Commissioners

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AT THE COURTHOUSE IN SUNDANCE, CROOK COUNTY, WYOMING

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

8:30 o'clock a.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited to the Flag.

Kelly moved to appoint Fred M. Devish as Chairman of the Board of Crook County Commissioners and to appoint Kelly B. Dennis as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Crook County Commissioners; to appoint Fred M. Devish as Crook County's voting member of the Wyoming County Commissioner's Association; and to appoint Fred M. Devish as member of the Crook County Volunteer Firefighters Association Advisory Board. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Kelly moved to ratify & approve the minutes from December 5 and 6, 2023. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Bob moved to approve the bond for Gary D. Anderson, County Surveyor. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Bob moved to approve a Change Order between HDR Engineering, Inc., and Crook County to accept the updated 2024 billing rates. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Kelly moved to table the discussion on a Proclamation declaring Highway 24 in Crook County a Purple Heart Memorial Trail until more information is received. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Kelly moved to approve the following resolutions:

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-1

DESIGNATING THE OFFICIAL DEPOSITORIES FOR CROOK COUNTY FOR 2024

WHEREAS Wyoming Statute §9-4-816 through 9-4-831 governs the deposits and investments of county funds by Crook County; and

WHEREAS Resolution No. 8-1996 Statement of Investment Policy for Crook County allows investment of county funds while assuring the maximum safety of those funds; and

WHEREAS Wyoming Statute §9-4-817 (b) requires the County Treasurer to select the institutions designated by the Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming pursuant to the restrictions stated therein and pursuant to law; and

WHEREAS the following financial institutions and State Treasurer should be designated as the official depositories for the public funds invested by Crook County as authorized by Wyoming Statute §9-4-831, namely: Sundance State Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Summit National Bank and any investment made available to the county through the State Treasurer of Wyoming, including the local investment pool, known as Wyo-Star authorized by W.S. 9-1-416 and the long-term investments pool, known as Wyo-Star II Wyoming Class authorized by W.S. 9-4-831 (a) (xxvii);

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming that the above stated depositories are designated as the official depositories of Crook County, Wyoming and that the County Treasurer, County Fair and Library, other elected officers and departments are authorized to and shall only deposit and invest county funds in these depositories.

Motion made, seconded and carried in an open meeting on January 2, 2024.

Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming by Fred M. Devish, Chairman, Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman and Bob Latham, Member.

State of Wyoming }

County of Crook }

Signed or attested before me on January 2, 2024 by Fred M. Devish, Chairman, Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman and Bob Latham, Member, Board of Crook County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming.

Melissa Jones, Crook County Clerk

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-2

AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF NEGOTIABLE PAPER

IN PAYMENT OF FEES

WHEREAS Wyoming Statute §18-3-505 provides that the Board of County Commissioners may allow any county officer, agent or employee to accept negotiable paper including, but not limited to e-checks, credit and debit cards, electronic funds transfer in payment of any tax, assessment, license, permit, fee, fine or other money owing to the county or collectable by the county on behalf of the state or other unit of government, or in payment of any bail deposit or trust deposit; and

WHEREAS any fees assessed for processing negotiable instruments, a credit card, other electronic funds payment or other payment shall be borne by the person tendering payment and any fees assessed for processing a credit card payment collected on behalf of the county and state shall be borne by the person tendering payment and not by the county and state; and

WHEREAS with respect to lender credit card and all other payment transactions the county is entitled to promptly present all negotiable paper to the bank upon which the negotiable paper is drawn for payment without any right of setoff or defense on the part of the issuer except as follows: Acceptance by the county of an expired card, Acceptance of a card for payment of an amount in excess of what the issuer authorized the county to accept, or Negotiable paper that is so improperly completed that the issuer cannot identify the card holder; and

WHEREAS any defense, claim or action that an individual using negotiable paper, a lender credit card and electronic funds transfers might have against issuers of the card shall not apply to the county, its officers, agents or employees or relieve the individual of responsibility for payment; and

WHEREAS the acceptance of negotiable paper or any other type of payment constitutes conditional payment for the amount owing. If the negotiable paper or any other type of payment is not dishonored the payment shall be effective on the date the paper was accepted by the county officer, agent or employee and receipted the same day, with the exception that the transaction could not be completed for a statutory reason. If the negotiable paper or any other type of payment is dishonored in the course of collection the conditional payment is of no effect and any receipt, certificate or license issued upon acceptance of the negotiable paper or any other type of payment is void. In the event any property including motor vehicle license plates is transferred or issued by the county or any of its officers, agents or employees upon acceptance of negotiable paper, and the paper is subsequently dishonored the county may rescind the transaction and a sheriff or other law enforcement officer may without prior court proceedings seize the property pursuant to W.S. 18-3-505(e). Neither the rescission nor seizure relieves the person presenting the negotiable paper from further civil or criminal liabilities as may be provided by law.

