The Niobrara County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, August 4, 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, John Midkiff, and J. D. Wasserburger.
Chairman Wade led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Hearing- Chairman Wade opened a public hearing at 9:00 a.m. to receive public input on the FY2026 Budget Amendments. Clerk Freeman explained the need for the adjustments which were unanticipated grant revenue and expenditures and a transfer between departments due to an unforeseen museum roof repair. There being no further comments, Chairman Wade closed the hearing at 9:02 a.m.
Road & Bridge - Foreman Fred Thomas met with the Commissioners and reported that the department continues to haul millings on Boner Road and is also working on auto gates.
Mr. Thomas reported that he met with representatives of 1876 Resources regarding the movement of a drilling rig on Divide Road. He stated that 1876 Resources will perform roadwork, apply magnesium chloride near Ivan Eddy’s residence, and address four areas beyond the Nuttle property that require touch-up work. Niobrara County will provide the gravel, and 1876 Resources will haul, spread, and compact it.
Mr. Thomas also reported that 1876 Resources does not plan to construct a cut-across road near Twenty Mile Road at this time. The company will wait to evaluate well production before proceeding.
Old Business-
Old Jail- Commissioner Hanson reported that he had spoken with the State and was informed that a contractor would not be available to begin demolition of the old jail until October.
24-Hour Catering Permit- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve a 24-Hour Catering Permits for the Lusk Liquor Store to sell alcoholic beverages at the Senior Pro Rodeo being held August 8, 2026. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Ratify 24-Hour Catering Permit- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to ratify the 24-Hour Catering Permit for Lusk Liquor Store to sell alcoholic beverages at the State Finals Junior Rodeo held July 18, 2026. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Resolution 26-09- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve Resolution 26-09 FY2026 Budget Adjustment. 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
2026 Mill Levies- Vice- Chair Griffith moved to set the 2026 Mill Levies as presented by Assessor Teri Stephens. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
County Attorney- Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners to discuss county business and review contracts. Crime Victim Coordinator Becky Blackburn was also present to discuss the VOCA grant.
Victim Services Contract- Becky Blackburn explained the grant, the services they provide, and thanked the Commissioners for having the opportunity to provide these services. She stated they were able to assist approximately twenty victims of crime.
Ms. Wasserburger said having the victim services office in her office works really well.
Victim Services Contract- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the contract between the State of Wyoming, Office of the Attorney General, Division of Victim Services, and Niobrara County (Niobrara County Victim Witness Program) to provide services to victims of all crimes, with a performance period of July 1, 2026, though June 30, 2027, in an amount not to exceed $34,000.00. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
Memorandum of Understanding- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve the MOU between the University of Wyoming and Niobrara County for extension educational program and services. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Annual Compensation Agreement- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve the Annual Compensation Agreement between the University of Wyoming Extension and Niobrara County. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Elected Officials and Department Heads- Sheriff Randy Starkey reported that his office remains busy preparing for the Sturgis Rally. He noted there would be no additional Highway Patrol to assist. He said the jail was busy as well.
Treasurer Keri Thompson stated that delinquent taxes had been published in the paper, and she has set a date for the tax sale. She noted her office remains busy preparing for the upcoming audit.
Public Health Nurse Supervisor Melanie Pearce said they are administering flu shots as well as school vaccinations. The public health response coordinator is busy with deliverables.
Deputy Assessor Lori Himes reported that they had finished the field review. They are preparing the tax roll to send to the treasurer.
Clerk of Court Chrisanna Lund updated everyone on the court security meeting that was held in June. She did purchase fire escape ladders at the suggestion of the sheriff.
Kellie Chichester and Tallie Miller provided an update on the county fair and said it went very well. They are preparing for state fair and will be busy.
County Clerk Becky Freeman discussed the upcoming elections.
Chairman Wade discussed the BLM Resource Management Plan and said consultant Dru Palmer, who worked with the counties on the plan, considered the draft the most favorable to counties, and noted it included many positive outcomes.
Old Jail- Cindi Martinez and P.J. Wilbur of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Loren Ruttinger of WWC Engineering, and representatives from WCDA met with the Commissioners to discuss the next steps in the asbestos-abatement and demolition process. The contractors can begin asbestos abatement sometime in October, with completion anticipated within two weeks.
The group discussed available Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and allowable uses of those funds. One option presented was to demolish the old jail while preserving the jail cells and constructing an ADA-compliant parking lot. WCDA representatives will investigate the feasibility of that option and report their findings to the Commissioners.
It was noted that if CDBG funding is not awarded, the County should plan to proceed with demolition in 2027.
Following the discussion, Commissioner Hanson moved to pursue CDBG funding for the demolition project. 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. The consent agenda consisted of the minutes of the July 21, 2026, meeting.
