The Niobrara Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 9:02 a.m. with Chairman Patrick Wade, Vice-Chair Elaine Griffith, Commissioner Jeb Hanson, and County Clerk Becky L. Freeman present.
Brandie Bartlett of The Lusk Herald was also in attendance.
Chairman Wade led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Road & Bridge- Foreman Fred Thomas reported on road conditions and gravel inventory, noting there are approximately 13,000 tons of gravel currently stockpiled at the Manville Quarry. He said there are several locations on 20 Mile Road that need gravel as well as other roads requiring spot-graveling.
He updated the Board on the installation of radios and grill guards for the new trucks. He also reported that some of the recently purchased cutting edges do not fit properly. Caterpillar will inspect them and reimburse the County for any faulty parts.
Thomas recommended purchasing additional gravel from Mobile Concrete, noting favorable pricing and the remaining spot gravel needs. Commissioner Hanson moved to authorize extending the contract with Mobile Concrete for an additional 50,000 tons of “J” base gravel at $9.00 per ton. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried.
County Attorney- Attorney Anne Wasserburger reported that Aaron Whitten was hired to fill the Community Juvenile Services Coordinator position. The group also discussed Resolution 22-08 and the need for its revision. She discussed the progress on the Planning and Zoning Regulation Manual, noting that both legal and practical reviews are still required.
Elected Officials- Undersheriff Kelly Dean provided a brief update for the Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency Management Coordinator James Santistevan discussed Homeland Security Grants and his plan to attend a conference at the end of the month.
Extension Educator Kellie Chichester reported that the County Extension team is conducting a public needs assessment to better understand community priorities and identify opportunities to improve local programs and services. The assessment will take place April 1, at 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds, and dinner will be provided.
Treasurer Keri Thompson Keri reported on legislation and property tax matters affecting her office.
County Clerk Becky L. Freeman reported on legislation affecting her office.
Vice-Chair Griffith read a report on public health she received from Melanie Pearce. She also discussed the work session held to update the current employee handbook, and on the previous evening’s school board reorganization meeting, noting there were no public comments and saying that the plan will be forwarded to the State Board of Education.
Old Business-
Old Jail- There was nothing new to report at this time.
New Business-
Fair Board Reappointment- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to reappoint Ty Molzahn to the Fair Board. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried. Mr. Molzahn’s term will run through December 31, 2030.
Undersheriff Kelly Dean addressed the bid received from Absolute Solutions for four (4) analogue radio repeaters, accessories, mileage, and travel time. He noted that it will take approximately two (2) months to receive the equipment.
Vice-Chair Griffith moved to approve the bid from Absolution Solutions for the above equipment for $40,795.70. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Copier Service Agreement- Vice-Chair Griffith moved to sign the full-service contract with Copier Connection Inc., for a Canon Copier model # IRA-C5840 for Niobrara County Extension for $173.00 per month. Commissioner Hanson seconded, and the motion carried.
Consent Agenda- Commissioner Hanson moved to approve the consent agenda. Vice-Chair Griffith seconded, and the motion carried. Items on the consent agenda were the minutes of the February 17, 2026, meeting and receipts for February from the county clerk for $3,835.85, from the clerk of court for $465.00, and from the sheriff for $305.00.