WHEREAS any negotiable paper including but not limited to e-checks, credit and debit cards, electronic funds transfer in payment of any tax, assessment, license, permit, fee, fine or other money owing to the county or collectable by the county on behalf of the state or other unit of government, or in payment of any bail deposit or trust deposit, that is dishonored shall be collected in the following manner or a more restrictive if imposed by the officer or board:

1. Once the negotiable paper has been dishonored it shall be resubmitted once, and if still dishonored the officer, or employee within ten (10) days shall issue a written demand to make the payment.

2. Then if the payment remains unpaid the officer or employee shall rescind the transaction and deliver the dishonored negotiable paper to law enforcement for further action.

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming that:

1. Any county officer, agent or employee is allowed to accept negotiable paper including credit cards in payment of any tax, assessment, license, permit, fee, fine or other money owing to the county or collectable by the county on behalf of the state or other unit of government, or in payment of any bail deposit or trust deposit.

2. Any county officer, agent or employee who accepts negotiable paper is not personally liable, if the paper is dishonored and follows the collection process as required herein. Any losses arising from dishonored paper shall be allocated to the respective funds for which the negotiable paper was accepted.

3. In the event of losses from dishonored paper when the county or any of its officers are collecting funds for the state or any other level or unit of government, such losses shall be allocated to and accepted by the governmental entity for whom the collections were made;

4. Any payment made thereby is conditional as set forth in Wyoming Statute §18-3-505; and

5. Any fees assessed for processing a credit card payment, negotiable paper or other electronic funds transfers shall be borne by the person tendering payment.

Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming by Fred M. Devish, Chairman, Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman and Bob Latham, Member.

State of Wyoming }

County of Crook }

Signed or attested before me on January 2, 2024 by Fred M. Devish, Chairman, Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman and Bob Latham, Member, Board of Crook County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming.

Melissa Jones, Crook County Clerk

Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

The following bills were presented to the Board:

