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STATE OF WYOMING ) LANDER, WYOMING ) ss. OFFICE OF THE FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF FREMONT ) January 22, 2008
The Board of Fremont County Commissioners met in Regular Session at 9:00 a.m. with the following members present: Douglas L. Thompson, Vice-Chairman Pat Hickerson, Keja Whiteman and Dennis Heckart. Commissioner Jane Adamson was absent for personal reasons. Also present was County Clerk and Clerk of the Board Julie A. Freese.
Pat Hickerson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to approve the Agenda, as amended. Motion carried unanimously.
Dennis Heckart moved, Pat Hickerson seconded, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held January 15, 2008. Motion carried unanimously.
Pat Hickerson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to accept the bills for payment. Commissioner Whiteman abstained. Motion carried. Chairman Thompson expressed appreciation to Commissioner Whiteman for sending a Memorandum to all Departments encouraging them to purchase locally, whenever possible. County Clerk Julie Freese stated she will also send a reminder Memorandum stating itemized receipts are statutorily required.
The following Title 25 vouchers were reviewed: Voucher No. 011508L to Lander Valley Medical Center in the amount of $41,534; Voucher No. 011508FW to Wyoming Behavioral Institute for $2,740.00; and Voucher No. 011508F to Fremont Counseling Service in the amount of $6,500. Pat Hickerson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to accept the Title 25 vouchers as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Transportation Department Superintendent Dave Pendleton and Vehicle Maintenance Supervisor Glen Steers distributed a bid summary spreadsheet for motor graders. Financial Assistant Mike Stalder was also present in the audience. The men requested authorization from the Board to allow the purchase of four Caterpillar motor graders totaling $646,300, including trade ins and incentives. They had earlier presented figures stating a surplus in the Special Project Fund that could be used to purchase the motor graders. Funding from the Special Project Fund would need to be infused into the Capital Revolving Fund where large purchases are funded. Keja Whiteman moved, Pat Hickerson seconded, to authorize $1,086,300 into the Capital Revolving Fund for the purchase of four Caterpillar motor graders. Motion carried unanimously. Keja Whiteman moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve the purchase of four Caterpillar motor graders for a total of $646,300, including trade in and incentives. Motion carried unanimously. Stalder distributed a preliminary budget hearing for said transfers and the subsequent Public Hearing will be scheduled for February 5th. The Board reminded Pendleton they would still like to see some smaller projects completed with the remainder in the Special Project Fund, specifically the Railroad Street paving project. Pendleton will report back in February with actual costs for said project.
Dave Pendleton reviewed the status of the Fremont County Transportation Plan and the need for an additional $6,750 in order to incorporate the tribal components, as earlier discussed. A budget hearing has already been held for the additional funding. Pat Hickerson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve the final payment to complete the Transportation Plan. Motion carried unanimously. The Board will write a letter to the Transit Plan Consultant reaffirming the County’s desires to incorporate the local cooperators desires into the total plan.
Pat Hickerson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to adjourn into Executive Session with Transportation Superintendent Dave Pendleton regarding personnel. Motion carried unanimously. Dennis Heckart moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to return to Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously. Pat Hickerson moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to have Pendleton negotiate a Scope of Services with HKM Engineering for the Burma Road Conceptual Design Engineering Project. Motion carried unanimously.
Ambulance Director Lauri Wempen recommended the promotion of a Career EMT to fill the Riverton Division Supervisor position. Said applicant has been with the Division since 2002 and has agreed to relocate to the Riverton area within six months of accepting the position, as per the job requirements. Pat Hickerson moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to approve the recommendation of Ms. Wempen to hire the successful candidate at a salary of $37,000. Motion carried unanimously.
Lauri Wempen informed the Board that the Ambulance Service had received $4,200 in unanticipated revenue as a result of ambulance standby assistance for BIA Forestry during the East Fork Fire this past summer. She requested authorization to transfer the funding to purchase three Zico Quick steps at $1,500 per step. The total project would cost $4,500 with the remaining $300 being funded through the anticipated fund/cash balance. She stated the steps would provide easier access into the patient compartment for patients as well as staff and would be used on the Type 1 4x4 ambulances. Wempen was requested to provide the information to Mike Stalder for inclusion in an upcoming Public Hearing for Unanticipated Revenues. In a related matter, she stated she had budgeted $5,000 for a new copier for the Lander Division, however, is requesting two small combination copier/printers, one with faxing capability, totaling $6,583.00 (including service contract). As the figure is above the $5,000 budgeted, she would also like to fund the difference with the anticipated fund/cash balance. She was further requested to also forward this information to Mike Stalder to be incorporated into the upcoming Public Hearing.
