said the footers will be fine, but the base portion will need to be torn out and re-poured. He said additional concrete was ordered and will be poured on Friday. The contractor will hire a crew to lay the concrete. Once that is done, the contractor will come back and grind down the bad sections.
Foreman Thomas said he met with DEQ, and they reviewed the county’s pits. Thomas said he would like to turn back most of the pits to the landowners but does want to keep the Wilson and Wasserburger pits.
Ms. Anderson spoke about the Land Use Plan Revision and discussed the advertising period to allow public comments as well as set the public hearing.
County Attorney- Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners and asked if there had been any updates to the MOU between the Hospital District and the County for CT scans for postmortem exams. Nothing has been received as of this meeting.
Leslie Stewart met with the Commissioners and presented an update on the old jail. She said the engineers should have their report prepared sometime in January for all parties to review.
Old Business- Commissioner Griffith updated the group on the Community Juvenile Services Board activities and said they will be interviewing applicants for the vacant coordinator position.
Next she discussed cleaning at the public health nurse building and noted that no bids had been turned in for the project. The deadline to submit a bid was extended until January 7, 2025.
RESOLUTION 24-10- 2025 Commissioner Meeting Dates- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve Resolution 24-10 setting the Commissioner meeting dates for calendar year 2025. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried. A complete copy of the resolution is available on the County’s website: www.niobraracounty.org/commissioners/resolutions.

RESOLUTION 24-11- 2025 County Holidays- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to approve Resolution 24-11 setting the official county holidays for 2025. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried. A complete copy of the resolution is available on the County’s website: www.niobraracounty.org/commissioners/resolutions.
Canon Full-Service Contracts- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve two Canon Copier Full-Service Contracts with Copier Connection Inc. for copier models IRA-DXC3730. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Land Use Plan Revision- A public hearing was set for February 4, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Niobrara County Shooting Sports building to receive public comments on the recommended revisions to the Draft Land Use Plan.
Dru Bower, with DRU Consulting visited with the Commissioners about the Newcastle BLM Resource Management Plan Revision, Black Hills National Forest Plan Revision, Thunder Basin National Grasslands, Greater Sage-grouse EIS, BLM EIS & Forest Service Old Growth.
Treasurer Keri Thompson met with the Commissioners to request approval of the cancellation of an outstanding warrant (check) for Nicolette Freeman, warrant 27860 dated 07/14/2023 for $18.13 that has been outstanding for over a year.
Commissioner Griffith moved to approve the certificate of warrant cancellation for the above warrant as requested by the County Treasurer and to publish the County Treasurer certified cancelled warrant listed in the meeting minutes. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Treasurer Thompson then discussed the outstanding fund balances for the fair and library boards which resulted when the first mineral tax true up was performed. Based on advice from the County’s auditors, the Commissioners can either forgive the negative balances or enter into agreements with the boards to reduce their quarterly allocations.
Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to forgive the outstanding fund balances as of June 30, 2024, for the fair for $738.75 and the library for $2,305.85. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Mike Noonan, with Aspen Consulting briefed the Commissioners on a newsletter that Nordex is sending out to all box holders clarifying what is happening with renewable energy plans in Niobrara County.
Public Health- Regional Public Health Nurse Supervisor Melanie Pearce joined the meeting by phone to discuss her request to purchase an extended warranty for the public health generator. She said the building grant will cover the cost and a 10-year warranty was $1,035.00.
Commissioner Griffith moved to authorize the purchase of the 10-year warranty for the generator located at the public health nurse building. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried.
Commissioner Griffith and Chairman Wade extended their thanks and appreciation to Vice-Chairman Midkiff for his years of service to the citizens of Niobrara County and his willingness to take on any task.
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 December 3, 2024 meeting, and receipts for November from the Sheriff for $250.00.
There being no further business, Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:10 p.m. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.

NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman

Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk

Public Notice No. 6188 published in The Lusk Herald on January 15, 2025.