Sweetwater County commissioners approve budget amendments, appointments and agreements in unanimous votes; one reallocation sees an abstention

The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 21 approved a set of routine but consequential items, including four capital budget amendments, multiple board appointments, an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Land Management on the Jackalope Wind Energy Project environmental review, and acceptance of the county's 2024 audit.

The items were taken under consent or brief presentation and advanced by motion. Most votes were unanimous; one vote to reallocate forfeited capital funds recorded one abstention.

The board approved four separate fiscal-year-2025 capital project budget amendments to draw from general county reserves: $15,335 to purchase a skid-steer-mounted broom for Road & Bridge; $13,500 for a new carpet cleaner for Facilities custodial; $37,500 for fencing at Crossroads Park (Parks & Recreation); and $35,000 for exterior handrails at the county museum. Accounting specialist Rebecca Romero presented the requests and said the capital committee compiled projects that could be completed before fiscal year end.

The board also approved the consent agenda, which included the Jan. 7, 2025 meeting minutes, vouchers and warrants, monthly reports, bonds, abates and rebates, and a request to re-staff a vacant position in the county treasurer's office.

Appointments and ratifications included: the reappointment of Mark Cowan to the local economic-development board; appointment of Marjane Choo to the Southwest Counseling board to fill an unexpired term through Jan. 1, 2027; and ratification of three Jamestown Rio Vista Fire District appointees (Daniel Shedden, Leora Craft and David Munoz). Liaison assignments for commissioners were approved as proposed.

On projects and agreements, the board: awarded the White Mountain Library renovation (Wyoming Library Multipurpose Community Facility Program) to Shepherd Construction Solutions LLC for $430,000; approved Amendment 1 to the federal FY2025 Community Services Block Grant Agreement (removing erroneously added insurance language); approved an MOU making Sweetwater County a cooperating agency with the BLM for the Jackalope Wind Energy Project EIS; and reassigned the pari-mutuel resolution for 307 Horse Racing from a corporate entity to 307 Horse Racing LLC following the company's conversion to an LLC.

The board also approved a reallocation of forfeited funds from completed capital projects, moving $100,000 to an RTU project; Commissioner West abstained from that vote because his employer is the project's site, and the motion passed 3–0 with one abstention. The county accepted the FY2024 audit and authorized the chairman to sign the audit report.

Most items were presented with staff memos and brief staff remarks; public comment was held where required (no members of the public spoke on the four budget amendments). The meeting later moved to an executive session to discuss potential litigation.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers/seconders, outcomes): - Amend agenda to add assignment of resolution 23-08-CC-03 from 307 Horse Racing Inc. to 307 Horse Racing LLC: motion by Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Toman; outcome: unanimous. - Resolution 25-01-CL-4 (Road & Bridge skid-steer broom), $15,335: motion Commissioner Slaughter; second Commissioner Richards; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Resolution 25-01-CL-5 (Facilities custodial carpet cleaner), $13,500: motion Commissioner Slaughter; second Commissioner Thalmann; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Resolution 25-01-CL-6 (Crossroads Park fencing), $37,500: motion Commissioner Slaughter; second Commissioner Richards; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Resolution 25-01-CL-7 (Museum handrails), $35,000: motion Commissioner Slaughter; second Commissioner Toman; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Consent agenda (minutes, vouchers, reports, bonds, abates/rebates, treasurer re-staffing): motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Slaughter; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Liaison assignments: motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Toman; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Southwest Counseling Board appointment (Marjane Choo through Jan. 1, 2027): motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Slaughter; outcome: unanimous (appointed). - SEDC board reappointment of Mark Cowan: motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Toman; outcome: unanimous (appointed). - Ratification of Jamestown Rio Vista Fire District appointees (Daniel Shedden, Leora Craft, David Munoz): motion Commissioner Toman; second Commissioner Slaughter; outcome: unanimous (ratified). - Assignment of resolution for 307 Horse Racing Inc. → 307 Horse Racing LLC: motion Commissioner Richards (added authorization for chairman to sign); second Commissioner Thalmann; outcome: unanimous (approved). - MOU with BLM — Jackalope Wind Energy Project EIS (Sweetwater County as cooperating agency): motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Toman; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Amendment 1 to FY2025 Community Services Block Grant Agreement (removes erroneous insurance language): motion Commissioner Slaughter; second Commissioner Richards; outcome: unanimous (approved). - Award: White Mountain Library Renovation to Shepherd Construction Solutions LLC, $430,000: motion Commissioner Thalmann; second Commissioner Richards; outcome: unanimous (awarded). - Reallocation of forfeited FY2025 capital funds to RTU project, $100,000: motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Slaughter; outcome: motion passed with one abstention (Commissioner West abstained). - Accept FY2024 audit report and authorize chair to sign: motion Commissioner Richards; second Commissioner Thalmann; outcome: unanimous (accepted).

Why it matters: these votes move capital maintenance and small infrastructure projects forward, allocate grant administration steps, and set the county as a cooperating agency on an EIS—an early procedural step for a large proposed wind project. The audit acceptance finalizes FY2024 financial reporting and flags internal-control recommendations staff will address.

Ending: Commissioners indicated they would follow up on implementation steps (contract documents, notices to proceed, and corrective actions from the audit) and scheduled follow-up via staff memos and future agendas.