Leo Riley & Company auditor Paul Stille was joined by County Treasurer Scott Harnsberger and Deputy Jim Massman to review the Financial Report for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2007. Massman gave a detailed overview of the Report and the various tables incorporated within and Stille summarized the audit reports by reporting Fremont County was determined to be a low-risk auditee and no instances of noncompliance material to the financial statements of Fremont County were disclosed during the audit. Stille noted the County’s clean opinion and expressed appreciation to County employees who were very helpful to their Firm. The Commission thanked Stille and his Firm as well as the key County employees who assisted with the document preparation.
Keja Whiteman moved, Pat Hickerson seconded, to adjourn into Executive Session for potential litigation with Fair Board Director Sherilyn Dunning, Board Chairman Connie McRae, members Gail Jacobson, Rod Rivers, Amy Hamilton, Ernie Phinney and Ryan Hedges and Groundskeeper Tom McCoy, James Gores and Associates representatives Jeremy Martinez and James Gores and Bullock Smith and Partners representative Curtis Catron. Dennis Heckart moved, Keja Whiteman seconded, to return to Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously. The Fair Board introduced Curtis Catron who gave an overview of his firm who has planned over 150 fairgrounds. Catron met with the Fair Board in May of 2007 as a prelude to beginning work on a Master Plan. Items of importance to be incorporated into the Master Plan will be size and safety. He proposes to bring in an Economic Specialist to assist with the Plan for an approximate 65 acre site. The Fair Board members all agreed the Master Plan should be made to work at the present site. The Commission agreed that the Fair Board should move forward with expending their budgeted amount of $100,000 for the development of a Master Plan. In closing, Connie McRae stated the new Fair Manager, Donna Jo Strickland, will begin employment on February 14, 2008 and they will bring her over to introduce her to the Board.
Treasurer Scott Harnsberger briefly reviewed the Legislative Services Office Select Committee on Tribal Relations recent request regarding a study of the current and potential funding and provisions of governmental services to tribal entities and citizens of Wyoming who are also members of the Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes. He expressed concerns regarding compilation of the information, designing a proposed methodology and quantifiers. The Board asked that he and Commissioner Heckart contact Committee Co-Chairmen Senator Cale Case and Representative Del McOmie to schedule a meeting to discuss exactly what the Committee is requesting. The Committee had requested the information by mid-March which is a short time frame to provide all that is being asked.
Dennis Heckart moved, Pat Hickerson seconded, to adjourn into Executive Session with Deputy County Attorney Jodi Darrough regarding two issues, one potential litigation and the other personnel. Motion carried unanimously. Dennis Heckart moved, Pat Hickerson seconded, to return to Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously.
Commission Whiteman informed the Board that she had just received information that Northern Arapaho Business Council Chairman Richard Brannan had resigned his position and has accepted the position as Indian Health Services CEO.
Chairman Thompson spent three days last week with the Bureau of Land Management in meetings regarding the Plan Revision. He will give a detailed report later.
The following items in the Priority Mail were reviewed: 1) USDA Forest Service Bill for Collection totaling $300 for the Youth Camp. The Board asked that the invoice be forwarded to their meeting of February 5th for action; 2) Wyoming County Commissioners Association request for County help during Week 1 of the Legislative Session; 3) Dubois Rural Fire Department funding assistance (Commissioner Hickerson is still working on this and will report back).
Items in the Signature File were addressed. Keja Whiteman moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve a Credit Card Authorization Form for Rocky McWilliams with a $1,000 limit for multi-use. Voting against the motion: Pat Hickerson. Motion carried. Keja Whiteman moved, Dennis Heckart seconded, to approve a WCCA/OJJDP “Non Participating State” Grant Reimbursement Request in the amount of $2,174.22 for the Youth Services Program. Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Thompson stated the Town of Pavillion had requested a Town Meeting where County Elected Officials would be invited to inform the Town of what their duties and services were. A tentative date of January 29th was discussed and will be finalized.
There being no further business, Dennis Heckart moved, Pat Hickerson seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 5:20 p.m. and reconvene on February 5, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Motion carried unanimously.
/s/ DOUGLAS L. THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
/s/ JULIE A. FREESE, COUNTY CLERK AND CLERK OF THE BOARD
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