Total Wages and Cell Phone Stipend--$284,952.43;AFLAC-Insurance-$2,733.52;Clerk of the District Court-Garnishment-$226.00;Crook County Payroll Tax Account-Withholding & Social Security-$86,494.85;Great-West Trust Company, LLC-Deferred Compensation-$3,630.00;NCPERS Wyoming-Life Insurance-$144.00;New York Life Insurance Company-Life Insurance-$379.78;WY Department of Workforce Services-Worker's Compensation-$6,233.77;Wyoming Retirement System-Retirement-$64,663.08;Wyoming Educator's Benefit Trust-Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance-$81,617.54;21 Electric-Parts & labor-$1,207.95;911 Supply -Shirts -$113.29;A & B Business Inc-Maint. Agreement & Copies-$322.96;Alsco-Shop & Courthouse Supplies-$383.42;American Solutions for Business-W-2 Forms & Envelopes-$115.37;April D. Gill-Cell Phone Reimbursement-$45.00;Arete Design Group-Professional Services -$12,633.47;AT&T Mobility-Cell Phone-$967.19;B3 K9 Training & Boarding -K9 Food -$75.00;Big Horn County Circuit Court-Copies -$1.00;Big Horn Tires Inc.-Tires & Batteries -$1,310.77;Black Hills Chemical Co.-Courthouse Supplies-$1,132.66;Black Hills Energy-Electricity -$123.66;Blakeman Propane Inc -Propane -$2,244.98;Bob Latham -Mileage-$86.72;Brannan Trucking Inc -Contract Hauling -$12,010.00;Campbell County Sheriff's Office-Juvenile Housing -$75.00;CBH Co-op-Fuel-$8,466.32;CCAW-Dues -$500.00;Centurylink-E911 Telephone-$1,400.18;City of Gillette-Water-$7.50;City of Sundance-Water & County Funding-$5,576.40;Clinical Lab of the Black Hills -Forensic Autopsy -$2,495.00;Colin Shamion Trucking -Belly Dump Trailer -$25,000.00;Collins Communications-Fire Alarm Monitoring; Parts & Labor-$2,230.20;Contractors Supply Inc -Parts-$373.38;Craig Monnens-Shale-$4,242.14;Croell Inc-Road Base & Concrete-$10,309.66;Crook County Medical Services Dist.-Jail Food & Meals; DOT Physical -$4,495.92;Crook County Treasurer-Postage-$24.50;Custom Auto & Truck-Service, Parts, Repairs -$1,845.73;David Schelldorf-Annual Water Access Agreement -$500.00;Dru Consulting LLC-Consulting Services -$875.00;Elsa Bush -Sewing -$90.00;Empire Ranch Inc-Annual Water Access Agreement -$500.00;Employment Testing Services Inc -Annual Fee-$250.00;Fedex-Postage-$10.05;Fence Tech Services LLC-Contract Hauling -$10,333.68;FireHoseDirect-Rubber Bands-$354.55;Floyds Truck Center WY-Parts-$86.04;Galls LLC-Pants-$60.63;Glaxosmithkline-Vaccines -$5,629.56;Grimm's Pump & Industrial Supply -Strainer Screen -$205.88;Grossenburg Implement Inc-Parts-$126.12;Heimans Fire Equipment -Parts-$664.77;Hulett Emergency Medical Services-County Funding -$5,000.00;Humphrey Law LLC -Court Appointed Attorney Fees-$175.00;Jeffrey Hodge-Cell Phone Reimbursement-$45.00;JW Services LLC-Contract Hauling -$13,810.26;K&K Concrete LLC-Concrete-$3,941.00;Karen's Delivery Co-Deliveries -$36.00;Kelly B. Dennis-Mileage-$78.60;Kimball Midwest-Hardware-$397.94;KLH Consulting Inc-Computer Services-$15,265.50;Knecht Home Center of Spearfish LLC-Supplies -$1,675.17;Kone Inc -Maint. Contract-$2,073.72; KYDT-FM / KBFS-AM Dirt Road Radio -Sponsorship-$50.00;Lakeview Wash & Storage -Car Washes-$193.56;Liberty Law Offices, PC-Court Appointed Attorney Fees-$1,683.73;Lubnau Law-Court Appointed Attorney Fees-$30.00;Marco Technologies LLC-Copy / Maint. Fees-$68.73;Max Robert Masters-GIS Consulting & Mapping Contract-$3,400.00;McKesson Medical Surgical -Vaccines -$2,314.95;Meadowlark Counseling-Pre Employment Evaluation -$325.00;Monument Health -Morgue Use -$461.00;Morgan Ellsbury-Truck Lease-$1,100.00;Pfizer Inc-Vaccines -$4,775.42;Powder River Energy Corp.-Electricity -$5,759.29;Quadient Finance USA Inc -Postage-$4,039.99;Quality Agg & Construction, Inc-J Base; Rip Rap; Clean-$64,671.72;Quik Signs-Signs-$813.40;Quill Corporation -Supplies -$477.80;Range Telephone Cooperative Inc -Telephone-$6,896.74;Raquel Croell-County Website Maintenance-$500.00;RG Trucking -Contract Hauling -$9,026.05;Rolling Metal Sinclair-Fuel-$82.01;Runnings Supply Inc -Supplies -$154.98;Rushmore Communications Inc -Labor-$57.50;Scott Peterson Motors -Part-$24.40;State of Wyoming-Mainframe User Access-$34.24;Sundance Hardware & Sporting Goods-Parts & Supplies-$1,146.48;Sundance State Bank -Direct Deposit Fees-$10.46;Sundance Times-Ads & Legal Publications-$2,469.77;Sylvestri Customization -Monthly website Maint.-$600.00;The Home Depot Pro-Parts-$481.93;Timberline Services Inc -Contract Hauling & Gravel -$62,718.96;Top Office Products, Inc.-Copies -$351.77;Town of Hulett-Water & County Funding-$1,062.30;Town of Moorcroft-Water & County Funding-$9,068.68;Town of Pine Haven -County Funding -$5,000.00;Tracy Motor Company-Parts & Supplies-$4,323.96;Verizon Connect Fleet USA LLC-Tracking System-$201.00;Veto Enterprises Inc -2023 Dodge-$42,083.00;Vilas Pharmacy-Jail Meds-$40.85;Visa-Adobe, Internet, Supplies, Medical Supplies, Travel Expenses, Jail Cable, Parts & Labor, Postage, Straight Talk-$10,834.55;Visionary Broadband-Internet Service-$996.71;W Bar Feed & Ranch Supply -Repair -$25.00;Wendy Depina-Mileage-$279.24;Western Stationers-Office Supplies-$256.91;Whalen Consult LLC-Consulting Services -$664.43;Windstream-Telephone-$118.83;WY Association of Sheriffs & Chiefs-Dues -$650.00;WY Department of Workforce Services-Worker's Compensation-$727.79;WY Retirement System-Firemen's Retirement-$468.75;WY State Forestry Division-Parts-$434.06;WYDOT Motor Vehicle Division-Plates-$10.00;WYDOT-Financial Services-Project Expenditures-$173.51;WY Clerk of District Court Association -Dues -$150.00;Wyoming Educator's Benefit Trust-Cobra VSP-$10.58;Wyoming Machinery Company-Parts & Labor; Grader Work-$27,963.13;WY Public Health Laboratory -Lab Testing -$42.00;WY State 4-H Foundation -Dues -$100.00;Total-$975,388.22;

