Park County commissioners on July 1 appointed two new members to the county museum board and filled one library-board seat after interviews with multiple applicants.

The board appointed Gary White of Powell to the Park County Museum Board and Rebecca McKinley of Cody to the same board. The commissioners then appointed incumbent Gary Warner to a second term on the Park County Library Board after considering Bob Ferguson, an applicant with a financial background.

During interviews, applicants described museum and library responsibilities and availability. Gary White told the commissioners about decades of work in seed production and volunteer work with local museums; Rebecca McKinley described professional museum experience as a curator and interim director at Wyoming institutions and her current role with the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. Both applicants confirmed they could meet the board’s schedule; the museum board generally meets on the second Wednesday of each month in Cody or Powell, typically at 1:00 p.m.

Commissioners discussed two selection priorities: subject-matter experience and geographic representation. Commissioner Teal and others emphasized the value of museum experience and fundraising skills; Commissioner Simone and others said they also prefer board seats distributed among Park County communities (Cody, Powell and a Matiti/Matisse seat historically). The board ultimately selected White and McKinley, with commissioners citing White’s long local residency and McKinley’s museum expertise and grant/fundraising experience.

On the library board seat, commissioners considered incumbent Gary Warner and applicant Bob Ferguson. After a first motion to appoint Ferguson failed, the board appointed Warner to a second term; the county liaison to the library board told commissioners Warner had served as the board treasurer and “has done a good job.” The board asked the clerk to notify all applicants of the results.

No changes to board bylaws or meeting schedules were adopted at the July 1 meeting.