The County Commissioners’ meeting was called to order on February 7, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. with Chairman Patrick H. Wade, Vice-Chairman John Midkiff, Commissioner Elaine Griffith, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman present. Members of the audience included Judy Lucas with The Lusk Herald, Sheriff Randy Starkey, and Kurt Gaukel.
Sheriff Randy Starkey presented Foreman Fred Thomas and the road and bridge crew with a certificate of appreciation for all of the work they have done to open roads and assist the sheriff’s office in rescuing stranded motorists.
Road and Bridge- Foreman Fred Thomas discussed road and bridge business. He said he had been contacted by landowners on South Van Tassell Road asking if a sign saying roads are closed due to bad weather could be posted. Foreman Thomas said regardless of signage, they or the sheriff would still have to assist in the event the travelers become stranded.
He said the blades are holding up but are running every day possible. He presented a quote from Wyoming Machinery for a Caterpillar 140 blade and a v-plow for $358,380.00. With a trade in of a 2006 Caterpillar 140H blade for $68,500.00, the cost to the county would be $289,880.00. The majority of funds to be used to purchase this equipment will be taken from the county road fund and the remaining costs taken from the general county fund and will be paid after the start of the next fiscal year.
Commissioner Griffith moved to accept the bid from Wyoming Machinery for the Caterpillar140 blade and v-plow in the amount of $289,880.00. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Josh Harkins and Ben Martin, with BenchMark of Torrington, met with the Commissioners and Foreman Thomas and discussed a proposed change order for the 2023 Road Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Harkins will review the proposal and have it ready for the next meeting.
County Attorney- County Attorney Anne Wasserburger met with the Commissioners and discussed county business and the contractor’s coordination letter for the Greater Sage-Grouse plan.
Commissioner Griffith moved to sign the contractor’s coordination letter for the Greater Sage-Grouse Plan Amendments. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Elected Officials and Department Heads- Sheriff Randy Starkey said they have been busy rescuing stranded motorists, especially on county roads.
He said he contacted Jerry Miller to look at the Justice Center roof and he said Mr. Miller will work on it when snow melts.
He also mentioned he has had conversations with the State to possibly house 12 state inmates.
Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator James Santistevan discussed the recent bad weather and rescue efforts and trying to open roads.
He said he has a meeting with Randi Ross at the Senior Center to work on a disaster plan.
Clerk of Court Chrisanna Lund discussed the recent jury trial and said it went relatively smoothly. She said that Dave Lingelbach had repaired the carpet in her office.
Extension Educator Kellie Chichester said they are busy catching up. She extended her thanks to road and bridge for clearing the parking lot. She said the Fair Board meeting is rescheduled for Thursday night.
Treasurer Keri Thompson and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman discussed legislative items of interest as well as office operations.
Commissioner Griffith updated the group on the public health nurse building remodel.
Vice-Chairman Midkiff talked about a meeting he attended in Goshen County regarding the snow and the difficulty in trying to find snow removal equipment.
Chairman Wade continued the discussion about the snow and said he contacted Homeland Security to try and get assistance on county roads, especially the southern/south east portion of the county, but nothing was available.
Old Business- There was nothing new regarding the county easements crossing state land.
Old Jail-The Commissioners will meet with Greg Starck at the next meeting to review and discuss the asbestos removal plan.
Community Juvenile Services Board- Commissioner Griffith said that a local board needs to be appointed for Niobrara County.
Ratify a 24-Hour Catering Permit- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to ratify a 24-hour catering permit for The Silver Dollar Bar to sell alcoholic beverages on February 4, 2023 for the Sportsman’s Fun Night. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Jordan Reed met with the Commissioners and gave a presentation on property line set backs as they pertain to industrial zoning in particular wind farms. Also attending were Sena Pearson, Dan Henry Hanson, James Kruse, Brian Zerbe, Janette Starck, and Heather Goddard.
The group listened to Mr. Reed’s presentation and discussion was held both in favor of the proposed setbacks and in opposition to them.
Public Health Building Remodel- Neil Holmes met with the Commissioners and the group reviewed bids submitted for the public health nurse building remodel by AGC Construction, K & R Construction, LLC., and TDS Construction.
Commissioner Griffith moved to award the bid to AGC Construction for the public health nurse building remodel for $40,250. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. It was noted that this bid does not include electrical work.
Commissioner Griffith moved to award the flooring bid for the public health nurse building to Anderson Carpet for $9,022.00. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Resolution 23-04- Commissioner Griffith moved to approve Resolution 23-04- Submission of a COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant for $96,415.00, which is to be used on the public health nurse building remodel. Vice-Chairman Midkiff seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Consent Agenda- Vice-Chairman Midkiff moved to approve the consent agenda. Commissioner Griffith seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Items on the consent agenda were the minutes of the January 17, 2023 meeting, receipts for January from the County Clerk for $2,433.90, from the Clerk of Court for $488.00, and from the Public Health Nurse for $152.79, and a tax roll supplement for the 2020 tax year from Kaiser-Francis Oil Company for $701.52.
After discussing the proposed planning and zoning manual rewrite, the Commissioners reviewed the Natural Resource Management Plan and clarified that Resolution 21-12, dated August 3, 2021, which is a Resolution approving the Niobrara County Natural Resources Management Plan, pertains specifically to public lands and has no application to private lands in Niobrara County. Upon further discussion with the County Attorney, the Commissioners confirmed that all previous plans, including the 1996 Land Use Plan, are still in force and in effect on all private lands in Niobrara County.
