Christopher Lee Caskey

The meeting included county business reviews for all departments and two public hearings concerning subdivision proposals: DeGraw Subdivision and Phipps Minor Subdivision No. 2. Updates were provided by FDL Consulting, LLC regarding the Animal Shelter Expansion Project, Glenrock Office Renovations Project, and the Courthouse Level 1 and 2 Study. General county business involved reviewing items such as monthly warrants and reports. Action items included reviewing proposals for third-party inspections for the Eastern WY College Construction Technology Addition and reviewing bids for drainage improvements for the Shooting Range Improvement Project. The Commission also addressed contract and right-of-way applications related to Jenne Trail Phase 3. Discussions regarding the Courthouse Level 1 and 2 Study, cybersecurity, and county road maintenance policies also took place. Furthermore, approvals were granted for variance and right-of-way permits related to Vyve Broadband cable installation along various county roads, and authorization was given to enter into an agreement for the first phase of the Shooting Range Complex Improvements Project dirt work.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of Resolution 01-26, which revised the established speed limits for vehicular traffic on various County roads, detailing specific speed restrictions based on road identification numbers, names, and road surface types (paved vs. gravel/dirt). Further discussions included the approval of a subrecipient grant agreement with WYDOT/Highway Safety Office for rumble strips and pavement markings, and the award of a Notice of Award for the Jenne Trail Phase 3 Project. An amendment for Jenne Trail Road Phase 2 regarding geotechnical services was also approved. The Board held a brief executive session concerning real estate purchase considerations. Key departmental actions included approving Change Orders for the Shawnee Quarry and gravel crushing services by B&B Aggregates, and approving draft amended policies for the Road & Bridge Safety Reimbursement Program. HR policy language clarification regarding employee leave was addressed, and the HR Director was authorized to contract with Wyoming Health Fairs for a spring blood draw. Information was presented regarding interest in the Antelope Refinery facility and potential industrial revenue bonds, though no action was taken. Updates on the LaPrele Dam project were provided. The Board discussed increasing the Fair Board membership size but ultimately advised focusing on Superintendent positions. Later actions included approving the February monthly reports for Public Health, Road & Bridge, and the Sheriff's Office, ratifying an assignment of interest for a bore permit, and ratifying a WYDEQ letter for Continental Resources Inc. Finally, proposals for additional inspections for the Eastern Wyoming College Construction Technology Addition were reviewed, and authorization was granted to enter into an agreement with the best proposal for ratification at a subsequent meeting.

Key discussions focused on administrative and operational matters. The board approved the December 2025 Communications invoices, which included tablet purchases. Operations invoices for January 2026 were also approved, making past-due balances for the City of Douglas current. The Joint Communications Manager provided updates on staffing, training, Peer Support, Negotiations, and awards, noting that Code Red is moderately functional and funding for RAVE was unallocated; efforts to terminate the Code Red contract and seek RAVE funding are ongoing. Dispatch staff met with Motorola regarding FLEX capabilities. Updates were provided regarding signage needs at the Justice Center, Flex mapping issues, and camera failures. Technical Services reported on plumbing repairs in Detention following recent water leaks and discussed items from the power outage, including the repair of air handler 4. Quotes for services from Johnson Controls and Centric Elevator were reviewed and approved with specific contingencies for the elevator agreement. Leadership positions were reappointed, naming Richard C. Grant, Jr. as Chairman, Kim Pexton as Vice Chairman, and Donald Blackburn as Secretary/Treasurer.

The meeting included department updates from Road & Bridge, Human Resources, Public Health, Energy & Natural Resources, and the Sheriff's Office. Key discussions involved the Antelope Refinery and updates on the LaPrele Dam Project and Converse County Fair Board (specifically increasing membership from 5 to 7). Action items covered the approval of the Internship Policy for Converse County, approval of the Converse County COBRA Subsidy for Surviving Dependents Policy, approval of monthly warrants for January 2026, designation of Converse County Bank as the official depository for 2026, approval of a Community Service Grant Agreement with the Wyoming State Fair Foundation for $770,000, approval of the WYDEQ Certificate of Completion for the Lambert Subdivision Sewer & Water Improvement Project, approval of the Safe Streets for All grant agreement, and approval of the FY2026 High Risk Rural Roads Program subrecipient agreement. Road & Bridge actions included approving the Road & Bridge On-Call Policy, authorizing the purchase of two new CAT 160 motor graders, and approving two bore permits for Saddle Butte Powder Flats Midstream LLC. The Commission also addressed Vyve Broadband permits, authorized the Chairman to enter an agreement for Phase 1 of the Shooting Range Complex Improvements Project ($790,000 for dirt work), and discussed construction projects including the Glenrock Office Renovation Project and the Courthouse Level 1 and 2 Study.

The meeting covered departmental updates, including surplus property auctions, facility maintenance, and policy discussions. Key actions included the approval of the Internship Policy for Converse County. Information was presented regarding a proposed ecological study at Ayres Natural Bridge Park, with direction given for future arrangements. The Board approved the Converse County COBRA Subsidy for Surviving Dependents Policy. Financial actions included the approval of January 2026 warrants and accounts payable totaling $3,922,603.37, and the designation of Converse County Bank as an official depository for 2026. The Board approved the Community Service Grant "Aid to Others" Agreement with the Wyoming State Fair Foundation for $770,000. Several infrastructure and construction items were addressed, including the approval of the WYDEQ Certificate of Completion for the Lambert Subdivision Sewer & Water Improvement Project. The Board approved two grant agreements: the Safe Streets for All grant ($625,000 total, $125,000 local match) for a Safety Action Plan and the FY2026 High Risk Rural Roads Program agreement ($109,500 total, $11,423 local match) for rumble strips and pavement markings. Change Orders were approved for the Jenne Trail Road Phase 2 Reconstruction Project (reducing the contract by $751,331.45) and the Chalk Buttes Road and Ridgewater Road Reconstruction Project (reducing the contract by $154,078.08). The Road & Bridge On-Call Policy was approved as amended, and authorization was given to budget for two new CAT 160 motor graders in FY2027. Two bore permits for crude oil pipelines were approved. The Board directed that a draft resolution regarding speed study results be provided for review by stakeholder departments. Vyve Broadband bore permits and parallel ROW permits were approved for coaxial line replacements. Authorization was given for the Chairman to enter into an agreement for the first phase of the Shooting Range Complex Improvements Project for dirt work, not to exceed $790,000. Action on the Glenrock Office Reconstruction Project amendment was withdrawn by both the mover and seconder after discussion.