Commissioners

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

Monday, November 4, 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.

Petition for Formation of Yellowstone L&R Ranch I&S District

The County Clerk presented and filed with the Board a Certificate of Petition for the Formation of Yellowstone L&R Ranch Improvement & Service District. Presenting that, on September 27, 2024, a “Petition to Form Warbonnet Canyon Ranch Improvement and Service District” was received in the County Clerk’s Office. The Department of Revenue & Crook County Assessor reviewed the petition and verified the boundaries of the proposed district. Based off the landowner information received from the County Assessor, the County Clerk reviewed the Petition and verified that it was signed by at least sixty percent (60%) of the landowners owning at least sixty percent (60%) of the assessed property for the proposed district. The petition was signed by 12 of the 13 parcel owners which calculates to 92%. The assessed valuation of the 13 parcels is $147,660.00, the assessed valuation of the 12 signers is $102,850.00 which calculates to 70%. The Petition was accepted for filing with the County Clerk’s Office on October 7, 2024.

In accordance with W.S. 22-29-109 at this time a hearing date has been set for January 8, 2025, at 2:00 o’clock p.m.

Bob moved to approve the minutes from October 1 & 2, 2024. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

After discussion, Kelly moved to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-29

ORDER VACATING A PORTION OF COUNTY ROAD NO. 51,

KNOWN AS THE KLONDIKE COUNTY ROAD

WHEREAS a Petition was filed by Donna Wolf with the Board of County Commissioners to vacate portions of Klondike County Road No. 51;

WHEREAS W.S. 24-3-101, et sec., allows for the establishment, alteration, and/or vacation of County roads;

WHEREAS a viewer was appointed pursuant to Wyoming Statute 24-3-105 and 106 who filed a written report with the Board of County Commissioners recommending the proposed route be vacated as petitioned;

WHEREAS on June 6, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2024-17 To Commence Proceedings to Vacate a Portion of Klondike County Road No. 51, and the County Clerk mailed it to various parties having an interest in the proceedings;

WHEREAS the list of “parties” having an interest in the land over which the road was proposed to be vacated that are required to be sent notice of the possible vacation of the roads in this matter as required by W.S. 24-3-110 were obtained from a review of the records search obtained from Flying S Title & Escrow;

WHEREAS on July 25, 2024, the County Clerk mailed copies of the Notice of Hearing to Vacate portions of Klondike County Road No. 51, by U.S. Mail, certified, return receipt requested to all parties having an interest in the land over which the road is proposed to be vacated as required by W.S. 24-3-110 and mailed by first class mail to others that may have an interest in the matter;

WHEREAS the Notice of Hearing to Vacate portions of Klondike County Road No. 51 was published in the Wyoming Pioneer and the Sundance Times a newspaper of general circulation in Crook County, Wyoming, for two (2) consecutive weeks July 25, 2024 and August 1, 2024, and also published on the county website at Public Notices at http://www.crookcounty.wy.gov as required by W.S. 24-3-110;

WHEREAS written objections were filed with the County Clerk of Crook County on or before noon on September 3, 2024, thus the hearing upon the written objections to Vacate portions of Klondike County Road No. 51 was set for October 1, 2024, at 2:30 P.M. Notice of said hearing was mailed by first class mail on September 11, 2024, to all written objectors, all petitioners and all others that had an interest in the matter;

WHEREAS there were no claims for damages filed by any objector in writing with the County Clerk of Crook County on or before noon on September 3, 2024, therefor any claim for damages shall be disregarded, and not considered, and shall be deemed to have been waived and forever barred pursuant to W.S. 24-3-113;

WHEREAS at the hearing on October 1, 2024, at 2:30 P.M the Board of County Commissioner’s considered the evidence and arguments presented from the petitioners and the objectors that filed written objections with the County Clerk in a timely manner and find that:

1. It is in the best interest of Crook County that portions of the road set forth herein be vacated;

2. Access to the state lands may be maintained by only vacating one portion of County Road No. 51 from Wyoming State Highway 112 to the state land located at T55N, R65W Section 36 and not vacating the other portion of county Road No. 51 to the south eastern boundary of the state lands.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AND ORDERED by the Board of County Commissioners in and for Crook County, Wyoming that:

1. The portion of Klondike County Road No. 51 is hereby VACATED across the following described property, to wit

Township 55 North, Range 65 West, 6th P.M. Crook County, Wyoming

Section 25: SW1/4SW1/4

Section 26: N1/2SW1/4,SE1/4SW1/4,SE1/4,SW1/4NW1/4

2. This Resolution shall be indexed and noted in the County Road Index and County Road Map Book, and the land records of the Crook County Clerk, in Sundance, WY.

