WHEATLAND - The Platte County Board of Commissioners, met March 23 in the county seat of Wheatland.

Those present for the meeting were Steve Shockley, Commission Chairman; Ian Jolovich, Commissioner; Kayla Mantle, Commissioner; and Malcolm Ervin, County Clerk.

Chairman Shockley called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. After the minutes and vouchers totaling $273,833.79 were approved, the Board reviewed the daily receipts of Treasurer Kristi Rietz from March 1 through March 15, 2023, which totaled $1,356,301.65.

Clerk Ervin presented a $122,489 Countywide Consensus grant application to the State Loan & Investment Board (SLIB) to cover costs associated with the Courthouse Renovation. Commissioner Mantle motioned, seconded by Commissioner Jolovich, to approve Resolution #2023-05 to authorize a grant application to the State Loan & Investment Board. The motion carried.

Platte County Resolution #2023-05 is authorizing Submission of a Federal Mineral Royalty Capital Construction Account Grant Application to the State Loan and Investment Board on behalf of the governing body of Platte County, for the purpose of renovating the courthouse.

Whereas, the Governing Body for the County of Platte desires to participate in the Federal Mineral Royalty Capital Construction Account Grant program to assist in financing this project, and whereas, the governing body of the County of Platte recognizes the need for the project, and; whereas, the Federal Mineral Royalty Capital Construction Account Grant program requires that certain criteria be met, as described in the State Loan and Investment Board’s rules and regulations governing the program, and to the best of our knowledge this application meets those criteria, and; whereas, the governing body of the County of Platte plans to match the requested Federal Mineral Royalty Capital Construction Account Grant from the following sources: the Platte County general fund, specific purpose excise tax, and a Secretary of State’s Office grant for election security.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF PLATTE COUNTY, WYOMING, that the grant application in the amount of $122,489 be submitted to the State Loan and Investment Board for consideration at their May 4, 2023, State Loan and Investment Board meeting to assist in funding the Platte County Courthouse Renovation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Malcolm Ervin, Platte County Clerk, is hereby designated as the authorized representative of the County of Platte to act on behalf of the governing body on all matters relating to this grant application.

The meeting proceeded with Jim DeWitt, maintenance superintendent, provided updates to the Board, which included five quotes for MPVs. The Board directed DeWitt to accept a bid from Brown Company for $24,683 to purchase a Polaris Ranger. Also discussed were two quotes for upgraded audio/visual equipment at the Platte County Agriplex, but Mr. DeWitt conveyed that sound baffling would need to be in place regardless of whether the AV equipment was upgraded. The Board requested that DeWitt request that the Fair Board determine whether they will authorize the use of their Fair Discretionary Funds to pay for baffling.

Doug Dumont, County Planner, presented suggested changes to the Planning and Zoning Rules and Regulations, which affect sections 2.05.010 and 8.05.020(B). Those changes were recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission March 14. “On March 14, the planning and zoning commission met and we went over the possible rules and regulations for changing 2.05.010,” Dumont said. “They voted and passed to add the definition of meat processing facility as being a meat only processing facility.”

According to Dumont, the definition was changed to a meat processing facility which receives animal carcasses and does meat and packing production. This calls for a special use permit so that the facility can slaughter on agricultural land. This change in verbiage would eliminate any loopholes in the rules and regulations.

Commissioner Mantle motioned, seconded by Commissioner Jolovich, to accept the changes as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission. The motion carried. Planner Dumont also updated the board on Senate Enrolled Act 0091, which updates subdivision requirements. Chairman Shockley examined, and signed, the final plat for the Hatten Simple Subdivision.

David Russell, County Sheriff, presented three agreements to provide for extraterritorial assistance with Converse, Goshen and Niobrara counties. The agreements are identical to agreements signed four years ago, with the exception of Sheriff Russell being added to the agreement in place of Sheriff Harris. Commissioner Jolovich motioned, seconded by Commissioner Mantle, to approve extraterritorial assistance agreements as presented. The motion carried. Sheriff Russell presented a shared cost proposal for the Platte County Communications Center (Dispatch).

“The Platte County Sheriff’s Office has renewed extraterritorial assistance agreements (MOUs)with neighboring counties,” Russell said. “These agreements allow these counties to come and assist Platte County with deputies and resources when needed. They also allow Platte County to assist these counties when there is a request or need. It is important agencies have these MOUs in place due to Wyoming being a primarily rural state and our county having limited resources for larger scale events. It is a great way to work multiagency cooperation.”

The Board then moved on to continue a discussion regarding the Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) from the Jan. 17 meeting.

“The Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) is sometimes referred to as the ‘6 th Penny Tax,’” said Ervin. “Local governments have the ability to submit a ballot question, which asks whether the public will authorize a sales tax collection of 1% for the purpose of funding specific projects. The extra percentage of sales tax makes the sales tax rate 6% rather than the inherent 5% sales tax rate. We are currently at 6% sales tax due to the public’s passage of the tax in 2018. A special election will take place Nov. 7, 2023, for the purpose of asking to continue that sales tax. This means that sales tax would stay at 6% if the public agrees to fund the projects requested.”

In that previous meeting the towns and County agreed a special election should be held in November 2023 for the purpose of asking to continue the SPET. The Board asked each town, and Platte County Parks and Recreation District, to present their desired projects and expected amounts required for those projects, which totaled approximately $25,000,000.

Eric Jones presented the Wheatland concept for an athletic complex that would include a two-court concept, and 10,000 sq. ft area for offices, lifestyle and locker rooms. With the estimate at $350 per square foot, the total estimated cost would be $10, 325,000. Jones said they estimated high and if the estimate could come in at 250 sq. ft., the total would be closer to $7m.

There being no further business for board consideration, the meeting adjourned at approximately 11:55 a.m.