[{"_1":2,"_120":-5,"_121":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,96,108],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6628014,"mediaKeyId","2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab","parentId",2723015,"title","Newcastle forms independent economic development board, outlines museum and industrial‑park work","audioSeconds",258,"startMs",7908000,"endMs",8166000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab&start=7908&end=8166","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab/thumbnail_7908000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6628014/Weston-County/Wyoming/Newcastle-forms-independent-economic-development-board-outlines-museum-and-industrialpark-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628014-54daba43bff6acb876d31157dd6781cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771085874&Signature=c9CZqE34kyAUuGzGAqMgn3kmOF0blag7CZAW5Q5a6QNYeFcMwpFAp3EDapi7qjfQG2OT6~UH8~Ukep-H3txKzwzRoSa8hzPYdGqKgxZaMJLrMrwE4dHZA~sWrRfVGWQrVDmXDG1LqCT4JAws~cJB-cLEaDK0zcrCCFjTbR0amdYDhGsLrdQG1IYuBZiEaoRN53kDDJg5WAsBDz2zmnKNHwe1v55XC3Bl0dHrKu7loegithEkKsmVuANESAIIMSkQPOSZ09-LnOw-buFDWfM98ERAjqR8-VF0UXhsVePyqQbN1aOsZC~S0r5dECGht3LgzKZPldQhXqGMMyqDw7xIMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Weston County","date","2025-03-21T05:30:32.143Z","article","Members of a newly formed Newcastle Economic Development Board presented themselves to the Weston County commissioners on March 18 and described early priorities: an expansion/upgrade to the local museum (including outreach to owners of fossil collections), work toward a shovel‑ready industrial park to attract businesses and jobs, and coordination with neighboring Upton’s development board and the Wyoming Business Council.

The seven‑member board — currently six seated with one vacancy — said it is working on obtaining 501(c)(3) status, building a website and social presence, and lining up engineering and grant partners for museum and industrial‑park projects. Board members said they have discussed housing supports, an investment group interested in industrial lots, and outreach threads to regional resources.

Commissioners welcomed the introduction and suggested quarterly updates to the county for coordination, permit support, and to identify county infrastructure or incentive options.

Ending: The economic board requested area stakeholders continue to share ideas and indicated it would return to the commission on a quarterly basis with progress reports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Weston County Commissioners regular meeting. Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Newcastle, Wyoming.","oneSentenceSummary","Newcastle residents introduced a newly formed seven‑member Newcastle Economic Development Board to commissioners, saying the group will pursue a dinosaur museum expansion, an industrial park and regional coordination with Upton and the Wyoming Business Council.","taxTitle","Weston County, Wyoming","taxId",28920,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628018,"Commissioners direct staff to draft public‑records fee resolution after reviewing sample schedules",0,12197000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab&start=12197&end=12197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab/thumbnail_12197000.jpg","/articles/6628018/Weston-County/Wyoming/Commissioners-direct-staff-to-draft-publicrecords-fee-resolution-after-reviewing-sample-schedules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628018-74a279576540e3964b773cbef2b04f67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771085874&Signature=e~UDLnRF5CnrNfsMFF~YmJOZLNx-Z9k~ez~9vlZiuBJ7QG91K8pUruGn2Ef0kFSxnnMqYhUZ1nC2X8qGUkcArCLy1zkaM-DQT8eZoFmUQrO8b~Jg0ywEWRndt1QmQPPm5cRQQiOJHNsFNz2jfGjx43czEV5aaY55m0qVEy~WYf9bzDT9vrMcdn-uZNcF101gfIF8F-Cb9aV4q6HlDojg2BFxu3Y5nbKCJCLUvsiQbxXuw0QqAeqjKOopwsopm7-CbLbPAay~gOjatXG0ut-iw~rIlQrItlBL3y~R2tebrFK7yZBp3v6eSr5loc5ERa0yqYhsTozgKznh6T7C7D4sQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Weston County commissioners reviewed sample public‑records fee schedules from other Wyoming counties and directed county staff March 18 to draft a fee‑schedule resolution for board consideration. The move followed a staff request for direction on reasonable per‑page copying charges, electronic delivery fees and charges for staff time when requests require substantial clerical or technical work.

Key points the board discussed included: (1) a 50¢ per‑side black‑and‑white copy charge and $2 per‑side color charge for paper copies; (2) a flat fee for electronic media (example: $10 for a 4‑GB USB drive) with “actual cost” for larger media or vendor‑produced copies; (3) a standard hourly staff charge after the first 15 minutes of staff time for complex searches; and (4) an explicit statement that maps or vendor‑produced items will be priced at actual cost. Commissioners asked that the draft resolution quote the state statute language on \"reasonable fees\" and that staff circulate the proposed schedule to department heads (including sheriff/records) for input before the board votes.

Why it matters: A clear county fee schedule reduces ambiguity for requesters and staff, speeds processing and helps the county recover clerical and material costs on large or complex public‑records requests.

