Public Notice No. 6192

Posted

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Niobrara Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. with the following members present: Chairman Patrick Wade, Vice-Chair Elaine Griffith, Commissioner Jeb Hanson, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman. Members of the audience included Sheriff Randy Starkey and Brandie Collins with the Lusk Herald.
Select Chairman and Vice-Chair- Commissioner Griffith moved to elect Pat Wade as Chairman. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried. Chairman Wade moved to elect Commissioner Griffith as Vice-Chair. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Road & Bridge- Foreman Fred Thomas and road and bridge operator Colby Thurston met with the Commissioners to discuss the progress on 2024 Road Rehabilitation Project. Thomas stated that the contractor has repoured the wall on the head wall project, but there are still a few issues to reconcile. Brian Wakefield with BenchMark of Torrington joined the meeting and the group continued discussions on the status of the project. Wakefield asked Thomas for an estimate of costs for county labor and machinery and Thomas provided an estimate of $7,500.00. A pay request has been submitted, however, further conversations with the contractor must be held before moving forward.
County Attorney- Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners and updated them on the proposed agreement between Forensic Radiology Group and Niobrara County as it pertains to postmortem CT scans. Wasserburger stated she had contacted other counties and the Coroners’ Association regarding this matter, and it appears that no one in the state uses a CT scan for postmortem exams. She said that according to the Coroners’ Association by-laws, a forensic pathologist must perform the autopsy not a forensic radiologist, who is trained to read the scans only. She stated that pathologists in Loveland, Colorado were used by many of the counties.
Elected Officials and Department Heads- Regional Public Health Nurse Supervisor Melanie Pearce joined the meeting by phone and reported on public health issues. She said the public health building grant paid for the generator warranty. Also, the State approved the increase in hours per week to 32 hours for the public health nurse. She also said that Prevention Specialist Kassidy Miller will begin a seven-week life skills course at the high school for freshman students.
Sherriff Randy Starkey said the holidays were quiet for the most part.
Public Health Response Coordinator Monica Wilcox discussed the AAA grant for car seats.
Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan said the regional hazard mitigation plan has not been signed yet. He also mentioned there is a new Red Cross representative for this region. Lastly, he said homeland security grant applications will be available soon.
4-H Youth Educator/Extension Educator Kellie Chichester discussed the fairgrounds and suggested getting cameras for the fairgrounds. She said that Anderson Carpet replaced some of the front flooring where it has been buckling. They sealed it twice, then placed new flooring. Hopefully, this will alleviate the moisture issue that is causing the buckling. If not, then further investigation is warranted.

