EVANSTON — Eric South was again designated as chair of the Uinta County Commissioners during the regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8. Board appointments and board member appreciation comprised the bulk of the meeting, which was the first for newly-elected commissioner Mark Anderson. 

Commissioners made appointments to numerous public boards, including Becky Lupher to a five-year term on the Uinta County Fair Board, Charles Butcher and Gerald Hepper to three-year terms on the museum board, and Mark Deschamps and Tracy Richardson to three-year terms on the library board. Amelia Rutner, Mike Erickson and Kevin Kleinsmith were appointed to three-year terms on the veterans board; Craig Welling was appointed to a three-year term on the economic development board; and Eric South to three years on the airport joint powers board. 

Other board appointments included Eric South and Mark Anderson to three-year terms on the Bridger Valley Joint Powers Board and David Hoover to a three-year term on the predatory animal control board. There were no applicants for a three-year term on the Lincoln-Uinta Revolving Loan Fund Board. Weed and pest appointments included Jerri Crompton, Greg Saxton and Ashley Anglen. 

County staff were appointed to positions as well, including Gary Welling, Josh Davis and Brenda Morrow to the county grievance board, with Jerri Crompton and Ruth Swanteck as alternates. Uinta County Clerk Amanda Hutchinson was designated as civil rights compliance officer. 

Jim Hissong with Uinta County Human Services took some time to publicly acknowledge the contributions of the UCHS Board. Hissong said the board had recently revamped the bylaws and reduced the size of the board from nine to five members. Wendy Stooky, Irene Hansen and Laurie Bateman are no longer on the board. 

Two long-term UCHS board members were recognized for their many years of service. Shelly Horne served for 12 years on the board, and David Arendsee served for 23 years on the board, many of them as board chair. Hissong presented both Horne and Arendsee with plaques and thanked them for their years of dedicated service. 

In other business, Kim West with Uinta County Emergency Management requested approval of an Emergency Management Performance Grant with the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security. The grant is for $46,200 with a county match of the same amount, which West said is met through his salary and budget. The grant was approved.

West also asked for approval of a service agreement with ONSOLVE for the CodeRed service the county uses to provide emergency notifications via text, email and phone calls. The agreement is for $7,500 for one year of services. That agreement was also approved. 

Lastly, Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson-Kallas requested approval of a resolution for a special prosecutor from Lincoln County due to a conflict of interest in the attorney’s office. Howieson-Kallas said Uinta and Lincoln counties have an agreement in place to handle cases when there are such conflicts of interest. 

She said her office had identified the conflict of interest regarding an investigation that may or may not lead to charges in a case involving Tanner Brimhall. The commissioners approved the resolution to authorize the Lincoln County Attorney’s office to handle that case.