Payroll and the following vouchers were approved for payment: Bills are listed in the following format: Vendor- Department- Description- Amount- February Payroll- $149,893.23, 14 County Tire- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $25.00, Aflac- Various- Supplemental insurance- $5,358.34, Allbright’s True Value- Various- Parts, supplies- $384.44, Alsco- Various- Shop towels, coveralls, door mats- $468.05, Anne Wasserburger- Various- Supplies- $649.14, Becky L. Freeman- Elections- Travel expense- $531.60, BenchMark of Torrington- County Road Fund- Engineering fees- $2,541.07, Benzel Pest Control- Justice Center- Pest control- $97.92, Black Hills Chemical & Janitorial- Various- Supplies- $307.12, Black Hills Energy- Various- Utilities- $2,751.16, Bob Ruwart Motors, Inc.- LATCF Grant- New equipment- $72,500.00, Boldon Diesel Service, LLC.- Road & Bridge- Equipment repairs- $1,024.58, Boldon Welding & Repair, LLC.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $447.13, Canon Financial Services, Inc.- General County- Copier lease payments- $432.18, CenturyLink- Various- Telephones- $1,555.81, CenturyLink Business Services- Various- Telephones- $70.92, Christopher Pavone- Facilities- Snow removal- $2,000.00, Connecting Point Computer Centers- Various- Copier service agreements- $335.37, Converse County- General County- IT expense- $400.00, Cory Wilcox- Coroner- Deputy Coroner- $150.00, Decker’s Market- Commissioners- Supplies- $17.99, Delta Dental of WY- Various- Dental insurance- $1,002.30, Dennis C. Meier- Circuit Court Magistrate- Office rent- $1,000.00, Dooley Oil Inc.- NE- Road & Bridge- Gas & oil- $770.55, Double A Properties, LLC.- Various- Office rent- $1,500.00, Empower Trust Company, LLC.- General Co.- Deferred Compensation- $24,515.00, Floyd’s Truck Center, Inc.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $104.32, Frank Parts Co.- Road & Bridge- Parts- $1,135.32, Fusion Cloud Service- Various- Telephone- $1,398.33, Geographic Innovations- Various- Professional mapping services- $1,500.00, GreatAmerica Financial Services- Sheriff- Copier service agreement- $103.00, Hiway Brake & Alignment- Sheriff- Vehicle repairs- $1,641.92, Jameson Cleaning & Maintenance- Facilities- Fairgrounds & public health building cleaning contracts, fairgrounds event booking contract- $9,050.00, Kassidy Miller- Prevention grant- Operational supports- $40.00, Lexie Painter- Extension- Contract labor- Fair board bookkeeping- $600.00, Long Building Technologies, Inc.- Facilities- CH boiler maintenance- $2,383.40, Lusk Herald- General County- Publications- $1,689.66, Lusk State Bank- General County- Payroll taxes, stop payment fee- $43,005.58, Medico-Mart, Inc.- Public Health- Vaccines- $2,706.39, Merri Keller- Public Health Nurse- Travel expense- $79.20, NCIC Inmate Communications- Detention- NCIC Tablets- $144.02, Niobrara County Hospital District- Various- 1% Option tax, employee medical- $30,421.43, Niobrara County Library- Reimburse for deferred comp.- $2,900.00, Niobrara County Public Health- Prevention Grant- Indirect costs- $307.83, Niobrara Electric Association- Various- Radio tower electricity- $61.95, One Stop Safety Solutions- General County- Annual random drug testing fees- $396.00, Patrick Wade- Commissioners- Travel expense- $330.00, Pier Funeral Home- Coroner- Indigent Burial- $1,500.00, Rawhide Drug Co.- Detention- Inmate medical- $56.98, Ryan’s Custom Design- LATCF Grant- New equipment- $1,600.00, Schindler Elevator Corp.- General County- Quarterly elevator mtnc. Agreement- $1,573.68, SMB Management, LLC.- Semiquincentennial Grant- Supplies- $265.20, Swanson Services Corp.- Detention- Inmate commissary account- $501.75, Texas Refinery Corp.- Road & Bridge- Oil- $608.00, The Master’s Touch, LLC.,- Assessor- Bulk mailing service- $1,847.88, Thomson Reuters-West- County Attorney- Law library- $163.13, Town of Lusk- Various- Utilities- $2,999.78, Traci Bruegger- Facilities- CH, Library, Justice Center cleaning contract- $4,300.00, Tyler Technologies- Treasurer- Computer expense- $82.69, United States Postal Service- General County- Postage for postage meter- $10,000.00, Verizon Wireless- Various- Phones, computer expense- $696.47, Visa- Various- Supplies, new equipment, postage, subscriptions, dues, IT & computer expenses, inmate medical, transports- $4,842.25, Vision Service Plan- Various- Vision Insurance- $470.86, Visionary Broadband- Various- IT expense- $479.08, Westco- Road & Bridge- Fuel- $3,464.96, WY Dept. of Health- Public Health Nurse- Quarterly reimbursement to State for Co’s. share of PHN salary- $9,361.40, WY Enterprise Technology Services- Various- IT expense- $85.33, WYDOT Financial Services- Various- Fuel- $1,589.94, Wyoming Behavioral Institute- General County- Involuntary commitment- $1,508.00, Wyoming Educators’ Benefit Trust- General County- Health & life insurance- $39,511.08, Wyoming Network, Inc.- General County- IT expense- $200.00, Wyoming Retirement System- General County- Law enforcement retirement- $16,713.89, Wyoming Women’s Center- Detention- Inmate Meals- $2,349.50 February Total- $477.499.10
There being no further business, Chairman Wade adjourned the meeting.
NIOBRARA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Patrick Wade, Chairman
Attest:
Becky L. Freeman, County Clerk
Public Notice No. 6348 published in The Lusk Herald on March 25, 2026.