Kelly moved to allow all bills as presented. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried

The following monthly collections were collected:

County Clerk $15,422.50

County Sheriff $34,421.25

Clerk of District Court $4,339.70

Public Health (November) $15,969.37

Facilities $960.00

Tammy Jundt, County Treasurer submitted the following monthly report of receipts and disbursements for month end December 2023:

Receipts: Property Tax $2,805,395.03

Sales Tax $231,512.95

Misc Receipts $1,012,696.70

County Auto $412,709.76

Total $4,462,314.44

Disbursements Towns $273,522.35

County Boards/Districts $554,861.72

State & Local School $3,056,926.40

DOT/DOR/Rebate $342,783.60

Redemption $ -

Total $4,228,094.07

Investments Wyo-Star $432,411.64 $ 1,493.04 (November Interest)

Wyoming Class $3,201,964.71 $14,170.75 (November Interest)

Jeff Hodge, County Sheriff, Tammy Jundt, County Treasurer, Julie Crawford, Clerk of District Court and Joe Baron, County Attorney were present to go over items of interest within their departments.

Dan Thomas, County Assessor: Last month I was in attendance at a few WCAA Executive committee meetings discussing legislation. I attended the department compensation committee meeting. I sent out the Personal Property and Oil and Gas Declarations. We processed 720 deeds of transfer of ownership in 2023 and 68 from December. I have a couple of meetings this week about some more legislation around property taxes and property tax relief. The field crew is getting all of their data entered for the 2024 tax year and I will start working on setting values soon.

Joe Baron, County Attorney: Criminal Cases in the past month: New Cases: 46 Closed Cases: 35 Current Case Load: 119 In Court: 55 times Juvenile/Diversion Cases: 35 Civil work. Advise various law enforcement agencies. Advised County Officers and Department Heads. Sent out Audit Letter and reviewed responses. Reviewed bonds. Worked with Planning Department on the enforcement of Subdivision Rules, exemption, and subdivision applications. Prepared documents for the Reed Public Road Alteration. Reviewed the Inyan Kara Bridge Letter. FRTA Easements with the Forest Service Attorney and awaiting their further response. Revised Title 25 forms and contacts. Worked on SBOE Appeals. Reviewing the Form 8 landowner authorization for inclusion to the proposed Kendrick Expansion to the Strata Uranium Mine near Oshoto. Review of Improvement and Service District Applications. Revise the contract between Sheriff and Weston County Joint Powers Board. Attend LUP&Z Hearing.

Julie Crawford, Clerk of District Court: Total Receipts: $6,223.41 with $4,339.70 to the County; 16 new case filings, 33 record searches, 10 new passports and assisted 2 customers with renewal passports, 2 civil appeals in process. I attended a meeting with the Salary Board to discuss the positions/pay for my office, and also attended the Employee Compensation Committee meeting and Department Heads meeting. We are working on file preparation and getting ready for e-filing which is scheduled to go live on February 27, 2024. We have a meeting with the Supreme Court set in January to outline training dates which will be done online.