3. The County Clerk shall refund any unused funds deposited after all costs and expenses are paid concerning these proceedings.

Dated this 4th day of November 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 November 4, 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:

Claimant-Description-Amount Allowed:

Total Wages and Cell Phone Stipend-$295,691.43;Cascade County Fire Department-Transport Engine to Sundance-$677.00;Eastern Surplus & Equipment Co-Engine & Parts-$12,580.00;AFLAC-Insurance-$3,314.98;Clerk of the District Court-Garnishment-$1,226.00;Crook County Payroll Tax Account-Withholding & Social Security-$90,359.58;Great-West Trust Company, LLC-Deferred Compensation-$5,050.00;NCPERS Wyoming-Life Insurance-$128.00;New York Life Insurance Company-Life Insurance-$379.78;WY Department of Workforce Services-Worker’s Compensation-$6,122.23;Wyoming Retirement System-Retirement-$66,320.15;Wyoming Educator’s Benefit Trust-Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance-$91,708.25;A & B Business Inc-Copies & Maint Agreement-$945.05;Alsco-Shop & Courthouse Supplies-$310.05;Apex Court Reporting-Court Reporter-$1,052.50;April D. Gill-Cell Phone Reimbursement-$45.00;Architectural Specialties LLC-Labor & Rental-$2,411.98;AT&T Mobility-Cell Phone-$1,007.55;AV Tech-Vehicle Parts Installation -$2,500.00;Big Horn Tires Inc.-Tires & Batteries-$2,040.54;Black Hills Chemical Co.-Courthouse Supplies -$512.30;Black Hills Energy-Electricity -$35.23;Black Hills Truck & Trailer -Parts-$1,039.44;BN Doors LLC-Parts & Labor -$143.00;Bob Latham-Mileage-$44.35;Brannan Trucking Inc -Contract Hauling -$43,730.00;Campbell County Sheriff’s Office-Witness Fee & Mileage-$98.08;CBH Co-op-Fuel-$24,112.24;CDS Supplies-Hardware-$21.15;Centurylink-E911 Telephone-$906.77;City of Gillette-Water-$7.50;City of Sundance-Water-$1,885.19;Civil Air Patrol Magazine-Subscription -$155.00;Coffee Cup Fuel Stop -Fuel-$60.99;Colin Shamion Trucking-Contract Hauling -$30,028.62;Collins Communications-Fire Alarm Monitoring-$71.00;Contractors Supply Inc -Parts-$982.99;Croell Inc-Road Base & Concrete-$118,292.71;Crook County Medical Services Dist.-Prisoner Food & Meals-$6,652.31;Crook County Natural Resource District-County Funding -$17,500.00;Crook County Treasurer-Postage-$54.83;Custom Auto & Truck-Parts & Labor-$5,586.41;Dakota Equipment Rental-Parts & Rentals-$1,808.57;David Osborne-Mileage-$79.73;Decker’s Market-Supplies -$34.95;Donna’s Dinner II-Fire Meals-$80.00;Douglas E Stevens-Professional Services-$2,056.25;Dru Consulting LLC-Consulting Services -$2,937.50;Dustbusters Inc -Mag For Dust Suppression-$64,541.59;Election Systems & Software -Election Supplies -$4,891.84;Fedex-Postage-$5.76;Fence Tech Services LLC-Trucking -$630.00;FireHoseDirect-Gravel-$161.14;Fisher Sand & Gravel-Gravel-$24,053.14;Fred Devish-Mileage-$1,100.27;Godfrey Brake Service & Supply-Parts & Labor -$6,453.11;Good Electric Inc-Parts-$207.00;Grossenburg Implement-Parts-$686.86;HDR Engineering Inc -Professional Services-$4,727.25;High Country Agricultural Marketing Inc-Supplies -$4,495.79;Hills Products Group Inc-Wood-$1,689.60;Horning Horning & McGrath LLC-Court Appointed Attorney-$275.00;Humphrey Law LLC -Court Appointed Attorney-$442.48;Impressions Embroidery-Logos-$20.00;Integritas-Supplies -$24.98;Iron Creek Services LLC-Contract Hauling -$42,256.44;Isburg Funeral Chapels & Crematory-Indigent Burial-$1,500.00;Jacobson Tools LLC-Tools-$309.55;Jayna Watson CP&Z Consultant-Consulting Services -$1,125.00;Jeffrey Hodge-Cell Phone Reimbursement-$65.00;Jensen Livestock LLC-Reimbursement-$18.00;Jordan Ann & Chancy Miller-Water Usage-$4,280.00;JW Services LLC-Contract Hauling -$2,338.85;K/O Construction