GOSHEN COUNTY – Chairman Michael McNamee called the meeting of the Goshen County Commissioners to order on the morning of Tuesday, May 20 at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. In attendance were commissioners Aaron Walsh and Justin Burkart along with clerk, Mary Feagler. 

McNamee welcomed those in attendance to the meeting and a motion for the approval the previous meeting’s minutes as presented was quickly made and seconded. 

“The agenda for today’s meeting has been published. We had talked about maybe doing a possible amendment to that. We are just going to allow, when we get to the public comment portion. We did have some interest in being on the public comment portion,” McNamee said. “We’re just going to allow those conversations at that time. So, we are not going to amend the agenda for today’s meeting.”

With nothing further in addition, the commissioners approved the agenda and the meeting moved on to McNamee’s opening comments where he turned the floor over to Feagler for an update on the south Torrington park, the Adam Walters Botanical Park. 

“The park has been turned back over to the county to maintain. It was given to the county by the conservation district quite a while ago and the South Torrington Water and Sewer District was – their office’s right down there and they had agreed to do all of the maintenance on it for us. They have now decided that they don’t have the funds or the manpower or time to do that. So, they have turned it back over to the county and we haven’t decided how we’re going to tackle it yet.”

Feagler noted county employees and volunteers could attend a park clean up, scheduled Tuesday evening. 

McNamee then read a letter from Wyoming Governor, Mark Gordon, which was addressed to Walsh.

“’It is with great pleasure that I appoint you to the council on fire prevention and electrical safety to serve as the representative of counties and municipalities, with your term commencing immediately,’” McNamee read of Gordon’s letter. “You are appointed to a six-year term set to expire March 31 of 2031.’”

“Just think that it is a big deal that commissioner Walsh will represent all of the counties, not just Goshen County. He will be the county’s representative on that board,” McNamee said. “A board appointment at the state level is certainly worthy of celebration.”

Next, McNamee commented on the recent passing of Diane Foster, noting Foster was a great friend and advocate for Goshen County. McNamee further explained Foster had run for commissioner during the most recent election. He stated she would have done well at the job because of her passion and commitment to the county. 

A brief moment of silence was held in her honor. 

With no more opening comments from the commissioners, they moved on to the departmental reports where county sheriff, Kory Fleenor, spoke.

“For the month, contract housing is $56,580 and for the year it was $362,275,” Fleenor explained.

“Just for the record, are those number fairly consistent or do you see a fluctuation?” McNamee asked.

Fleenor noted contract housing should remain the same unless the state take away contract housing with prison or inpatient therapy, which he doesn’t see happening anytime soon. Fleenor noted contact housing fluctuates based on how many inmates they have coming to Torrington. With no further comments or questions, a motion was quickly made to accept Fleenor’s report, including the commissary report, which carried by vote. McNamee noted the reports were presented prior to the meeting for review. 

Leticia Dominguez, treasurer, was not able to attend the meeting, however Feagler printed off information for the commissioners. 

“Mary (Feagler) was able to print off what she (Dominguez) had sent to us, prior to the meeting. So, just a couple of different numbers that we always kind of look at on this report: the restricted funds reserve funds right now sit at 3.4 million, the spendable cash position is $5,000,039, total cash reserves right now for the county $7,939,000. I know that is a very brief report but that gives some idea of a couple of the different things,” McNamee said. “I don’t think you want me to try and stumble through all of that report.”

Dominguez also reported her office had received applications from two people interested in the position. 

“Looks like principal cash is down $134,245.97 from last month,” Burkart remarked.

Feagler noted Dominguez hadn’t provided her with the number of delinquent tax notices she would need to serve and with no further questions or comments, the commissioners motioned to approve the report.

The commissioners moved on to Feagler’s report where she noted she had the meeting minutes for the commissioners to sign and an updated vendor report for the bills which came in after the last meeting. She further explained she also had a resolution for the commissioners to sign in reference to grant money obtained by emergency manager, Tom Bozeman, for a generator. A motion was made to accept the resolution, which carried with vote. With nothing further for the clerk’s report, including the updated warrant report and the payroll liabilities report, a motion was made to accept the report presented which also carried with a vote.

Next the commissioner heard from the library board. It was noted the library was getting up for their busy season and the summer reading program would be staring. The board also explained the library would be hosting guest speakers throughout the summer. 

After a bit more discussion on the library’s events and successes, the commissioners motioned to approve the report, which carried with a vote and they moved on to the University of Wyoming’s Extension report. 

It was reported the extension office had been busy with radio shows, youth shows and media relations. The new extension educator had begun her rolls with the facility. It was also noted animal tagging would be underway and judging contest winners were announced. The extension office has been working with the Eastern Wyoming College food pantry and the food nutrition programs in the community to help share resources. It was also noted the backpack program had been a “tough deal to handle” and donations were being collected. McNamee suggested joining with Cotant’s Totes of Hope, through the school district. Discussion continued until a motion was made to accept the extension report, which carried. The commissioners stressed the importance of the food programs in Goshen County noting some children in the community go home to empty cupboards. Donations are accepted from both local grocery stores as well as private donations. A motion was made to accept the report, which carried by vote. 

