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Sheridan County commissioners approve jail-server funds, Office 365 licensing and multiple land-use permits
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Summary
At its Jan. 20 meeting the Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners approved $43,000 for a failing jail server, a remainder-year Office 365 license purchase and recurring licensing to be addressed in next year's budget, a campground CUP, a guest-ranch permit extension, a preliminary subdivision plat and several interagency agreements, including a fuel-priority MOU and a cooperative forest-road agreement.
The Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 20 approved a package of routine budget and land-use items, including emergency technology funding for the sheriff's office, an Office 365 licensing update, multiple conditional use permits and intergovernmental agreements.
Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez told commissioners the jail's single recording server that stores footage from about 94 cameras is "operating really slow" and risks failing to meet statutory retention requirements. Dominguez said the county initially had $10,000 budgeted and requested additional funds to replace the server. The board approved a motion to provide $43,000 for the replacement.
"Our jail server... is operating really slow," Dominguez said during the presentation, stressing that a failure would affect officer safety and court cases. County IT staff indicated the additional funds cover replacement hardware and modest incidentals.
The board also approved a sheriff's Office 365 licensing update requested for the remainder of the fiscal year — a $5,651.10 one-time request — and acknowledged an anticipated recurring annual licensing cost of about $12,000 that will be considered in the upcoming budget process. Commissioners said the update is important to meet insurance and multifactor-authentication requirements for the sheriff's office.
On land use, the board approved Smith RV Campground (CU-25-008) with eight staff-recommended conditions after examining operator rules, enforcement and infrastructure. Applicant Rick Smith told the board he does not intend the campground to become long-term housing and described rules he expects to enforce.
"I'm not looking for long term housing," Smith said, adding he plans to enforce stay limits and keep spaces available for events and short-term camping.
Commissioners questioned how rules would be enforced, how septic capacity would handle peak occupancy, and whether a length-of-stay limit should be added; the applicant and planning staff addressed those points during discussion and the CUP passed by voice vote.
The board also approved a one-year extension for the Gregson Polo & Guest Ranch CUP (originally approved in 2024) and accepted a condition that vehicular access for five new cabins use a proposed northern approach. The applicant said the northern approach is being coordinated with WYDOT and that design and permitting delays have delayed construction.
A preliminary plat for a proposed 14-acre subdivision (PP-25-003) was approved as a preliminary action. Planning staff and the applicant described a revised 40-foot private access easement, drainage planning and septic areas; staff and neighbors flagged additional engineering and drainage work that must be completed before a final plat.
Airport manager Robert Gill recommended consent to an amended sublease between Big Horn Airway, Inc. and Big Horn Flying Company LLC for agricultural spray operations; the board authorized the chair to sign the consent to sublease as required under the airport's FBO agreement.
Sheridan County emergency management presented a memorandum of agreement with Farmers Co-op to prioritize fuel deliveries for emergency operations. Staff said the MOU does not obligate the county to purchase fuel and does not guarantee supplies beyond reasonable availability; it formalizes coordination so the Emergency Operations Center can request prioritized deliveries. The board authorized the chair to sign the agreement.
County engineer Ken Miller briefed the board on a five-year renewable cooperative forest-road agreement with the USDA Forest Service (Big Horn National Forest) that outlines roles for maintenance and vegetation management on three roads. The commissioners approved the agreement and authorized the chair to sign.
The meeting concluded with approval of a petition to vacate a portion of Anderson (Fingerstoy) Road as described in the motion. The board adjourned at 10:56 a.m.
Next steps: final engineering and permitting reviews for the preliminary plat and the Gregson northern approach remain pending; recurring licensing costs for the sheriff will be handled in the upcoming budget process.