LLC-Wessex Rd Culvert Crossing -$63,735.00;Kathleen R Allen-Travel Expenses-$408.55;Kelly B. Dennis-Mileage-$120.60;Kimball Midwest-Parts-$331.46;KLH Consulting Inc-Computer Services-$15,328.97;Knecht Home Center of Spearfish LLC-Supplies-$507.38;Kyle Shamion Trucking -Contract Hauling -$28,273.30;Lakeview Wash & Storage -Car Washes-$214.47;Liberty Law Offices PC-Court Appointed Attorney-$277.98;Marco Technologies LLC-Copy / Maint Fees-$124.87;Max Robert Masters-GIS Consulting & Mapping Contract-$3,400.00;McKesson Medical Surgical-Vaccines-$14,183.81;MG Oil Company-Oil-$2,253.96;Mikes Equipment Service-Parts & Labor -$724.13;Monument Health-Morgue Use-$500.00;Moorcroft Equipment Rental-Rental -$277.50;Morgan Ellsbury-Truck Lease-$1,100.00;Motorola Solutions Inc-Video Cloud Storage-$529.23;Norco Inc-Gas-$324.80;Northwest Pipe Fittings Inc-Anti-Freeze-$2,109.84;Office of State Lands & Investments-Consideration for Easement Applications -$161.41;Paradise Foods-Fuel-$312.38;Pete Lien & Sons Inc -Cattle Guards-$7,775.00;Platinum Diesel LLC-Parts & Labor -$4,734.47;Powder River Energy Corp.-Electricity -$4,917.52;Powder River Heating & AC-Parts -$838.34;Quadient Leasing USA Inc-Postage Machine Rental -$516.99;Quality Agg & Construction Inc-J Base & Rip Rap-$10,283.49;Quik Signs-Signs-$541.76;Quill Corporation -Office Supplies-$679.90;Range Telephone Cooperative Inc-Telephone -$6,851.90;Raquel Croell-County Website Maintenance-$500.00;RDO Equipment Co-Parts-$2,071.31;RG Trucking-Contract Hauling -$24,373.57;Rolling Metal Sinclair-Fuel-$136.92;Rosencranz Construction -Remove & Replace Bridge Deck-$11,825.00;Runnings Supply Inc -Bulbs-$239.88;Saddle Tree Ranch Trucking LLC-Contract Hauling -$23,325.84;Sara Fleenor-Mileage-$47.17;Shamion Trucking-Contract Hauling -$21,831.28;Sig Sauer Inc-Rifle & Accessories-$1,570.27;Sign Solutions-Signs-$1,686.69;Slattery Enterprises Inc-Servicing Units-$270.00;Smith Psychological Services -Employee Eval -$200.00;State of Wyoming -Mainframe Services-$11.02;Sundance Hardware & Sporting Goods-Parts & Supplies-$259.38;Sundance State Bank -Direct Deposit Fees-$10.53;Sundance Times-Legal Publications, Display Ads & Notary Stamp -$6,525.28;Superior Sanitation -Servicing Units-$125.00;Svoboda Trucking -Contract Hauling -$7,549.94;Sylvesteri Customization -Monthly Website Maint-$450.00;Tammy Jundt-Reimbursement-$111.23;The Masters Touch LLC-Property Tax Invoices-$2,060.08;Thos Y Pickett & Co Inc-2nd Installment -$6,000.00;Timberline Services Inc -Contract Hauling -$46,507.46;Top Office Products, Inc.-Copies, Parts & Labor -$1,175.00;Town of Hulett-Water & License -$66.30;Town of Moorcroft-Water-$69.69;Tracy Motor Company-Parts & Supplies-$5,164.99;Trisha Habeck-Mileage & Reimbursement-$1,055.44;University of Wyoming-Salary-$11,139.75;US Post Office-Box Dues-$100.00;Vilas Pharmacy-Cards-$1.99;Visa-Adobe, Supplies, Postage, Travel Expenses, Cable, Internet, Straight Talk, Starlink, Equipment-$24,706.74;Visionary Broadband-Internet Service-$996.71;W Bar Feed & Ranch Supply-Posts-$26.80;Warne Chemical & Equipment Co-Pump-$6,248.00;Wells Plumbing & Farm Supply-Parts-$232.10;Western Stationers-Paper-$1,099.00;Windstream-Telephone -$108.49;WY Department of Workforce Services-Worker’s Compensation-$2,175.04;WY Office of Guardian Ad Litem-Quarter 3 GAL Fees-$1,923.89;WY Retirement System-Firemen’s Retirement-$525.00;WY State Forestry Division-Part-$109.45;Wyoming APCO Chapter-Registration -$140.00;Wyoming Clerks of District Court Assoc-Dues-$300.00;Wyoming Educator’s Benefit Trust-Cobra VSP & Employee Paid Benefits-$655.00;Wyoming Machinery Company-Parts & Labor-$4,387.21;Z Lazy Y Services-Rental -$250.00;Total-$1,401,769.28;

