Crook County

The strategic plan for the Crook County Public Library System focuses on improving facilities and accessibility, specifically at the Sundance and Moorcroft libraries, and updating infrastructure across all three branches. It aims to enhance programs and services by investigating offerings for teens and seniors, providing general audience programs, and actively pursuing local oral and print histories. The plan also includes expanding the Library of Things collection, digitizing local newspapers, and keeping pace with digital education and technology trends. Furthermore, it emphasizes promoting library visibility through outreach and community collaborations, and ensuring continuous education and training for staff.

The Crook County Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update provides a long-range, advisory, and non-regulatory framework to guide land use decisions, infrastructure planning, and natural resource stewardship. The plan addresses growth pressures through early evaluation, shared information, and voluntary guidance, respecting private property rights while ensuring clearer information and transparency. Key strategic pillars include protecting natural resources and working landscapes, preserving the rural way of life while preparing for future growth, and fostering county-wide partnerships. It utilizes a layered advisory map framework to highlight considerations for water, agriculture, wildlife, infrastructure, and community services, aiming to position the county as resilient and self-reliant.

The 2025 Crook County Land Use Plan serves as a community-based guidance tool to shape the county's future by considering current conditions and trends. It analyzes socioeconomic factors, including population growth driven by in-migration, and their impacts on land use and infrastructure. The plan emphasizes the foundational role of natural resources such as agriculture, ranching, mining (energy and non-energy minerals), and tourism in driving the local economy and shaping the community's culture. It aims to provide a framework for decision-making regarding growth management, economic diversification, and the preservation of the county's rural character and natural assets.

This document outlines recommendations to the Board of County Commissions for achieving established goals within an overarching Land Use Plan. The strategic focus is structured around three main goals: protecting natural resources and working landscapes through regulatory amendments and multi-agency collaboration; maintaining a rural way of life while preparing for future growth via impact assessments, growth suitability mapping, interlocal agreements, and public education; and fostering county-wide partnerships for infrastructure planning, joint funding, youth workforce development, housing affordability, and economic development strategies.

The Board discussed and approved various items, including resolutions for the continuation of the 1% sales/use tax and a budget amendment for the fiscal year. They addressed departmental reports, approved multiple grant agreements and contracts for services, appointed a new County Health Officer, and reviewed property insurance bids. Additionally, the Board handled administrative tasks such as approving various permits, reviewing county road usage, discussing the 2026 General Election ballot for the lodging tax, and scheduling a public hearing for the upcoming fiscal year's proposed budget.