Melissa Jones, County Clerk: recorded 514 documents and created 324 titles, attended the special Compensation Committee meeting, meeting with all Elected Officials and Department Heads, worked on updating the Salary Matrix, worked on the Reed Road notice, Beulah I&S District notice, distributed and collected the IT equipment listing for all offices, am following rule changes being proposed by the Secretary of State.

Jeff Hodge, County Sheriff: presented the jail stats, down a dispatcher again, attended Compensation Committee meetings, worked with Joe on the KLH contract, having trouble getting new vehicles here and equipped so using old vehicles to hold us over.

Tammy Jundt, County Treasurer: Total receipts were $4,462,314.44 and disbursements to the county boards, towns and schools were $4,228,094.07. In December we did 4,518 transactions. We generated and mailed the February motor vehicle renewal reminder cards. We were very busy at the counter with many motor vehicle and mobile machinery renewals; and property tax payments for the December 31st deadline. Filled out and emailed Joe the audit information request. Attended the Employee Compensation Committee meeting where we met with all the department heads and elected officials.

County Commissioners: Bob: took phone calls, had conversations with Morgan and Larry, attended the Fair Board meeting & Compensation Committee meeting and Weed & Pest Christmas Party. Fred: Attended meetings on the FS plan, BLM plan and Sage Grouse plan, took a complaint on the Bertha Road and passed that on to Morgan, forwarded grant opportunities to Sam, had conversations with Larry, Morgan & Charlie. Kelly: attended various County board meetings, took phone calls.

Morgan Ellsbury, Road and Bridge Superintendent and Larry Schommer, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor gave monthly reports.

Scott Pomerenke and Eric Akola were present to discuss county maintenance on County Road No. 93. There is a portion of County Road No. 93 right off Beaver Creek Road they would like to be added as a Maintained County Road. Commissioners have taken the stance they are not adding any more roads to be maintained at this time.

Adjourned for lunch at 12:03 o'clock p.m.

1:00 o'clock p.m. Present were Chairman Fred M. Devish, Vice-Chairman Kelly B. Dennis, Member Bob Latham and County Clerk Melissa Jones.

Jasmyne Bryant, Events Coordinator, Fair/Facilities, Bonnie Stahla, Director, Crook County Library and Carol Stutzman, Public Health Nurse gave monthly reports.

Tim Lyons, Planning Director gave a monthly report.

Present for the final hearing of the Kara Creek Country Living Minor Subdivision were Kris Doornink, Callie Hilty, Tim Lyons, Tracey Jundt, Morgan Ellsbury, Joe Baron and Dan Thomas. After discussion, Bob moved to approve the Order Conditionally Approving Minor Subdivision for Kara Creek Country Living Minor Subdivision and the Minor Subdivision Unrecorded Subdivision Plat Agreement. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Present for the Keith Crozier Large Acreage Subdivision Exemption Request Hearing were Kara Ellsbury, Joe Baron, Tim Lyons and via Teams, Keith Crozier. After discussion, Kelly moved to grant Keith Crozier an exemption from the Large Acreage Subdivision Regulations in accordance with Section 6 (c) as parcels were surveyed and promoted for sale prior to county regulations going into effect December 1, 2022. An order shall be signed and recorded at the expense of the Applicant. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 3:27 o'clock p.m.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

8:30 o'clock a.m. Present were Chairman Fred M. Devish, Vice-Chairman Kelly B. Dennis, Member Bob Latham and County Clerk Melissa Jones.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited to the Flag.

The following monthly collections were collected:

Circuit Court $12,118.00

Josh Jundt, Resident Engineer, Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), gave an update on bridge and road projects.

Morgan Ellsbury, Road and Bridge Superintendent and Larry Schommer, Facilities Maintenance Foreman, continued their monthly reports.

Present for the monthly IT update from KLH were Tom Overstreet, via Teams, Jeff Hodge, Julie Crawford and Joe Baron.

Ed Robinson, Homeland Security County Coordinator and Charlie Harrison, Fire Warden gave monthly reports.

Present for the proposed Ambulance Services Regulation were Charlie Harrison, Ed Robinson and Sarah Pridgeon. After discussion, Bob moved to approve the following Resolution and the Regulation.