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

The following monthly collections were collected:

County Clerk $18,009.75

County Sheriff $34,011.58

Clerk of District Court $2,474.00

Public Health (September) $2,286.74

Circuit Court $13,155.00

Facilities (September) $171.00

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

Dan Thomas County Assessor: Last month we had about 200 completed long-term homeowners’ applications. We will continue to receive them for the 2025 tax year until the Fourth Monday in May. We have processed fifty-one (51) deeds of ownership transfer. And we are continuing our new construction field reviews. The Department of Revenues annual audit was completed and there were no concerns from Crook County. I attended the department head meeting, IT committee meeting, and a meeting with the DOR regarding Long Term Homeowners’ exemptions.

Joe Baron, County Attorney: Criminal Cases in the past month: New Cases: 20, Closed Cases: 17, Current Case Load: 50, In Court: 44 times, Juvenile/Diversion Cases: 34. Been preparing for a couple of trials, working on rearranging/reorganizing office space to make room for one more office, filed appeal to State Board of Equalization on County Board of Equalization appeal, working on cleaning up outstanding items.

Melissa Jones, County Clerk: recorded 476 documents and made 327 titles, attended the Compensation Committee meeting, 1 IT Committee meeting, server migration meetings, processed one public record request, notifying entities on DOA compliance issues, worked through Deployed Firefighters vs Wildland Firefighters, advised special districts on their elections, collected statements of contributions for candidates, held 3 election judge trainings, processed one indigent burial, helping auditor gather information for federal testing, received county plates assisted Sam by making a list of plates and what vehicles they belong to, reviewed Creek Fire expenditures, have had a high turnout of new registered voters as well as voters wanting to vote absentee as of Monday morning 28% of Crook County had already voted absentee, we have received back 95% of the absentee ballots sent out.

Julie Crawford, Clerk of District Court: Total Receipts for October: $10,291.18 with $2,474.00 to the County I received 9 new case filings, processed 14 record searches, 14 new passports, assisted multiple other customers with renewal passports and there is still 1 civil appeal in process. I processed 371 total filings with 349 transactions being filed through e-filing. I sent out 70 jury notices for a trial that just settled. I sent 2 checks to Unclaimed Property before the November 1st deadline. I participated in the Courthouse Security Assessment on October 1st. I had an in-house child support audit with the State which went very well. I hosted the Child Support Authority Board meeting here, I attended 7 various Teams meetings, 2 IT Committee meetings, the Employee Compensation Committee meeting, and a portion of the Department Heads Meeting.

Jeff Hodge, County Sheriff: Dealing with issues at a Saloon out in the County, got a new detention officer, one detention officer moved to a deputy position, may be losing a dispatcher, working on election with Mel, working through process of housing DOC inmates, dealing with lease issues down Moskee, working on encrypted radio channels.

Tammy Jundt, County Treasurer: Total receipts were $4,010,314.72 and disbursements to the county boards, towns and schools were $937,151.96. In October we did a total of 3,357 transactions. With the property tax deadline of Nov 10th, we have been busy at the counter and receiving a lot of property tax payments in the mail.  We had Master’s Touch print and mail our invoices. We changed our invoice, so with the changes we’ve had lots of questions. We received the Veteran’s exemption funds for motor vehicle and property tax from the Department of Revenue. Worked with Joe B regarding Wyoming Oil and Gas Commission collecting delinquent ad valorem taxes from Infield Discovery LLC. I’m in the process of converting our QuickBooks over to our accounting program with Tyler Tech School ERP. I participated in the server migration discussion and attended the employee compensation and department head meeting.

County Commissioners: Bob: Attended two IT meetings, attended the Land Use Planning meeting, Weed & Pest meeting, calls on roads. Discussed IT. Kelly: Took lots of calls, mostly on roads, traveled roads. Fred: Attended a few WCCA Zoom meetings, Old Growth meetings, RMP meetings, Weed & Pest meeting, traveled to Pinedale for the 2nd NEPA training, fielded calls on roads.