Vice-Chairman Griffith updated the group on the Community Juvenile Services Board. CJSB met and had an applicant. They offered the coordinator position to Michelle Jackson, who accepted.
Chairman Wade discussed the upcoming BLM meeting to be held at the fairgrounds on Jan 16, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. He also stated that the public hearing regarding the Draft Land Use Plan has been scheduled for February 4, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the shooting sports building.
Public Hearing- Chairman Wade opened the public hearing at 11:00 a.m. to receive public comment on the appointment of two Weed & Pest Control District directors for Areas I and II. The applicants are Neil Holmes (Area I) and Lee Lamb (Area II). There was no one to speak in favor of or in opposition to the appointments and Chairman Wade closed the public hearing at 11:05 a.m.
Commissioner Hanson moved to appoint Neil Holmes, Area I and Lee Lamb, Area II to the Weed & Pest Control District. Commissioner Griffith seconded and the motion carried.
Vice-Chair Griffith moved to appoint Pat Wade as the voting member of the Wyoming County Commissioners’ Association Board. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Resolution 25-01- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve Resolution 25-01, ACTION SUPPORTING COUNTY CUSTOM, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE IN DECISION MAKING REGARDING FEDERAL LANDS IN NIOBRARA COUNTY, STATE OF WYOMING. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried. A complete copy of the resolution is on file in the county clerk’s office and on the county’s website. www.niobraracounty.org/commissioners/resolutions
Resolution 25-02- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve Resolution 25-02, ACTION SUPPORTING COUNTY CUSTOM, CULTURE, AND HERITAGE IN DECISION MAKING REGARDING STATE OR PRIVATE LANDS IN NIOBRARA COUNTY, STATE OF WYOMING. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried. A complete copy of the resolution is on file in the county clerk’s office and the county’s website. www.niobraracounty.org/commissioners/resolutions
Resolution 25-03- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve Resolution 25-03, E-911 Surcharge Fees. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried. A complete copy of the resolution is on file in the county clerk’s office and on the county’s website. www.niobraracounty.org/commissioners/resolutions
Designation of Depository for Public Funds- Commissioner Hanson moved to designate the following depositories for public monies collected and held by the Niobrara County Treasurer: Lusk State Bank, a division of Banner Capital Bank, and First Northern Bank of Wyoming. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Vice-Chair Griffith moved to acknowledge the banking disclosure of the county treasurer stating she conducts personal banking with Lusk State Bank. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Authorization of Investments of Public Funds- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve the authorization of investments of public funds with the following entities: Lusk State Bank, a Division of Banner Capital, Multi-Bank Securities, Inc., Wyoming Government Investment Fund, Wyoming CLASS, and the Wyoming State Treasurer. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Fuel Contract- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the fuel contract with Westco for dyed diesel. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Consent Agenda- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the consent agenda. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda were the minutes of the December 17, 2024 meeting, and the receipts for December from the County Clerk for $9,088.50, from the Public Health Nurse for $610.17, and from the Sheriff for $200.00
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment: Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor- Department- Description- Amount- December Payroll- $139,212.70, 14 County Tire- Sheriff- Tires $160.00, Aflac- Various- Supplemental insurance- $8,591.73, Allbright’s True Value- Various- Parts, supplies, maintenance- $405.76, Alsco- Various- Supplies, shop towels, coveralls, floor mats- $372.66, Anne Wasserburger- Various- Supplies- $157.46, BAM Document Destruction & Recycling, LLC.- Various- Supplies- $135.00, Barnes Law, LLC.- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney fees- $505.60, BenchMark of Torrington- County Road Fund- 2024 Road Rehab Project engineering fees- $2,884.39, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Various- Supplies- $641.34, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $2,030.24, Bob Ruwart Motors, Inc.- Sheriff- New equipment- $62,466.64, Budd-Falen Law Offices- Commissioners- Land Use Plan Update review- $447.84, Canon Financial Services- General County- Copier Service Agreements- $330.00, CenturyLink- Various- Telephones- $1,367.14, CenturyLink Business Services- Various- Telephones- $64.25, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements - $1,040.52, Converse County- General County- IT Expense (2 mos.)- $800.00, Cory Wilcox- Coroner- Deputy stipend (2 mos.)- $300.00, County Clerks’ Association- County Clerk- Dues- $500.00, Decker’s Market- Detention- Inmate medical- $8.19, Delta Dental of WY- Various- Dental insurance- $898.90, Dennis C. Meier- Circuit Court Magistrate- Office rent- $1,000.00, Dooley Oil Inc.- NE- Road & Bridge- Gas/Oil- $220.00, Double A Properties, LLC.- Various- Office rent- $1,500.00, Election Systems & Software, Inc.- Elections- Audio programming- $1,443.00, Empower Trust Company, LLC.- General Co.- Deferred Compensation- $19,705.00, Frank Parts Co.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $934.80, Fusion Cloud Services, LLC.- Various- Telephones- $2,371.09, Geographic Innovations- Various- Professional mapping services- $1,500.00, GreatAmerica Financial Services- Sheriff- Copier service agreement- $103.00, Hiway Brake & Alignment- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $377.00, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Fairgrounds cleaning contract, fairgrounds event booking contract- $8,600.00, Kassidy Miller- Prevention Grant- Operational Support- $40.00, Ken Brown- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney fees- $156.00, Lexie Painter- Extension- Contract labor- fair board bookkeeping- $600.00, Lusk Herald- Various- Publications - $1,674.21, Lusk State Bank- General Co.- Payroll taxes- $40,719.32, McKesson Medical Surgical- Public Health- Medical supplies- $10.35, Michelle Kremers- Various- Travel expense- $74.37, Natrona County Legal Department- General County- Involuntary hospitalization expense- $560.84, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- NCIC tablets- $196.65, Niobrara County Assessor- Assessor- Supplies- $32.55, Niobrara County Circuit Court- Payroll- Garnishment- $807.77, Niobrara County Hospital District- Various- 1% Option Tax, inmate medical - $28,574.25, Niobrara County Library- Deferred comp. reimbursement, bonuses- $2,843.85, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention Grant- Indirect costs- $288.62, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $61.63, Office Depot- General County- Supplies- $482.55, Olson Tire Co.- Detention- Vehicle repairs- $737.44, Opal Mercantile, LLC.- Sheriff- Ammunition- $1,000.00, Pittman Electric, LLC.- Public Health- Maintenance- $649.05, Quality Carpet Care- Facilities- Maintenance- $2,256.50, Rancher’s Feed & Supply, Inc.- County Road Fund- Snow fence- $121.98, Rawhide Drug Co.- Detention- Inmate medical- $360.04, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention- Inmate commissary account- $162.29, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- Law library- $194.75, Torrington Office Supply- Various- Supplies- $308.15, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $2,849.53, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- CH, Library, Justice Center cleaning contract- $4,300.00, Tyler Technologies- Treasurer- Computer expense- $82.69, Verizon Wireless- Various- Phones, base charge $434.18, Visa- Various- Supplies, travel expense, postage, computer expense, firearms expense, transports, maintenance, commissary, medical supplies, Prevention grant expense IT expense, schools- $5,324.77, Vision Service Plan- Various- Vision Insurance- $404.77, Visionary Broadband- Various- IT expense- $469.14, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $7,702.38, Wex Bank- Various- Fuel- $1,672.53, Wolfcom Enterprises- Sheriff- Computer expense- $1,330.00, WYDOT- Financial Services- Sheriff- Fuel- $1,969.51, Wyoming Dept. or Workforce Services- General County- Quarterly worker’s comp.- $5,608.95, Wyoming Machinery Co.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $797.52, Wyoming Educators’ Benefit Trust- Co Admin- Health & life insurance- $25,945.73, Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Public Health Laboratory- Public Health- Medical supplies- $70.00, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate Meals- $2,718.20, Xerox Corp.- Co admin- Copier service agreement- $129.28, December Total- $440,256.38
There being no further business, Commissioner Hanson moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:19 p.m. Vice- Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.

NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman

Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk

Public Notice No. 6192 published in The Lusk Herald on January 29, 2025.