Next steps: Staff will prepare a resolution and proposed fee schedule, circulate it to department heads for comment, and place the resolution on a future agenda for formal adoption.","After reviewing sample fee schedules from other Wyoming counties, commissioners asked staff to draft a resolution establishing Weston County’s public‑records fee schedule and to circulate it for review; the board discussed per‑page copy charges, electronic media fees, and staff search time charges.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628022,"Commissioners approve employees picking up 3% Blue Cross Blue Shield premium increase",4846000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab&start=4846&end=4846","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab/thumbnail_4846000.jpg","/articles/6628022/Weston-County/Wyoming/Commissioners-approve-employees-picking-up-3-Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield-premium-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628022-67d7ad653418f2dd4124386363d6fa33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771085874&Signature=U5WyriEuWC-KDL7EJQepX4RSi7Aq7IMlqGmLnxfiFjC2O8dCMjhPYcDWtMrPVCth5bfJl4WzXiVctNFPEuSxNMm1tz5-CCG~7U3I0zCZYB9PnbdaKwiR7xqBNoEuq1GH-fWiGu0byJSAljyoOEQdVmc04WhbnP-9k5nBfC3GZ0D-R0PoLPLUKSxzGwD7N4TfQDnsa9iIEcFHzcbvgQ7jDvTdKaEUaQUtZHrOC6UGqNiaDJfZQeRfWdx62DnEZ~WUDZ12hvJrKugAmrC80Vcq68w-UblnjmXe3MtsEV55ke91DC822QJoPfCZzBIEp71V8BQf6lWwxhURt6peAk9y~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Weston County commissioners voted March 18 to have county employees absorb a 3% increase in the employer share of Blue Cross Blue Shield premiums for the coming plan year. The board discussed alternatives — the county absorbing the full increase, a 50/50 split, or employees taking the full increase — and ultimately approved the motion to have employees take the increase.

Commissioners who supported the motion said the county’s budget is expected to be tight in the coming year and that absorbing the full increase now could force personnel or service cuts later. Commissioners who opposed noted the county previously absorbed large premium increases in prior years to protect staff. The board discussed a possible future decision to restore costs if the county’s financial position improves during the 2026 budget process.

Why it matters: Health insurance costs are a major personnel expense for counties; the board framed the vote as a short‑term shared‑responsibility move to preserve staffing levels in a tight budget environment.

Implementation: County payroll and benefits staff will implement plan changes and communicate the change to employees through Human Resources and the county clerk’s office.

Ending: Commissioners asked county staff to revisit the issue during the next budget cycle if revenue conditions improve.","Facing a projected premium increase, the board voted to have employees absorb a 3% hike in the county’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan this year; commissioners discussed alternatives and the possible use of future budget capacity to restore costs later.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":99,"_43":100,"_45":101,"_47":102,"_49":103,"_51":104,"_53":105,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":106,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":107,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628026,"County auditor outlines audit, flags federal pass‑throughs and state reporting lags",2700,10500000,13200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab&start=10500&end=13200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab/thumbnail_10500000.jpg","/articles/6628026/Weston-County/Wyoming/County-auditor-outlines-audit-flags-federal-passthroughs-and-state-reporting-lags","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628026-091543b8389c186265de84d3700051fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771085874&Signature=bHHIo91-qgTk66RMg8~A4G4TzRXW9Hf8C6-TxusMVeNaowuRF1tQpvEdAWitZQ6G1jjl1Dabvg6Ba6pGmRDyq2QyIvPJMJxtXzyiBaNUwPyFpYLtq-6jxoopJU6x7vpAYLhKwU--06KloZYi7OFtpHSJXat75~nS3cdN-4hMWzl6RN2mx6rJIKWNbsamo31xv-UTWLJ3gpYnA52ic0L9rQw-0qLeS1X33BFPHuF~Azw-rsxtV-Q6N2ecDC4PecEdjIuuxh7-gZiP9C~DKXcIhLqC1noN6jKjeIT-vJS94WP8GCUN6d583hSsAoGZGue8kqPvasfDseyHmlPt~iLsTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The county’s independent auditor presented Weston County’s 2023–24 financial statements and audit highlights during the March 18 meeting, focusing on three items the board and staff should note: a tax timing lag tied to prepayments from energy producers, large federal pass‑through grant activity related to the county solid‑waste facility, and internal‑control and disclosure considerations for transactions involving governing‑board members.

The auditor explained that when large energy producers prepay property taxes they often do so many months in advance and remittances flow through the Department of Revenue; for financial‑statement purposes the county must defer recognition of that revenue until the mill levy is fixed, creating a roughly 15‑month timing lag between cash receipt and revenue recognition. The auditor said a similar timing effect will roll into the 2025 and 2026 reporting cycles.

The audit also shows unusually large federal grant totals for 2024 (more than $6 million) because the county acted as a pass‑through to the Central Weston County Solid Waste district for a new facility and related grant draws; the auditor noted that pass‑through accounting inflates both receipts and disbursements in the county statements and requires additional compliance reporting.

