The Niobrara County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 8:59 a.m. Present were Chairman Patrick Wade, Vice-Chair Elaine Griffith, Commissioner Jeb Hanson, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman.
Also in attendance were Sheriff Randy Starkey Brandie Bartlett of The Lusk Herald, and county commissioner candidates Tiffany Thurston, Kevin Baars, and John Midkiff.
Chairman Wade led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Road & Bridge – Foreman Fred Thomas met with the Commissioners and reviewed the budget request for the Road and Bridge Department. He also discussed roads and equipment.
Mr. Thomas updated the Commissioners on the status of the damage to the county road signs which occurred a few weeks ago.
Public Health – Public Health Nurse Supervisor Melanie Pearce met with the Commissioners to review the budget request for the Public Health Nurse office and to provide an update on grant funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
Planning and Zoning Board Member Reappointment – Vice-Chair Griffith moved to reappoint Marilyn Nelson to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission for a three-year term ending June 30, 2029. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
County Attorney – County Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners and stated that the cleaning contract extensions for Jameson Cleaning and Maintenance and Traci Bruegger appeared to be in order, as did the State Lands and Investments grant and the Office of Homeland Security grant.
Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments Grant – Commissioner Hanson moved to enter into a grant agreement between the Wyoming Office of State Lands and Investments and Niobrara County in the amount of $10,869.56, with the grant period ending June 30, 2028. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Fairgrounds, Courthouse, Library, and Justice Center Cleaning Contract Extensions – Commissioner Hanson moved to approve a two-year extension of the cleaning contract with Traci Bruegger for the courthouse, library, and justice center, with no changes, and a two-year extension of the cleaning contract with Jameson Cleaning and Maintenance for the fairgrounds, increasing the monthly contract amount to $9,000.00. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Homeland Security Grant – Commissioner Hanson moved to enter into a grant agreement with the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security for the purchase of interoperable radios for the Sheriff’s Office. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried. The grant award amount is $25,937.00, and the period of performance is September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2027.
Library Board Member Reappointment – Commissioner Hanson moved to reappoint Katrina Skibicki to the Library Board for a three-year term ending June 30, 2029. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
24-Hour Catering Permit – Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the issuance of a 24-hour catering permit for 3 Sister’s Truck Stop to sell alcoholic beverages at the Alumni Banquet to be held on June 27, 2026, at the fairgrounds. 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 included the minutes of the June 2, 2026, meeting and May receipts from the County Clerk in the amount of $5,725.84, the Sheriff in the amount of $3,045.00, and the Clerk of Court in the amount of $684.38.
The Commissioners met with member of the library director Debbie Sturman, and library board members Cathy Coon and Valerie Wasserburger to review their budget request. They also mentioned that the ledge on the sidewalk was crumbling badly and would like to have it repaired.
The following out-of-cycle vouchers were approved for payment. Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor – Department – Description – Amount: Canon Financial Services, Inc. – General County – Copier lease payments – $330.00; CenturyLink – Various – Telephones – $849.83; Connecting Point Computer Centers – Various – Copier service agreements – $193.59; Cory Wilcox – Coroner – Case assists – $600.00; Dooley Oil Inc. – Road & Bridge – Oil – $2,098.53; Frank Parts Co. – Various – Parts and repairs – $1,138.86; Fusion Cloud Service – Various – Telephone – $1,394.04; Goshen County Weed & Pest – Fairgrounds – Fairgrounds maintenance – $1,642.15; Kelly Dean – Sheriff – New equipment – $10.00; Lusk Herald – Sheriff – Abandoned vehicle publications – $669.31; Mobile Concrete – County Road Fund – Gravel – $90,000.00; NCIC Inmate Communications – Detention – NCIC Tablets – $164.86; Niobrara County Hospital District – 1% Option Tax and inmate medical – $16,454.63; Niobrara Electric Association – Various – Radio tower electricity – $21.55; NMS Labs – Coroner – Autopsy – $535.00; Olson Tire Co. – Sheriff – Tires – $964.68; Platt Custom Harvesting & Repair – Sheriff – Vehicle repair – $225.00; Pomp’s Tire Service, Inc. – Road & Bridge – Parts – $2,654.88; Rancher’s Feed & Supply, Inc. – Road & Bridge – Parts – $38.40; Rawhide Drug – Detention – Inmate medical – $16.39; Roetman Enterprises, LLC. – Facilities – Justice Center maintenance – $292.00; Safeguard Business Systems – Clerk – Supplies – $283.21; Specialized Pathology Consultants, PC – Coroner – Autopsies – $4,080.00; Team Laboratory Chemical, LLC. – Facilities – Fairgrounds supplies – $281.00; Town of Lusk – Commissioners – County share of SRO contract – $19,910.40; US College of Agriculture, Life Sciences – Extension – UW car expense – $1,814.40; Verizon Wireless – Various – Phones and computer expense – $478.96; Westco – Road & Bridge – Fuel – $1,947.81; Wex Bank – Road & Bridge – Fuel – $1,180.57; WYDOT Financial Services – Various – Fuel – $2,531.45; Wyoming Educators’ Benefit Trust – General County – Health and life insurance – $39,055.08; Wyoming Machinery Co. – Road & Bridge – Inmate meals (three months) – $6,221.20; Wyoming Network, Inc. – General County – IT expense – $200.00. June Total – $199,698.30.
There being no further business, Chairman Wade adjourned the meeting.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
ATTEST:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 6391 published in The Lusk Herald on July 15, 2026.