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment. Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor - Department - Description - Amount: July payroll- $163,411.30, Aflac Insurance- Payroll Deduction - Supplemental insurance- $4,350.57, Allbrights True Value Hardware- Various- Supplies, parts- $103.41, Alsco- Various- Supplies, shop towels & coveralls- $468.05, Anne Wasserburger- Various- Supplies- $483.97, Becky L. Freeman- Elections- Schools- $361.05, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Various- Supplies- $448.86, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $451.67, Blue360 Media, LLC.,- Sheriff- Supplies- $595.02, Boldon Diesel Service, LLC.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $84.59, Century Link- Various- Telephones- $929.15, Century Link Business Services- Various- Telephones- $75.04, Charm-Tex- Detention- Commissary account- $2,896.60, Command Sourcing, Inc.- Court Security Grant- New equipment- $7,937.12, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements- $164.85, Converse County- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Cory Wilcox- Coroner- Deputy County Coroner- $150.00, Crook County- ESRI GIS Maintenance- $4,519.20, Decker’s Market- Elections- Supplies- $6.99, Delta Dental- Payroll Deduction - Supplemental insurance- $980.50, Dennis C. Meier- Magistrate- Office rent- $1,000.00, Double A Properties- Various- Office rent- $1,500.00 Election Systems & Software, Inc.- Elections- Ballot prep.- $1,933.90, Empower Trust Company, LLC.- Payroll Deduction - Deferred compensation- $23,540.00, Frank Parts- Various- Parts- $1,890.87, Fremont County Clerk- Elections- Supplies- $70.00, Geographic Innovations- Various- Professional Mapping- $1,500.00, GreatAmerica Financial Services- Sheriff- Copier service agreement- $103.00, Honey Badger Towing & Recovery, LLC., Sheriff- Abandoned vehicle- $257.00, Intab- Elections- Supplies- $138.78, James Santistevan- Emergency Mgmt.- Travel- $144.00, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Cleaning contract, fairgrounds event booking- $10,050.00, Jub Jub, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $60.00, Justin Jones- Facilities- Justice center maintenance- $250.00, Kassidy Miller- Prevention Grant- Operational supports- $40.00, Lexie Painter- Extension- Fair board bookkeeping- $600.00, Lori Himes- Assessor- Mileage lister- $66.36, Lusk Herald- General County- Publications- $904.67, Matthew Bender & Co., Inc.,- Clerk of Court- Supplies- $879.36, Michelle Kremers- Various- Travel expense- $301.60, Midwest Connect- General County- Supplies- $409.00, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- NCIC tablets- $214.96, Niobrara County Assessor- Assessor- Supplies- $41.64, Niobrara County Hospital District- Various- 1% tax & inmate medical- $18,930.75, Niobrara County Library- Various- Quarterly tax allocation & def. comp. reimbursement- $47,971.10, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention Grant- Indirect costs- $304.25, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $61.20, Pier Funeral Home- Coroner- New equipment- $418.95, Platt Custom Harvesting & Repair- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $187.50, Quadient Leasing USA, Inc.- General County- Postage meter lease- $1,202.19, Rancher’s Feed & Supply- Road & bridge- Parts- $211.00, Rawhide Drug- Detention- Inmate medical- $19.00, Smith Psychological Services- Dispatch- Employee medical- $400.00, Sun Ridge Systems, Inc.- Various- Computer expense- $7,678.00, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention- Inmate commissary- $487.21, Teri Stephens- Assessor- Mileage lister- $66.36, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- 171.29, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $3,134.47, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- Cleaning contract- $4,300.00, Tyler Technologies- Treasurer- Computer expense- $82.69, Verizon Wireless- Various- Telephone, computer expense- $338.78, Visa- Various- Supplies, IT expense, travel expense, postage, schools, new equipment, transports, computer expense- $8,459.02, Vision Service Plan- Payroll Deduction - Supplemental insurance- $436.64, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $2,942.86, Wex Bank- Various- Fuel- $1,373.65, WY Dept. of Health- Various- Reimburse State for Co. share of quarterly PHN salary- $9,414.56, WY Enterprise Technology Services- Various- Computer expense- $94.17, Wyo Lawn & Tree- Facilities- Lawn care- $214.00, Wyoming Lawn Sprinklers- Facilities- Justice center maintenance- $100.00, Wyoming Machinery- Road & Bridge- Parts- $4,632.08, Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Office of Guardian ad Litem- Clerk of Court- Count share GAL expense- $690.06, Wyoming Retirement System- Payroll Deduction- $18,739.05, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate meals- $1,824.10. Total- $416,664.71.
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. 6415 published in The Lusk Herald on September 2, 2026.
