The County Commissioners’ meeting was called to order on this date at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Patrick H. Wade, Vice-Chair John Midkiff, Commissioner Elaine Griffith, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman, present.
Chairman Wade led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Road and Bridge- Foreman Fred Thomas met with the Commissioners to discuss road and bridge business.
He said he and his crew had been busy plowing snow and repairing the plows. He also talked about pits and equipment.
The group discussed the audit and best practices to accurately track the gravel stockpile and the Commissioners thought it would be prudent to have the stockpile measured by engineers at the end of each fiscal year.
County Attorney- Anne Wasserburger, County Attorney met with the Commissioners and discussed county business.
Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to enter into Executive Session at 10:14 a.m. to discuss personnel matters. Commissioner Griffith seconded, motion carried.
Commissioner Griffith moved to leave Executive Session at 10:33 a.m. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, motion carried. There was no action taken.
Prevention Update- Kerry Steward Prevention Specialist, met with the Commissioners and Attorney Wasserburger and updated them on prevention activities.
She said she had met with the school district to move forward with sources of strength program and perhaps facilitate some parenting classes.
Commissioner Griffith said there might be some interest from the hospital to get some tobacco cessation programs started.
She also stated that School Resource Officer Tyler Stream doesn’t have any funding for a tobacco program and wondered if there was any way Mrs. Steward could assist him through the prevention grant.
Commissioner Griffith also mentioned the budget that Governor Gordon recommended to help fund a suicide hotline for Wyoming. Currently, Wyoming is the only state in the country that doesn’t have a local branch of the national service.
Commissioner Griffith asked Mrs. Steward if she could be more of a presence in the community and be in Lusk four (4) days a week instead of the two which she is currently attending. She also asked her to be more of a presence in the schools and hospital.
Mrs. Steward said she could be in Lusk more, unless there is inclement weather, but she said she understood her role as more of a facilitator for the programs and not necessarily a hands on person. She also said she has reached out to the school and other entities asking if there was anything she could do and said she hasn’t had much of a response.
Commissioner Griffith moved to enter into Executive Session at 10:58 a.m. to discuss personnel matters. Vice Chairman Midkiff seconded, motion carried.
Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to leave the Executive Session at 11:12 a.m. Commissioner Griffith seconded, motion carried. There was no action taken.
Audit Review- Becky Freeman County Clerk, Keri Thompson, Treasurer, Chrisanna Lund, Clerk of District Court, Cary Gill, Sheriff, Gwen Riter, Detention Lieutenant, L. D. Stone, Dispatch Supervisor and Gail Santistevan, Sheriff ‘s Administrative Assistant, met with the Commissioners and discussed the recent audit.
Sheriff Gill and Supervisor Stone remained and the group discussed the current towing situation.
Ken Dockweiler, Director Land Government and Compliance with Bridger Pipeline, met with the Commissioners and Road and Bridge Foreman Fred Thomas to review the road use agreement.
Foreman Thomas advised Mr. Dockweiler that Kaltenhauser Road will only be accessible for them to use from the east as the west entrance will not be accessible. Mr. Dockweiler said they can adjust that on the map.
County Road Crossing Permits- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve Road Crossing Permits for Bridger Pipeline to install 20” welded steel pipelines for crude oil transmission at the following locations: Boner Road- SE1/4NW1/4, Section 20 T36N, R62W; Cheyenne River Road- Lot 1, Section 4 T39N, R62W; Hat Creek Road- NE1/4NW1/4 Section 8, SE1/4SW1/4 Sec. 5, T34N, R62W; Kaan Road- NE1/4NE1/4 Section 13, SE1/4SE1/4 Section 12, T31N, R62W; Kaltenhauser Road- Lot 3, Section 5 T32N, R62W, SW1/4SW1/4 Section 32, T33N, R62W; Kirtley Road- NE1/4NW1/4 Section 20, SE1/4SW1/4 Section 17, T33N, R62W; Redbird Road- NW1/4NE1/4 Section 28, T38N, R62W; and Stage Road- SE1/4NE1/4, NE1/4NW1/4 Section 8, T34N, R62W. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, motion carried.
There was no new activity regarding the Tri County Joint Powers Board for Broadband.
Resolution 20-04-WCCA County Employers Group- Vice Chairman Midkiff moved to approve Resolution 20-04. Commissioner Griffith seconded, motion carried. By signing this resolution, Niobrara County joins and ratifies the Wyoming County Commissioners Association County Employer Group Workers Compensation Agreement as a contracting member and party to such agreement and is bound by its terms.
24 Hour Catering Permit- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to approve a 24-Hour Catering Permit for Spirits Liquor and Gift Mart to sell alcoholic beverages at the Sportsman’s Banquet being held February 8, 2020 at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds. Commissioner Griffith seconded, motion carried.
Road Use and Repair Cash Settlement Agreement- Commissioner Griffith moved to sign the Road Use and Repair Cash Settlement Agreement with ONEOK for $325,000.00. Vice Chairman Midkiff seconded, motion carried.
Commissioner Griffith informed the Commissioners that she had resigned as a board member of the Silver Springs Center for Excellence.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 5390. Published in The Lusk Herald on February 19, 2020
