Natrona parks trustees delay broad officer election but appoint treasurer

With the parks board facing a vacancy at treasurer and questions about its governing statute, trustees delayed a broader officer election but confirmed a treasurer by voice vote.

County Attorney Heather read the controlling statute (189102(d)) during the discussion, saying, “each year, when a new member of the board is appointed, the trustees shall meet and again organize by electing a chairman, secretary, and treasurer.” That reading framed much of the debate over whether the board must hold annual elections or should wait until a member’s term expires.

The dispute began after the resignation of the prior treasurer and a proposal to elect officers for the 2025 year. Commissioner Michael Milne argued the board should select officers now to follow common practice; several trustees said earlier attempts to elect officers had failed and disputed whether the statute required immediate elections. Trustee Laird and others urged patience until the statute’s timing is clear. Heather (the county attorney) and other counsel said the statute is read to require reorganization when a new member is appointed, which some trustees interpreted as meaning an election would not be required until the expiration and replacement of an existing term.

After debate, the motion to elect officers for 2025 failed on a voice vote (the transcript records only a voice “Nay” outcome and does not show a roll-call tally). The board then turned to fill the identifiable vacancy: Commissioner Laird nominated Commissioner Casey Coats to serve as treasurer; Coats accepted the nomination. The board closed nominations and approved the appointment by voice vote; the meeting record shows trustees answered “Aye” but does not list a roll-call tally.

Trustees and staff discussed the statutory requirement that the treasurer be bonded. Heather read the relevant provision that “the board treasurer shall give bond in such amount and such securities as approved by the county commissioners conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties and the accounting for all board monies.” Parks staff and the county attorney agreed the bond must be arranged promptly; staff said they would work with county HR and the county bonding process to secure whatever bond amount the county commissioners approve.

The board also recorded practical limits on the treasurer role. Parks staff said the parks department currently does not handle separate park funds (county commissioners continue to process expenditures), so any bond required while the parks finance structure remains county-run would likely be minimal; if the parks board later assumes independent fiscal control, separate bonding and accounting would be required.

Trustees closed the item and moved on to consider rules and fees. Several trustees stressed they want more complete bylaws and officer-role descriptions and scheduled additional discussion of bylaws at a special evening meeting in early February.

Ending

The board left the officer structure partly intact: it declined to hold a full officer election but filled the immediate treasurer vacancy by appointing Commissioner Casey Coats and directed staff to secure the required bond. Trustees set a follow-up schedule to complete bylaws and other governance details.