GOSHEN COUNTY – Goshen County Commissioners Chairman Micheal McNamee called the Tuesday, Oct. 7 meeting to order at 9 a.m. with commissioners Aaron Walsh and Justin Burkart in attendance. County clerk Mary Feagler also attended.
Following approval of previous meeting minutes and agenda amendments, McNamee announced a special meeting scheduled for Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. regarding impact funding from the wind energy project in the southern part of the county.
“Next Wednesday, that would be the 15th of October, we will conduct another meeting in the chambers in regard to the impact funding, the continued conversation with some of our special districts and what that impact funding will look like as a result of the wind energy project down in the southern part of the county,” McNamee said. “Again, that is Wednesday the 15th at one o’clock here in chambers.”
Clerk of court addresses technical issues
Clerk of Court Brandi Correa reported earnings of $3,490.81 turned into the treasurer.
“To report my earnings turned into the treasurer this month, $3,490.81,” Correa reported.
Unable to attend the Wyoming Association of County Officers conference due to car troubles, Correa participated via Zoom.
District court will launch electronic service for distributing court orders, affecting only licensed attorneys authorized to e-file. The change is expected to reduce county postage costs but has experienced ongoing technical problems. Yesterday numerous documents became stuck when programs failed to communicate properly. The Supreme Court notified courts 70 documents statewide were stuck in the system, including several from the local court.
Clearview Jury has discontinued text message notifications for jurors, Correa noted. Carriers are moving away from email-to-text services and vendors are unwilling to work with them. Correa plans to work with the IT department to explore alternative notification methods using the existing motion-mailing notification system.
Commissioners approved the clerk of court’s report.
County awarded $377,812 cybersecurity grant
Grant writer Hannah Fullmer reported submitting two grant applications in September: a High-Risk Rural Road Program through WYDOT for signage across county roads and the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program for a Road and Bridge planning grant.
The county was awarded the State and Local Cyber Security Grant Program through DHA to upgrade the backup data center for $377,812.05.
Commissioners adopted resolution 2025-19 in a majority vote, accepting the grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant period runs from Oct. 1, 2025 through Nov. 30, 2027.
Fullmer explained the funds will enhance the backup data center, upgrade outdated systems and ensure continuity of operations during cyber incidents. The grant is 100% funded with no local match required.
“The grant was a no match grant, which is 100% funded,” Fullmer noted.
Fullmer attended pre-award grants management training in Cheyenne, the first training the state grants office has organized. The training provided an opportunity to collaborate with other grant writers, including a new grant writer from Washakie County.
Regarding potential impacts from the government shutdown, Fullmer said she has not heard anything affecting current grants.
County awaits DEQ report on subdivision
County planner Mike Tietjen explained the planning commission is awaiting a Chapter 23 report from the Department of Environmental Quality regarding soil and sewage capacity for the Riverview Subdivision. DEQ must assess whether the area can support surface water and other environmental factors before the subdivision can proceed.
“DEQ is not efficient with timeliness,” Tietjen noted. The planning commission anticipated receiving the report last month but did not. DEQ has the authority to extend deadlines by 30-day increments. Landowner Tom Feeser confirmed this morning the report would not be ready this week.
Tietjen reported he is still waiting for DEQ on the Hawk Springs issue. Regarding the confined animal feeding operation regulation update, the planning commission anticipates sending it to the Board of Commissioners soon.
New statute creates work for county roads
County surveyor Bob Taylor explained Goshen County has state lands and numerous county roads passing through those lands. Roads created in the late 1800s and early 1900s may not have followed proper legal procedures for crossing state lands, though such practices were standard at the time.
During the last legislative session, a new statute was created to address county and municipal roads across state lands at no cost to counties. The statute applies to roads established before Jan. 1, 2025, which includes all Goshen County roads.
The State Loan and Investment Board has five years to complete the process, with a deadline of April 1, 2030. The board sent a letter Aug. 1 giving counties until Sept. 15 to review a list of roads crossing state lands. The list included 66 roads in Goshen County.
The county researched 80 roads instead of 66. Nine roads already have state documentation. The county determined 20 roads on the state’s list do not cross state lands. Taylor and Road and Bridge Superintendent Chris Stoddard attended an OASIS meeting and learned Goshen County may be one of few counties to respond.
The statute states no fee or costs shall be imposed on counties but allows the director to request necessary documentation. The SLIB board must cover all associated costs. The county is tracking costs for potential reimbursement.
Stoddard reported the county received rain and moisture. The Road 15 reconstruction project is approximately 50 to 60% complete with anticipated completion by the end of the month.