On governance and controls, the auditor commended staff work addressing prior findings at the county fair office but recommended clearer documentation and routine disclosures where elected officials or board members transact with county programs. He suggested annual conflict‑of‑interest statements and formal abstentions where officials have financial or family ties to a vendor or recipient.

The auditor also reviewed ARPA and other federal awards reporting (Bankhead‑Jones, airport grants, etc.) and reminded commissioners of upcoming reporting deadlines and the need for evidence to support federal reimbursements. He recommended boards stay \"on high alert\" for related internal‑control documentation when federal funds flow through the county as pass‑through awards.

Why it matters: The presentation explained why the county’s financial statements can show large swings—timing differences and pass‑through grants—and why commissioners should expect intense documentation and compliance work when federal funds move through county accounts.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to circulate the full audit package and to schedule a follow‑up review of investments and the county’s cash/reserve locations so the board can confirm where earmarked funds (for example road and bridge reserves) reside and how interest and distributions are allocated.","The county’s independent auditor presented the 2023–24 financial statement highlights, flagged large federal pass‑through grants tied to the new solid waste facility, explained timing lag on pre‑paid property tax receipts from energy producers, and urged stronger documentation of transactions with elected officials and boards.",{"_33":109,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":110,"_41":111,"_43":112,"_45":113,"_47":114,"_49":115,"_51":116,"_53":117,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":118,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":119,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628032,"Weston County approves pay increases, reduces jail roster to ease overtime pressure",11490,7200000,18690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab&start=7200&end=18690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2723015-b637bee6945618db5e30ce149c6eb6ab/thumbnail_7200000.jpg","/articles/6628032/Weston-County/Wyoming/Weston-County-approves-pay-increases-reduces-jail-roster-to-ease-overtime-pressure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628032-7bc89fd88f69c8209a3d3a7e421432a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771085874&Signature=cTukW7uio-xgaaDuuYk92T9YYkBvHETAMaJx7Z3lN2-e9mNcY7RMDaJT25qtf3EEFMRswlUJ~3J3L-sspUHepg9VB7FXim96yRk6y2Tmkrfuy9MSStJ0PQ0bAfJDC1~DLOEBCkp8lz3tG1HYZgMiOwkqpJbq8NpqRsc66bUdhxn~5JyUwPcYknS3hR6SdXkgkHAQ5nt6QD4QuR1100YiHPmwkaPyuqV41qD8q0NeQTXHCKPDYC1G3Rd-4TV2Xd3quTnWAz31y05LdvzKhBMGw4wvnrQ53R-wFekqNiYEDv3cbSOfEOjxKg7RbwDa5w15uKdJfu~2yar1FpPHJQJRFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Weston County commissioners voted March 18 to reduce the number of budgeted detention positions from seven to six and to raise starting and top wages for detention staff, moves intended to reduce persistent overtime and improve recruitment.

The board approved raising the starting hourly wage for non‑certified detention officers from $18.92 to $20 and setting the certified detention officer top rate at $23.85 per hour; the approved pay scale also recognizes a corporal rate ($24.96) and a lieutenant top rate ($27.50). Commissioners also directed that any benefit cost increases tied to the wage adjustments be funded from the county’s financial administration/ARPA reserve for the remainder of fiscal 2025.

Commissioners and sheriff’s office representatives described sustained overtime at the jail, driven by vacancies and by deputies filling detention shifts from patrol. Sheriff’s Office speakers said sustained overtime is producing fatigue and is costly; the county’s finance staff provided a benefits estimate the board used to authorize a one‑time transfer to cover the near‑term increase in employer costs.

The board approved the motion after debate about how to fund the longer‑term increase; commissioners noted the ARPA transfer is a short‑term mitigation and that sustaining the increases will need to be addressed in next year’s budget. The motion passed with recorded support; one commissioner stated opposition during roll call.

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the action as a stopgap to stabilize staffing and reduce expensive overtime and to make local pay more competitive with nearby employers. The board emphasized the change reduces the county’s budgeted headcount rather than adding a permanent funded position.

Implementation and next steps: County staff will (1) update the detention pay table, (2) process the ARPA/financial administration transfer to cover associated benefits for FY2025, and (3) bring any required budget adjustments and long‑term funding options for consideration during the 2026 budget process. Sheriff’s Office leadership was directed to continue recruitment with the higher wage table in effect.

All formal actions voted during the jail staffing discussion are recorded in the meeting minutes and incorporated into the county payroll/position control system.

Ending note: Commissioners repeatedly flagged that while the ARPA/financial transfer covers immediate employer costs, sustained funding will require reallocation or new revenue choices in the next budget cycle.","Commissioners agreed to cut one budgeted jail position, raise detention officer pay and use county funds to cover associated benefit costs after commissioners and sheriff described persistent overtime and staffing pressures at the county detention center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Newcastle forms independent economic development board, outlines museum and industrial‑park work

Commissioners direct staff to draft public‑records fee resolution after reviewing sample schedules

Commissioners approve employees picking up 3% Blue Cross Blue Shield premium increase

County auditor outlines audit, flags federal pass‑throughs and state reporting lags

Weston County approves pay increases, reduces jail roster to ease overtime pressure