Weston County commissioners approve small budget reallocation, accept resignation and reappoint airport board member; discuss EMS board, fairgrounds repairs

Weston County commissioners on Aug. 19 approved Resolution 25-18, a set of small adjustments to the 2025–26 budget reallocating funds between departmental accounts; accepted a resignation from a local board member identified in the meeting minutes as “Cody”; reappointed Robert C. Sabara to the Mondale Field Airport Board; and discussed next steps on a countywide emergency medical services board and repairs at the Weston County Fairgrounds.

The budget amendment, introduced during the meeting as Resolution 25-18, moved several modest sums between general finance and specific departmental accounts. Commissioners described transfers that include a $2,500 reallocation tied to attorney office equipment, line-item adjustments of $3,000, $34.24, $39.24, $1,000, $64 and transfers or increases described in the minutes as $1,106.02 and $1,162 for various sheriff, inmate-program and public-relations accounts. The resolution was presented and approved during the meeting.

During discussion about the inmate-program account, a commissioner asked where the funds originate and whether they are collected through the sheriff’s office; staff said they would verify the source. The minutes record concern from one commissioner about ensuring inmate-account collections are properly handled and accounted for before the county disburses those funds.

The board accepted a resignation letter from a member recorded as Cody, listed in the minutes as serving as treasurer and a member of the Malabar board; the minutes record the board accepted the resignation “with regrets.” The board also moved to reappoint Robert C. Sabara to the Mondale Field Airport Board; one commissioner recused themself from that vote.

Commissioners spent an extended portion of the meeting on a suggested countywide EMS joint powers board after a well-attended public meeting the previous night. County officials said participants at the public meeting indicated support for starting a discovery process and expressed interest in forming a board to study whether a countywide EMS structure is appropriate. Commissioners discussed board size and representation — several speakers said a seven-member board would allow broader representation of Newcastle, Upton, and outlying rural precincts — and asked staff and the county attorney to prepare a draft resolution and bring the item back under new business for formal action.

The board also addressed multiple facility issues at the Weston County Fairgrounds, including a deteriorating rock retention wall near the grandstands. Commissioners described visible wall failure after recent heavy rains and discussed options including large block replacement, concrete reinforcement, and fundraising ideas such as selling commemorative blocks to help pay for repairs. County staff said they will schedule a public walk-through of the fairgrounds to evaluate options and gather contractor bids.

On a separate infrastructure item, staff reported that an employee, Gilbert, identified a grant opportunity that would cover the full cost of a courthouse generator estimated at about $9,000; commissioners agreed staff should proceed to pursue the grant and the associated procurement steps.

On a submitted subdivision matter from the city of Newcastle, commissioners questioned why the county was being asked to sign a blank subdivision application and whether the matter had been routed through county planning and zoning. The board moved to table that signature and related paperwork pending clarification from staff and confirmation of the planning process.

Actions recorded in the meeting minutes included approval of the Aug. 5, 2025 minutes, acceptance of the resignation noted above, approval of Resolution 25-18 (budget amendment), reappointment of Robert C. Sabara to the Mondale Field Airport Board (with a recusal noted), and tabling a request to sign a subdivision application from Newcastle pending further information.

Commissioners said they plan additional follow-up on: confirming the source and allowable uses of inmate-account funds; receiving a draft resolution from the county attorney on the proposed EMS board; scheduling the fairgrounds walk-through and collecting contractor estimates; and confirming the subdivision application routing through appropriate planning authorities.

The meeting included public comment praising a recent ENS district meeting and reports from fair and livestock event organizers about attendance and fundraising. The meeting minutes record routine procedural items including a pledge, prayer and roll call precedings prior to the substantive items summarized above.

Ending: The board set multiple follow-ups and put the EMS board question on new-business for a future meeting; staff were directed to return with written materials and drafts to enable formal action at a later date.