The Niobrara Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 9:08 a.m. Those present were Chairman Patrick Wade, Vice-Chair Elaine Griffith, Commissioner Jeb Hanson, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman.
Chairman Wade led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Old Business- Chairman Wade said that the bids for asbestos removal at the old jail would be discussed at a November meeting with Leslie Stewart and Greg Starck. Mr. Starck had concerns regarding all the different bid options and the fact contractors might be confused when bidding on the project and it would be best to reduce the options.
Community Juvenile Services Board- Board members Elaine Griffith and Chrisanna Lund are developing a job description and determining a starting wage for the coordinator position for the Community Juvenile Services Board Grant.
Vice-Chair Griffith moved to sign the contract between the Wyoming Department of Family Services and Niobrara County for the Niobrara County Community Juvenile Services Board for $25,000.00, which runs through June 30, 2026. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Snow removal was discussed, and Commissioner Hanson will reach out to Mike Mayville to see if he is interested in continuing this service for the county.
24 Hour Catering Permit- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve a 24-Hour Catering Permit for 3 Sisters to sell alcoholic beverages at the Son of a Gun Banquet to be held on October 25, 2025, at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
County Attorney- Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners, and the group discussed County Road Crossing Permits. She presented a resolution that addressed additional regulations as they relate to the County’s limitation of liability related to third party’s construction and operations across County Road Easements.
Resolution 25-10 Traversing County Road Easements- Commissioner Hanson moved to adopt Resolution 29-10. After discussion about the liability language in the resolution, Commissioner Hanson rescinded the motion. Attorney Wasserburger will revise the resolution and resubmit.
Elected Officials and Department Heads- Sheriff Randy Starkey said his office has received many calls concerning game and fish related matters.
Clerk of Court Chrisanna Lund, Treasurer Keri Thompson, and County Clerk Becky Freeman stated it was business as usual in their offices.
Assessor Teri Stephens echoed their sentiments and added she needed to have an electrical line in her office evaluated.
Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan said he applied for an Emergency Management Preparedness Grant through Homeland Security for $16,000.00. This grant is a 50/50 split with the County contributing $8,000.00 and the State matching $8,000.00. He said the grant application has been accepted, and he is waiting to hear if it has been approved.
Resolution 25-10- Traversing County Road Easements- Attorney Wasserburger submitted a revised resolution containing clearer language regarding the Niobrara County Board of County Commissioners wanting to adopt additional regulations as it relates to its limitation of liability related to third party’s construction and operations across County Road Easements, as well as adding language stating this resolution will be a part of and in addition to the current Niobrara County, Wyoming Crossing under County Roads Rules and Regulations. Based on these revisions, Commissioner Hanson moved to adopt Resolution 25-10. Vice- Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried. A complete copy of the resolution is available on the County’s website: https://www.niobraracounty.org/_departments/_commissioners/Resolutions.
Consent Agenda- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda were the minutes of the September 16, 2025, a Petition of Affidavit of Reduction of Taxes for Western American Resources, LLC. for $5,253.38, and receipts for September from the County Clerk for $4,482.79, the Sheriff for $225.75, the Clerk of Court for $720.00, and from the Public Health Nurse for $540.26.
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment: Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor- Department- Description- Amount- September Payroll- $153,614.11, 3 Sister’s Truck Stop- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $73.04, Aflac- Various- Supplemental insurance- $6,438.11, Allbright’s True Value- Various- Parts- $15.49, Alsco- Various- Supplies, shop towels, coveralls, floor mats- $455.57, Anne Wasserburger- County Attorney- Supplies- $196.12, Apex Energy Services, LLC.- LATCF funds- Road & Bridge Quonset window replacement- $7,500.00, Becky L. Freeman- Election- Travel expense- $463.40, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Various- Supplies- $2,247.22, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $318.73, Boldon Diesel Service, LLC.