Sheridan County commissioners interview candidates for Historic Preservation Commission; no appointments made

Sheridan County commissioners held a special meeting on Jan. 16, 2026, to hear interviews from applicants seeking seats on the Historic Preservation Commission. Commissioners took no votes; they said they will place the candidates on the agenda at their next regular meeting for further consideration.

Todd, an applicant and a retired Air Force judge advocate who now lives in Sheridan County, told commissioners he has 30 years of military legal experience and a history degree but is not licensed to practice law in Wyoming. "I am not licensed in Wyoming," he said, adding that he maintains a Colorado law license and would not provide legal counsel to the county but could offer prudential advice and help interpret regulations.

The commissioners asked Todd about downtown design standards and the limits of local preservation tools. Todd noted that listing on the National Register of Historic Places "doesn't prevent the owner of the property from doing anything to it," and that local ordinances or historic easements are the mechanisms that can limit changes to private property. He urged commissioners to decide how directive they want local rules to be and emphasized the commission's role in educating, investigating and fostering stewardship of cultural resources.

Ronnie LeBlanc, a retired pharmacist and another applicant, said he has lived in Sheridan County for more than 20 years and volunteers on local cemetery upkeep and community history projects. "I've been tickled to be a resident of Sheridan County for over 20 years," LeBlanc said. He described a hands-on approach to community projects and said he would prioritize local donations and community funding for small preservation efforts, while remaining open to pursuing grants when appropriate.

Discussion of funding surfaced in applicants' answers. One applicant referenced a state preservation award and said, paraphrasing, the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office had provided roughly $1,700,000 "for the county's libraries" as an example of state funding that can support renovations. Commissioners and applicants agreed that the commission should weigh grant restrictions and the board's policy priorities when deciding whether to pursue outside funding.

Commissioners thanked each applicant for their interest and said the commission will consider appointments at its next regular meeting, scheduled for the following Tuesday. The special meeting adjourned at 9:40 a.m.

Background: The Historic Preservation Commission advises local government on preservation matters, including nominations to registers, local design guidance and public education efforts. The applicants emphasized service, local historical research and differing philosophies on funding and design oversight as criteria commissioners should weigh before making appointments.