Board approves $9,305.98 reimbursement for wolf committee expenses; removes one candidate from order

The Crook County Board of Commissioners approved reimbursement of $9,305.98 on Jan. 8 to cover expenses listed in the Wolf Committee request dated Dec. 18, 2024. The board also approved two committee appointments but agreed to remove a listed candidate, Tony Odell, from the order pending clarification of the position he sought.

Funding and fiduciary role: Christina Herron, Cook County finance director, told the board the state grant money for the wolf program is passed through the county and that the county acts as the fiduciary. The county expects to receive the 2025 state funds in May; in the meantime, the county can use cash flow to pay expenses and be reimbursed when funds arrive.

Appointments and amendment: The board approved appointments of Hunter Neuharth and Dave Condren to the Wolf Committee but removed the appointment of Tony Odell from the order because the committee had not confirmed his desired role. County counsel recommended modifying the order to remove the Odell appointment and to approve the remainder of the order; commissioners voted to approve that change and to record the reimbursement motion separately.

Program details: County staff described the wolf program reimbursements as covering nonlethal tools and livestock protection measures; one example discussed was partial reimbursement (50%) for some night-vision scopes used by ranchers. Staff said the committee reviewed applications and denied some requests that duplicated existing practices.

Formal action: Commissioners approved the reimbursement request of $9,305.98 per the Wolf Committee’s Dec. 18, 2024 request and approved the modified order removing the Odell appointment. The motions passed with affirmative votes.

Ending: County staff said the committee will manage reimbursements and that the county will front the funds as fiduciary until state reimbursement arrives in May 2025.