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-3

THE ADOPTION OF THE CROOK COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICES REGULATION

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming supports Crook County Medical Services District in their efforts to be able to provide ambulance services within the County; and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming find it necessary to adopt the Crook County Ambulance Services Regulation in accordance with the Wyoming State Statutes, including but not limited to, W. S. §16-1-101, W. S. §19-13-101 et. Seq. and W. S. §16-3-101 et. Seq., as amended; and

WHEREAS notice of a public hearing on the proposed regulation was advertised in the Moorcroft Leader, Sundance Times and Wyoming Pioneer and the Crook County website at least 45 days before the hearing and all comments heard were taken into consideration;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN AND FOR CROOK COUNTY, WYOMING, that the "Crook County Ambulance Services Regulation" is approved and adopted effective January 3, 2024.

Motion made, seconded and carried in an open meeting on January 3, 2024.

Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming by Fred M. Devish, Chairman, Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman and Bob Latham, Member.

State of Wyoming }

County of Crook }

Signed or attested before me on January 3, 2024 by Fred M. Devish, Chairman, Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman and Bob Latham, Member, Board of Crook County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming.

Melissa Jones, Crook County Clerk

Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Alex Jessen, Chairman, Bonnie Stahla, Morgan Ellsbury & via Teams Tina Wood, Members, Compensation Committee, gave a monthly report. Also, present were Jeff Hodge and Julie Crawford.

Kelly moved to adopt the presented Pay Table and Job Placement Table. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Adjourned for lunch at 12:11 o'clock p.m.

1:00 o'clock p.m. Present were Chairman Fred M. Devish, Vice-Chairman Kelly B. Dennis, Member Bob Latham and County Clerk Melissa Jones.

Patrick Champa, District Ranger, Bearlodge Ranger District, Roger Connett, RER Ralph Knode, CEO, Strata, Bridget Helms, Office Manager, CCNRD, Jeanne Whalen, Whalen Consult, Troy Bifulco, Vice President of Information and Technology Services, PreCorp and via Teams, Dru Bower, DRU Consulting, LLC gave updates on items of interest within their departments. Also present were Tim Lyons, Joe Baron, Representative Neiman and via Teams Ally Garner, Field Rep., Senator Lummis.

Bob moved to approve the Authorization for Inclusion of Crook County Roadways in the Proposed Kendrick Expansion of the Ross ISR Project Permit No. 802 and the Amended Memorandum of Understanding for improvement and Maintenance of Crook County Roads Providing Access to the Ross ISR Project and Kendrick Expansion. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Discussion was held on the Forest Service Assessments. The Board, along with Jeanne and Dru plan to have a public meeting to allow citizens to come and ask questions about the assessments. The meeting is planned for Thursday, February 8th at 6pm in the Courthouse basement.

Jesse DuPont, Celerity, was present to give an update on Broadband in the Aladdin/Beulah areas.

Present for the hearing on the Petition to Establish the Yellowstone L&R Ranch Improvement and Service District were Jesse DuPont, Patrick Carpenter, Roger Connett, Tim Lyons, Chip Neiman and Joe Baron and via Teams Ally Garner. After discussion Kelly moved to approve the Petition for Formation. Bob seconded, all ayes motion carried. Bob moved to sign then the Order Upon Formation Petition. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Discussion was held on the Forest Service Old Growth Forest Proposal. Kelly moved to authorize Dru Bower & County Attorney Baron to draft a letter requesting cooperative agency status with the Forest Services on the matter and to pay Dru her regular hourly wage from the Commissioner's legal budget. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Representative Chip Neiman was present to discuss legislation. Also, present were Roger Connett, Tim Lyons, Dan Thomas, Julie Crawford, Larry Schommer, Joe Baron and via Teams, Cheryl Schneider.

Larry Schommer, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor continued his monthly report.

The meeting adjourned at 3:32 o'clock p.m. to meet in regular session on February 6 & 7, 2024 at 8:30 o'clock a.m., in the Commissioner Room at the Courthouse in Sundance, Wyoming.

Fred M. Devish, Chairman Kelly B. Dennis, Vice-Chairman

Bob Latham, Member Attested: Melissa Jones, County Clerk

Publish: January 18, 2024