Next, McNamee called for the fair report. 

Stephanie Lofink presented the commissioners with handouts prior to the meeting. She drew attention to the accounts payable portion of the papers.

“The only payable out of the ordinary is the rack of rentals, equipment rentals. We rented four generators’ stations so that we would have ample power for the AKC dog show, which was successful,” Lofink reported. 

“So, facility associated revenue is about $10,000 higher this month, just due to the dog show – was a significant rental income for us, as well as the timing of just some of the other rentals,” Lofink further explained. 

Lofink noted with close to 650 dogs at the show, the demand for power was significant. 

“The equipment they use draw an enormous amount of electricity and puts a lot of demand on our transformer,” Lofink stated explaining the power demand was similar to fair.

“The good news is, apparently from the feedback that I know that Stephanie (Lofink) and her crew have received and from what we’ve been told, that group will probably be back,” McNamee stated. 

Lofink noted she had a meeting with them this week to secure contracts for the next show. 

“HVAC unit is installed, paid for in full, in operation,” Lofink stated, noting the grant writer, Hannah Fullmer, was working on a grant to replace the next unit.

With a few more minor updates, a motion was made by Walsh to accept the fair report, which was seconded by Burkart. The motion carried and the report was approved. 

Rolling into new business, the commissioners heard from Aaquib Syed and Whitney St. Charles with Heelstone Renewable Energy. Where St. Charles spoke to the commissioners on the company’s interest in potentially developing a wind energy generator in Goshen County. The company presented a short presentation and answered questions.

After a brief overview of the company, St. Charles noted the company is studying lands to the north of Goshen County and having conversations with landowners. She further explained they have not executed any agreements. St. Charles noted a key foundation to the project is community engagement and she further noted the company wants to be stewards of the county, if they have the opportunity to build here.

“So, before you move from that slide, Goshen County, Northern Goshen County takes in a large area. Can you tell me in more detail exactly where that project or proposed project would be?” 

“Well, what we can tell you right now, sir, is we’re in the early-stage negotiation with landowners,” Syed said. “So, and it’s all private land. Once we are further in the negotiations and we’ve executed those agreements, we will, of course, put those agreements, register all those agreements with the county itself and make sure that it’s publicly available. At this point, just to protect the privacy of local landowners, we’re keeping it pretty high level.”

Syed noted there are two transmission lines which run through the northern area of the county and he stressed the conversations are in the early stages. 

“I have a question on this,” Walsh said. “How are these talks being perceived by these landowners? Are they being receptive to this?”

“Yes, sir. And landowners that are not, obviously, we are not going to be able to work with any property rights,” Syed said.

Syed noted right now, the company is looking at 30 to 40,000 acres total. 

“Just to clarify, that’s the original acreage that we would lease, not use. Wind farms, obviously, it’s turbine. So, we’re looking at about a hundred turbines. That acreage will decrease once we optimize an array. Once we do all of our environmental studies and all of our diligence studies and make sure that we’re following all the guidelines under the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality,” Syed said. 

McNamee thanked the company for coming to the commissioners so early in the project noting others had not. 

St. Charles noted the drawing of the project were intentionally vague because they are working on conversations. She further noted project sizing is driven by transmission lines. She also noted the towers would be in Goshen County, not in a neighboring county.

“What actually brought you guys to Goshen County?” Walsh asked.

“The wind. I think it’s the wind speed in general that attracts us to Wyoming and the fact that it’s kind of open ground,” Syed explained.

“Goshen County seems to really value the aesthetics of our landscape and it make look to some people like nothing but wide-open pasture ground, but to others, it has a different meaning and different aesthetic to us,” Walsh stated after more conversation about the view obstruction. 

After a bit more discussion, the commissioners advised the company to look at the revised wind energy regulations instead of the old ones. McNamee thanked the company for their time and moved on to opening the floor for public comment on the revised wind energy regulations. 

During the public comment, the commissioners were asked to push back the final approval of the wind energy regulations. A member of the community, who lives on the edge of the county, spoke to the commissioners noting she was unaware of the commissioners working on the wind regulations. She asked for more time review the regulations so she could ask the commissioners questions. 

McNamee stressed the planning commission had been working hard on the regulations and public comment has been heard, both for and against.

“We have taken into consideration over the course of the last three months anyway, exactly the things that needed to be addressed on either side of those regulations. So, your request to delay that for another two months personally gives me some angst,” McNamee said. “Because I want to make sure that we have a set of regulations in place that are there for the purpose of protecting Goshen County…We are fully committed to all of the residents of Goshen County.” 

The conversation continued for a brief moment before the meeting was then adjourned.