TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Commission met for its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 18 to elect members of the Goshen County Fair Board and reorganize the commission.
The meeting began at 9 a.m. at the Goshen County Courthouse. After approving the minutes from the last meeting and the agenda for the current meeting, the commissioners accepted both the reports from the Sheriff’s Office and the Goshen County Treasurer’s Office.
Goshen County Clerk Cindy Kenyon presented her report, warrants for payment since the last meeting on Jan. 4 and one employment bond. Chairman John Ellis made special note to thank Kenyon and her office for the work they have done in assisting the redistricting process.
“I don’t think the people know how hard the county clerks have worked,” he said. “They’ve been jerked around and jerked around…They deserve to be commended.”
Kenyon said her office has put together “countless” maps at the redistricting committee’s request.
“We will tirelessly [pursue] with integrity the best plan for Goshen County,” she said. “These voters deserve to have a fair chance.”
Ellis reiterated his desire from previous meetings that voters would write to legislators to voice the will of the people.
The commission discussed and voted on its reorganization, opting to keep appointments the way they were with Ellis serving as chairman and Cody Cox as vice chairman. Ellis will also continue to serve as to liaison to the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, Joint Powers Board for Goshen Care Center, Fair Board Liaison and on the Wyoming Department of Transportation Urban Systems Committee with Road Superintendent Val Hankins and County Engineer Bob Taylor.
Cox will continue to serve as Library Board Liaison for the commission.
Commissioner Justin Burkart will remain in his position on the Goshen County Economic Development Board and on the IT Committee with Sheriff Kory Fleenor and Jesse Bowen from the county IT department.
Mayor George Siglin from Lingle and Mayor Joyce Evans from Fort Laramie came before the commission to discuss the sixth penny tax. They and the other three mayors in Goshen County all came before the commission in September as an initial introduction to the idea. The commission has yet to discuss and vote on the matter. Siglin and Evans came to the meeting to ask the commission to consider the tax and put it on the agenda for a meeting soon.
The commissioners thanked them for their time and agreed to vote on it soon, though none of them seemed inclined to vote in favor of it.
Burkart voiced his opinion that the sixth penny tax is something the people should vote on, not “three people on a panel.”
Ellis said he was concerned about the timing. With 7% inflation rates affecting food, housing, gas and every other thing consumers buy, he was not sure voters would be in favor of a resolution passing the sixth penny tax.
“I’m still set dead center,” Cox said.
Evans explained the tax would go to pay for infrastructure projects USDA grants do not cover in the local communities. Ellis said he understood, but still was not sure the timing was right.
The commission interviewed four applicants for the Goshen County Fair Board. The commissioners asked the interviewees for their views on the most important issues facing the fair and the importance of a solid relationship with Eastern Wyoming College. The commission voted using a secret ballot and appointed Dalton Keller and Marlisa Hall to the board.
“I want to make [the fair] something where the community wants to come out,” Keller said during his interview.
The commission also signed a letter to be sent to Kim DesEnfants, thanking her for her years of service on the Fair Board.
IT specialist Bowen came before the commission to discuss the details of a job opening soon within his department.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. The next meeting will take place Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. at the Goshen County Courthouse.
