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Lincoln County commissioners approve retiree premium change, equipment purchases and multiple land-use actions
Summary
At meetings March 3–4, 2026, Lincoln County commissioners voted unanimously on several motions: a change to retiree premium cost-sharing for pre-65 retirees, purchase of an X-ray scanner, contract additions for the Justice Center, ratification of county comments on the Colorado River draft EIS, and approvals on multiple planning files and committee appointments.
The Board of Lincoln County Commissioners met March 3–4, 2026, and unanimously approved a slate of motions covering employee benefits, equipment purchases, contract amendments and land-use items.
Commissioner Teri Bowers moved to approve a change so that qualified retired Lincoln County employees under age 65 will pay 50% of major medical premiums and 100% of vision and dental premiums beginning with the next insurance contract; Commissioner Melvin Shumway seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The change applies to retirees who meet the county’s qualification criteria (the transcript does not specify the count of affected employees).
The board also approved procurement and contract items. Commissioner Shumway moved to purchase an X-ray scanner from LAURUS Systems Inc. for $36,750; Commissioner Bowers seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The board approved a Harris contract addition for the Justice Center in the amount of $20,525 and ratified a county letter commenting on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Public-safety staffing actions included a motion approving the Sheriff to hire a Court Security position after the Sheriff indicated (via Zoom) he will likely move a current employee into that role and advertise to fill the vacancy.
On March 4 the board handled multiple land-use agenda items. The commissioners extended File 102 CUP 25 (Lower Valley Energy 1 MW solar array) to May 6, 2026; approved File 814 AP 25 (Double L Ranch III vacation of open space and amended plat); approved File 301 VA 26 (recorded in the meeting materials as Helen Kay dba I Wish LLC; the transcript also references the owner-operator as Helen King); and approved File 107 CUP 25 (Etna North) and File 803 AP 26 (Simpson Landing Amended). The board also appointed agencies to the Lincoln County Rural Addressing Committee and to the Fire Advisory Panel through 2030. All motions reported in the transcript were seconded and recorded as carried unanimously.
Most motions were moved by Commissioner Teri Bowers or Commissioner Melvin Shumway and recorded as seconded by the other commissioner; Chairman Kent Connelly presided. The commissioners approved a detailed voucher and payroll listing during the March 3 session, including a county payroll of $642,601.91 and vendor claims such as a $165,740.69 plow-truck setup and a $65,197.91 RAISE grant invoice to HDR.
Next steps noted in the record include the May 6, 2026 deadline for the Lower Valley Energy CUP extension and ongoing planning work by county staff. The meeting record lists no votes against or abstentions for the motions summarized.
