Goshen County Commission appoints board seats

Alex Hargrave
Posted 1/22/21

he Goshen County Commission convened for their regular meeting via Zoom on Jan. 19,

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Goshen County Commission appoints board seats

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GOSHEN COUNTY – The Goshen County Commission convened for their regular meeting via Zoom on Jan. 19, where they announced multiple board appointments. Chairman John Ellis was not present for the meeting. 

Other than the county health officer position, the board seats were all uncontested, according to Commissioner Justin Burkart. 

Ted Church, M.D., was named county health officer, replacing Marion Smith, M.D., who reapplied for the position.

 

Appointments include:

• Predator Board Sportsman Position: 3-year term, Dan Heilbrun, until Dec. 31, 2023

• Weed and Pest: 4-year terms, Kacey Booth, reappointed until Dec. 31, 2024; Shay Shimic, reappointed until Dec. 31, 2024; Dennis Wambolt, reappointed until Dec. 31, 2024   

• Planning Commission: 3-year terms, Vickie Zimmerer reappointed until Dec. 31, 2023; Thomas Eaton, until Dec. 31, 2023; Dempsey Hansen, until Dec. 31, 2023; 1-year term, Joseph Randolph, until Dec. 31, 2021

• Fair Board: 5-year terms, Jennifer Scheer, until Dec. 31, 2025; Mike McNamee, reappointed until Dec. 31, 2025

• Lodging Tax Board: 3-year term, Geri Ziemans, reappointed until Dec. 31, 2023; There is still a vacancy on the lodging tax board to fill until Dec. 31, 2021       

In other business, County Attorney Eric Boyer addressed the commission regarding a request for feedback from the Uinta County Attorney on Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston. Wyoming’s counties have had issues with the hospital, Boyer said, when it comes to bed space for involuntary mental health holds and criminal commitments. A remodel eliminated roughly a third of the facility’s bed space, which means those with mental health issues stay in county jails, costing the county rather than the state. The situation also raises Constitutional issues regarding fair and speedy trials, Boyer said. 

A Goshen County resident escaped from the hospital twice in a two year period, most recently four to five months ago, and the county was not notified, according to Boyer. They were only made aware when a sheriff spotted him in town.

“Think about how spooky that is, someone who arguably is mentally ill and criminally culpable is potentially out driving around doing all kinds of things that can truly hurt people,” Boyer said.

The commissioners said they will meet with Boyer to discuss what level of involvement the county will have in the situation in Uinta County.

Goshen County Road and Bridge Superintendent Val Hankins recommended the commission award a bid for phase three of the county’s road rehab project to Bivens Construction, which was approved unanimously. Hankins also requested to buy a pickup truck to replace the department’s current one that is dead using funds already budgeted for the fiscal year that would otherwise not be used, which was also approved unanimously. 

Stephanie Lofink, Goshen County Fairgrounds Manager, also addressed the commissioners regarding $7,050 in operation and maintenance (O&M) funds to purchase a black widow groomer arena drag machine for the fairgrounds. Her request was approved unanimously.

Lofink said residents recently raised concerns about the Goshen County Fair coinciding with the Scottsbluff County Fair in October.

“We’ve done everything we can to not put our ticketed events on top of one another, and I think both fairs can still be successful,” she said. 

Goshen County Clerk Cindy Kenyon informed the county commissioners that she has yet to receive any applications for the Goshen County Charitable Relief Program, which awards aid to charitable nonprofit organizations that have provided public assistance or seen a decline in donations during the pandemic.

Applications are due Feb. 15, but the commission is asking those interested to submit as early as possible. If they do not receive applications, the funding will go back to the state, according to Commissioner Cody Cox.

The GCC will convene for their next meeting on Feb. 2 at 9 a.m.