Tammy Jundt, County Treasurer, submitted the following monthly report of receipts and disbursements for month end October 2024:

Receipts: Property Tax $2,440,830.28

Sales Tax $219,009.32

Misc Receipts $1,149,265.11

County Auto $201,210.01

Total $4,010,314.72

Disbursements Towns $217,760.96

County Boards/Districts $125,685.72

State & Local School $367,453.98

DOT/DOR/Rebate $226,251.30

Redemption $ -

Total $937,151.96

Investments Sundance State Bank -CD $3,406,423.81 $81,423.81 Mar – Aug Interest

Wyo-Star $448,819.21 $1,749.90 September interest

Wyoming Class $3,375,103.46 $14,224.73 September interest

Dan Thomas, County Assessor, presented the following tax roll corrections: P0112190, R0013932, R0013944 & R0000400. Kelly moved to approve the corrections as presented. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Alex Jessen, Chairman, Compensation Committee, gave a monthly report.

Bob moved to approve 2 Classification Reviews, 1 from the County Clerk and 1 from Road & Bridge. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Morgan Ellsbury, Road & Bridge Superintendent and Larry Schommer, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor, gave a monthly report.

The meeting adjourned at 11:53 o’clock a.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.

The following monthly collections were collected:

Facilities (October) $1,375.00

Sara Fleenor, UW Area Educator & Erica Reasoner, 4H Educator, Extension Office, Jasmyne Bryant, Events Coordinator, Fair/Facilities and Carol Stutzman, Public Health Nurse, gave monthly reports.

Bob moved to sign a letter to Sundance State Bank requesting a credit card be issued for Erica Reasoner, 4H educator, and to sign the Annual Compensation Agreement with the University of Wyoming for the Extension 4-H Youth Development position. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Tim Lyons, Planning Director, and Caleb Peters, Wastewater Specialist, gave a monthly report.

Dan Thomas, County Assessor, presented an additional tax roll correction: M0012156. Kelly moved to approve the correction as presented. Bob seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Jeff Hodge was present discussing handicap parking and requesting his office get much needed paint.

Mark Broderson, Superintendent and Melissa Ruml, Curriculum Director, Crook County School District No. 1. were present to request Opioid Funding. Also present were Sarah Pridgeon, Katie Allen, John D. Davis, Tammy Jundt and Joe Baron.

Bob moved to approve the request for Opioid funds and for the County to pay directly to the company rather than bill the School District first. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

After discussion, Bob moved to approve a Grant Award Agreement Between Wyoming Office of Homeland Security and Crook County for $16,342.00 for CodeRed. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 2:59 o’clock p.m.

Tuesday, November 5, 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.

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

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

Bob moved to approve the Scope of Work with HDR on the Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan for Crook County, Wyoming. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Bonnie Stahla, Director, Crook County Library, gave a monthly report.

Bob moved to sign a letter of support for the Crook County Library for a grant application and for the clerk to use the Board’s signature stamps on said letter. Kelly seconded, all ayes, motion carried.

Soni Lampert, KLH, was present via Teams, for the monthly IT update. Also present were Tammy Jundt, Jeff Hodge, Joe Baron, Morgan Ellsbury, John D. Davis and via Teams Julie Crawford.

Charlie Harrison, Fire Warden gave a monthly report.

Bridget Helms, Office Manager, CCNRD, Roger Connett, RER and via Teams Jeanne Whalen, Whalen Consult, gave updates on items of interest within their departments. Also present were John D. Davis, Caleb Peters, Tim Lyons and Joe Baron.

Board openings:

On December 3, 2024, at 1:00 o’clock p.m. the Board will make the following Board appointment:

Fair Board Member – 5 Year Term

On December 4, 2024, at 1:00 o’clock p.m. the Board will make the following Board appointment:

Weed & Pest Board Member – Area 2 – 4 Year Term

Weed & Pest Board Member – Area 4 – 4 Year Term

All interested parties are encouraged to apply. Applications are available on request from the County Clerk at [email protected], in the Office of the County Clerk and online at https://www.crookcounty.wy.gov/boards2/index.php. All applications must be submitted to the County Clerk by or before December 2, 2024, at 5:00 o’clock p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 11:33 o’clock a.m. to meet in regular session on December 3 & 4, 2024 at 8:30 o’clock a.m., in the Commissioner’s 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: November 21, 2024