“The Road 15 reconstruction project is approximately 50 to 60% complete,” Stoddard said. “I anticipate completion by the end of the month.”
Stoddard requested commissioners temporarily increase the department credit card limit from $5,000 to $10,000 for 60 days to purchase a motor for a pickup currently parked due to mechanical problems.
Stoddard also requested commissioners consider hiring a temporary full-time position in anticipation of a heavy winter. Weather forecasts predict significant snowfall and the department will need additional staffing. Even with an additional employee, the department lacks sufficient staff to handle all snow removal needs during severe weather.
Commissioners approved the credit card limit increase for 60 days.
County clerk addresses election procedures
Feagler reported interest earnings for September totaled $14,875. She attended WACO conference with her election deputy and learned the grant application for pollbooks was not approved. The Secretary of State’s office denied having funding for pollbooks despite earlier communications.
“Communication indicated the Secretary of State’s office had funding for pollbooks, so the SLCGP grant was declined for pollbooks,” Feagler said. “However, the Secretary of State’s office denied having such funding.”
Elections will proceed in January with no changes to current procedures except possible hand counting requirements.
Feagler described participating in a hand count exercise where participants counted only one race with two candidates. The process involves counting 10 to 20 ballots per question on the ballot. Only one race can be counted at a time for accuracy.
Teams consist of three people. Wyoming statute does not permit adjudication, meaning election workers cannot interpret voter intent. Ballots with improper marks must be set aside.
“The process will work but is time intensive,” Feagler said.
Feagler noted Goshen County has 6,200 registered voters. Larger counties like Teton, Albany and Campbell will face greater challenges with hand counting requirements.
Fire restrictions lifted
Emergency manager Tom Bozeman reported the state issued the EMPG grant award. The match has fallen to 33% and the grant structure has changed from retroactive reimbursement to forward-looking funding. The county will not receive reimbursement for last year’s EMPG expenses.
Bozeman reported improved conditions on the fire warden side. The county is at D-zero, considered abnormally dry and barely in drought status. Only part of the county remains in this condition while the majority is completely out of drought.
Bozeman requested approval to lift county fire restrictions. The county has received significantly more moisture and forecasted precipitation over the next 60 days is higher than normal.
Commissioners approved lifting the fire ban.
Public health serves 36 families
Nurse manager Heather Dittmer explained the MESH hand-in-hand mom-baby program currently serves 36 clients throughout the county. The department conducts LT-101 assessments for Medicaid through the state.
The county received notice Sept. 23 about the PHRC Ryan Wunibald’s grant. The program is now 100% funded with retroactive reimbursement for recent months.
The department administered 242 flu shots during clinics last week in LaGrange, Yoder, Lingle and Fort Laramie. COVID vaccines were officially approved through the state yesterday and will be available for anyone requesting them.
Dittmer reported an active tuberculosis case in Goshen County. The patient was released from the hospital Oct. 1 and is now home. A nurse conducts daily direct observation of treatment visits to ensure medication compliance for six months. This is only the second active DOT case in Goshen County in 25 years.
Dittmer presented County Health Officer Dr. Church’s report. Goshen County has had two deaths from West Nile virus and an increase in RSV cases.
Assessor finds 75 accounts with errors
County Assessor Debbi Surratt explained she found 75 accounts with issues related to adjustments implemented last year while reviewing tax roll information. The errors resulted from missing one of 17 state-developed queries designed to check information.
“Fixing the tax roll manually took two weeks and delayed tax notices by approximately two weeks,” Surratt said.
The system was not designed to handle multiple exemptions passed by the legislature. Exemptions must be applied in a specific order and changing one affects others.
Taxpayers lack clear notification of exemptions received due to application timing. Long-term homeowner exemptions can be filed until the fourth Monday in May but assessments are mailed in April.
Last year’s 25% exemption applied to all residential structures without application. This year residents must apply and only owner-occupied homes qualify. Approximately 850 people applied last year and the office has been busy with applicants this week.
Surratt said she is not mailing applications for long-term homeowner exemptions.
“I prefer taxpayers visit the office to ask questions and receive face-to-face explanations,” Surratt said.
Personal property exemptions begin this year. Taxpayers must still report personal property but the first $75,000 of market value will be exempted.
The property search website launches Oct. 27 with daily updates providing live data.
Regarding the 25% exemption, residents must live in their home eight months per year and register on a state website. The county has received 172 applications this week. The exemption is one-time unless the taxpayer buys or sells their home.
Commissioners approved the county assessor’s report before moving into executive session regarding fair and treasurer personnel. The meeting was then adjourned.