- Road & Bridge- Equipment repairs- $872.05, Canon Financial Services- General County- Copier Service Agreements- $710.00, CenturyLink- Various- Telephones- $1,562.39, CenturyLink Business Services- Various- Telephones- $72.68, Charm-Tex- Detention- Commissary- $251.58, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements- $476.62, Converse County- General County- IT expense (2 months)- $800.00, Cory Wilcox- Coroner- Deputy Coroner & assistance with cases- $300.00, Crook County- Assessor- ESRI GIS Maintenance- $4,249.84, CS Consulting- Assessor- Equipment repairs- $87.13, Delta Dental of WY- Various- Dental insurance- $909.50, Dennis C. Meier- Circuit Court Magistrate- Office rent- $1,000.00, Double A Properties, LLC.- Various- Office rent- $1,500.00, Empower Trust Company, LLC.- General Co.- Deferred Compensation- $24,065.00, Frank Parts Co.- Road & Bridge- Equipment repairs, parts- $861.18, Fusion Cloud Service- Various- Telephones- $1,203.98, Geographic Innovations- Various- Professional mapping services- $1,500.00, GreatAmerica Financial Services- Sheriff- Copier service agreement- $103.00, Hiway Brake & Alignment- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $2,398.41, Hometown Country- Sheriff- Uniforms- $414.00, Honey Badger Towing & Recovery, LLC.- Sheriff- Abandoned vehicles- $248.00, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Fairgrounds & public health building cleaning contracts, fairgrounds event booking contract- $9,650.00, Kassidy Miller- Prevention grant- Operational supports- $40.00, Ken Brown- Clerk of District Court- Court appointed attorney- $180.00, Lexie Painter- Extension- Contract labor- Fair board bookkeeping- $600.00, Long Building Technologies- Facilities- Courthouse maintenance- $584.00, Lori Himes- Assessor- Travel expense- $133.56, Lusk Herald- Various- Publications & annual subscriptions- $5,300.54, Lusk State Bank- General Co.- Payroll taxes- $45,695.72, McKesson Medical Surgical- Public Health -Vaccine- $12.01, Michelle Kremers- TANF Grant- Travel expense- $147.00, Natrona County Circuit Court- Garnishment- $79.19, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- NCIC Tablets- $144.18, Niobrara County Hospital District- 1% Option tax- $22,921.97, Niobrara County Library- Reimburse for deferred comp.- $2,900.00, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention Grant- Indirect costs- $279.10, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $61.74, Olsen Crecelius Legal Group, LLC.- Clerk of Court- Court Appointed Attorney- $420.00, Opal Mercantile LLC., dba Opal Ammo Co.- Sheriff- Ammunition- $1,050.00, Patrick Cole- Facilities- Maintenance- $50.00, Playfly LLC.,- Prevention Grant- Prevention Svc. Implementation- $2,500.00, Pomp’s Tire Service, Inc.- Road & Bridge- Tires- $90.00, Rancher’s Feed & Supply- Road & Bridge- Supplies- $36.00, Randy Starkey- Sheriff- Travel expense, new equipment- $45.00, Rapid Fire Protection, Inc.- Justice Center- Annual fire alarm inspection- $1,414.00, Rawhide Drug Co.- Detention- Inmate medical- $96.93, Richard A. Ladwig- Semi Quincentennial Grant- Reimburse for equipment rental- $316.73, Smith Psychological Services- Detention- Employee medical- $400.00, Sources of Strength- Prevention Grant- High School Life Skills class training materials, travel, support resources- $6,000.00, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention- Inmate commissary account- $403.70, Team Laboratory Chemical, LLC.- Fairgrounds- Supplies- $285.50, Teri Stephens- Assessor- Travel expense- $355.00, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- Law library- $163.13, Total Response- Dispatch- Computer expense- $2,945.80, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $3,027.37, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- CH, Library, Justice Center cleaning contract- $4,300.00, Tyler Technologies- Treasurer- Computer expense- $82.69, University of Wyoming Extension- Extension- FY26 1st qtr. County share of 4-H educator’s salary- $6,000.00, Verizon Wireless- Various- Phones, computer expense - $379.54, Visa- Various- New equipment, supplies, travel expense, postage, prevention grant supplies, maintenance, IT & computer expense, commissary- $4,108.09, Vision Service Plan- Various- Vision Insurance- $482.66, Visionary Broadband- Various- IT expense- $797.64, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $3,644.97, Wex Bank- Various- Fuel- $2,352.45- WY Dept. of Health, Public Health Lab- Public Health Nurse- Lab fees- $87.00, WY Enterprise Technology Services- General County- IT expense- $193.34, WYDOT- Financial Services- Sheriff- Fuel- $5,69.31, Wyo Lawn & Tree- Facilities- Lawn care- $204.00, Wyoming Assoc. of County Officers- Various- Registration fees- $550.00, Wyoming Behavioral Institute- General County- Involuntary commitment- $4,524.00, Wyoming Dept. of Workforce Services- General County- Quarterly worker’s comp.- $10,209.47, Wyoming Educators’ Benefit Trust- General County- Health & life insurance- $34,213.58, Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Retirement System- General County- Law enforcement retirement- $17,018.68, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate Meals- $1,816.70, Xerox Corp.-
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:52 a.m.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 6298 published in The Lusk Herald on October 29, 2025.