The following vouchers were approved for payment: Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor- Department- Description- Amount- January Payroll- $124492.89, Aflac- Various- Supplemental insurance- $6022.14, 307 Auto Repair LLC.- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $2714.28, Allbright’s True Value- Various- Parts, supplies- $105.43, Alsco- Road & Bridge- Shop towels & coveralls- $570.99, Anne Wasserburger, Co. Attorney- Supplies- $29.67, Atlantic Data Systems- Dispatch- IT expense- $559.60, BAM Document Destruction & Recycling, LLC.- Various- Document shredding- $298.90, Barnes Law, LLC.- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney- $170.00, Becky L. Freeman- Clerk- Travel expense- $174.88, BenchMark of Torrington- Various- Planning & Zoning manual and 2023 road rehab engineering fees- $10993.48, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Facilities- Cleaning & maintenance supplies- $83.52, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $3605.64, Boldon Welding & Repair- Road & Bridge- Repairs- $509.33, Canon Financial Services- Various- Copier service agreements- $380.00, CenturyLink- Various- Telephones- $2004.13, CenturyLink Business- Various- Telephones- $76.45, CMI Inc.- Sheriff- Radio repair & expense- $246.98, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements- $393.46, Cory Wilcox- Coroner- Deputy coroner stipend - $150.00, Coulson Law, LLC.- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney- $1100.00, Decker’s Market- Various- Supplies, inmate meals - $201.84, Delta Dental of WY- Various- Dental insurance- $968.90, Dennis C. Meier- Circuit Court Magistrate- Office rent- $1000.00, Double A Properties, LLC.- Co. Attorney- Office rent- $1000.00, Frank Parts Co.- Various- Parts- $93.24, Frontier Access & Mobility Systems, Inc.- Facilities- Library maintenance- $303.00, Geographic Innovations- Various- Professional mapping - $1300.00, Fusion Cloud Services, LLC.- Various- Telephones- $2228.45, Gas Fire Services- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs, tires- $108.50, Geographic Innovations- Various- County mapping- $1300.00, Great-West Trust Co., LLC.- Various- Deferred compensation contribution- $18870.00, Herren Brothers True Value- Road & Bridge- Parts- $127.76, Holmes Ranch Excavation- Facilities- PHN Building Remodel management- $2500.00, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Fairgrounds cleaning contract, repairs - $7850.00, Johnson Controls- Facilities- Justice center maintenance- $1006.00, Jub Jub, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $90.00, Katie Krein- Prevention Grant- Phone, IT expense, operational supports- $113.14, Local Government Liability Pool- General County- Insurance deductible- $5000.00, Lusk Does Drove #64- Commissioners- Safety meeting- $2121.75, Lusk Herald- Various- Publications- $2878.20, Lusk State Bank- Various- Payroll taxes -$36489.97, MasterCard- Various- Supplies, travel, postage, inmate commissary, telephone, schools, IT expense, new equipment- $5074.62, Michael Harberts- General Co. - IT expense- $470.00, Michelle Kremers- Various- Travel, supplies - $70.00, Midwest Connect- General county- Supplies- $305.00, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- Inmate phone cards- $115.11, Niobrara County Fair Board- Quarterly allocations in lieu of mill levy- $39377.50, Niobrara County Hospital District- 1% Option Tax, inmate medical - $22080.29, Niobrara County Library- General Co. - Quarterly allocation in lieu of mill levy & deferred compensation- $38640.75 – Niobrara County Public Health – Prevention grant- Indirect costs- $594.70, Niobrara County Sheriff’s Office- Sheriff- License plate transfer fee- $2.00, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $52.48, Office Depot- Treasurer- Supplies- $77.27, Palen Law Offices, LLP.- Clerk of Court- Court appointed attorney- $680.00, Porter, Muirhead, Cornia, & Howard- General county- Audit- $15000.00, Quadient Leasing USA, Inc.- General County- Quarterly postage meter payment- $1202.19, Quality Carpet Care- Facilities- Bldg/Equipment maintenance- $73.00, Rancher’s Feed & Supply, Inc.- Extension Office- Supplies, dues- $525.00, Rawhide Drug Company- Detention- Inmate medical- $30.00, Safeguard Business Systems- County Clerk- Supplies- $227.87, Smith Psychological Services- Various- Employee medical- $400.00, Stinker Stores, Inc.- Various- Fuel- $2859.35, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention Center- Inmate Commissary- $69.96, Teri Stephens- Assessor- Travel expense- $61.60, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- Law library- $168.83, Torrington Office Supply- Various- Supplies- $26.69, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $3098.72, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- Cleaning contract- $4300.00, Tyler Technologies- Various- Computer expense- $316.54, USPS- General County- Postage- $4300.00, Uinta County Public Health- Public Health Nurse- MCH grant- $76.81, Valley Motor Supply-Various- Parts & new equipment- $1724.76, Verizon Wireless- Various- Cell phones, computer expense & base fee- $370.90, Vision Service Plan- Various- Vision Insurance $389.44, Visionary Broadband- Various- I T expense- $351.93, WEBT- Co admin- Health & life insurance- $17630.46, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $3912.59, Wyoming Clerks of District Court- Clerk of Court- Dues- $150.00, Wyoming County Treasurers’ Association- Treasurer- Dues- $200.00, Wyoming Machinery Company- Road & Bridge- Parts- $3178.62 Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate meals- $1202.46, Xerox Corp.- Co admin- Copier service agreement- $130.09, Payroll Deductions & Accounts payable total- $284157.16
Grand total for January- $ 408650.06
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 5893. Published in The Lusk Herald on March 1, 2023.
