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Big Horn County adopts bullying policy, approves dispatch policy and hears road safety concern
Summary
At its Feb. 5 meeting, the Big Horn County commissioners adopted Resolution 2026-15 establishing a workplace bullying policy, approved a dispatch policy manual and heard Road Superintendent AJ Espinoza raise safety concerns about a 20+-year-old belly-dump truck with three near-miss incidents; all routine motions passed unanimously.
The Big Horn County Board of County Commissioners adopted a county workplace bullying policy (Resolution 2026-15), approved a dispatch policy manual, and addressed several routine agenda items at its Feb. 5 meeting in Hardin.
Deputy County Attorney Heather Ready told the commissioners the bullying policy had been recommended by an outside HR firm following an outside investigation: "this policy was a recommendation from an outside HR firm after an outside investigation was handled by them." Commissioner Larry Vandersloot moved to approve Resolution 2026-15; Commissioner Lawrence Big Hair seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The resolution directs the Human Resources Department to disseminate the policy to all county elected officials and employees.
The board also approved a dispatch policy manual by unanimous vote after a motion by Commissioner Vandersloot and a second from Commissioner Big Hair. Earlier in the meeting the commissioners approved claims (items 1199 and 1203) and the minutes of Jan. 22, 2026; both motions passed without recorded opposition.
During the discussion portion of the agenda, Road Superintendent AJ Espinoza reported concerns with a belly-dump truck that he described as more than 20 years old and tied the concern to safety: he said his department had experienced "three near-miss incidents" and that he had obtained vendor quotes, negotiating one down to $70,000.00. The minutes do not record a formal motion or funding decision related to the truck; the report was entered as a departmental update.
The board opened and closed a public hearing on an amendment to a property-sale resolution. Accountant Mike Opie asked whether the amendment concerned deeds; Deputy County Attorney Heather Ready explained the change would permit selling property for less than its assessed value "to get it back on the tax rolls." The minutes do not show a final vote on that specific amendment at this meeting.
Presiding Officer George Real Bird III also briefed the board on meeting logistics for the midwinter MACo conference the week of Feb. 17 and instructed staff to prepare off-site resolutions for scheduled intercounty meetings. With no further business, the board adjourned.
The minutes record routine, unanimous approvals and several administrative discussions; no contentious votes or substantive public-comment debates are recorded for this session.
