2021 WCCA Fall Meeting Minutes

2021 WCCA Fall Meeting at the WACO Conference

September 21-23, 2021

CAM-PLEX Wyoming Center

Gillette, Wyoming

Tuesday, September 21

WACO education programs were available to attendees. Anders Van Sandt and Juliet Daniels with the UW Extension presented at Session A: Economic Opportunity Maps- A New Tool for Improving Your Community’s Economic Success. Dr. Olin Oedekoven, Peregrine Global Services presented at Session B: Teamwork and Collaboration in Today’s Modern Workplace.

The Campbell County Welcome Reception was held at 5:30pm at the Grinners Bar/Axe House.

The WCCA Board of Directors and Business Partners Dinner was held at 7:00pm at the Prime Rib Restaurant and Wine Cellar.

Wednesday, September 22

President Jim Willox (Converse County) welcomed attendees to the WCCA Fall Meeting and ledwith the Pledge of Alliance. The WCCA Executive Committee and the WCCA staff were introduced, and all attendees individually introduced themselves. President Willox thanked the WCCA Business Partners for their continued support in helping make these events possible.

President Willox introduced Luke Reiner, Director, Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Director Reiner provided a department update and provided a handout on the local public agency programs.

President Willox introduced Kelli Little, WCCA Deputy Director; Marty Ertman, Weston County Commissioner and Chairman, WCCA Transportation and Veterans Affairs Committee; Gene Legerski, Chairman, County Road Standards Committee; and Travis Conklin, Member, County Road Standards Committee. The panel discussed the history and education of the County Road Construction and Maintenance Fund in a joint session with the Wyoming Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents. A ‘County Road Revenue and Distribution Formula FY20’ handout was distributed.

Attendees visited the sponsor booths during a break.

Executive Director (ED), Jerimiah Rieman provided a 2021 Legislative session update along with a detailed overview of the interim committee schedule.

ED Rieman introduced Representative Albert Sommers, Chairman, Wyoming Broadband Taskforce and House Majority Floor Leader; Lauren Schoenfeld, Sweetwater County Commissioner, Member of the NACo Broadband Task Force and the Wyoming Legislature Broadband Task Force; Ryan Kudera, Broadband Manager, Wyoming Business Council; and Brian Worthen, Owner, Visionary Broadband (some attendees attended virtually). The panel discussed broadband in Wyoming, the current landscape and funding.

WACO and WCCA attendees met for lunch in the main hall and visited with sponsor booths.

The WACO General Session took place from 1:00pm - 3:00pm. WACO President Becky Freeman welcomed attendees to the 93rd WACO General Session, ‘Unity Through Adversity’ and thanked Chairman Bob Maul and the entire Campbell County team for hosting. (Note: Due to COVID-19, no WACO Conference was held in 2020). Video messages were shown from Senator John Barrasso, Senator Cynthia Lummis and U.S. Representative Liz Cheney.

Campbell County welcomed attendees and thanked all who helped arrange the meeting. President Freeman invited attendees to stand for the presentation of colors by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, then Heidi Gross sang the National Anthem, and the invocation was presented by Scott Matheny, Campbell County Sheriff. President Freeman introduced Association Presidents, the WACO Executive Board, and the WACO Presidents that were in attendance. Weston County Sheriff, Honorable Bryan Colvard (1st VP) thanked event sponsors for their support.

Kelli Little, WACO Treasurer presented the Treasurer’s Report.

Terry Wolf (Washakie County) and Joel Bousman (Sublette County) presented the NACo report to inform attendees what the NACo has done over the past year.

Wyoming Speaker of the House Eric Barlow provided a Legislative update and discussed

redistricting, legislative and special sessions, ARPA funds and the state budget.

President Freeman introduced ED Rieman who then introduced Brenda Henson, Director,

Wyoming Department of Revenue, Emily Paravacini, Sublette County Treasurer and Rusty Bell, Campbell County Commissioner. The panel provided an update on the county Mineral Ad Valorem transition.

President Freeman adjourned the WACO General Session at 3:00pm and reminded attendees that the next General Session will begin the following day at 8:00am and that individual associations will meet for the duration of the afternoon. The WCCA committee meetings took place around Cam-Plex.

The annual WCCA awards dinner took place at 6:00pm at the Prairie Sky Venue and was hosted by Wyoming Machinery. Transportation was provided to the venue.

Thursday, September 23

WACO President Freeman welcomed attendees at 8:00am and introduced the Honorable Governor Gordon. Governor Gordon provided an update of Wyoming, APRA funds, the state budget, investments, energy, tourism, and mandates from the administration.

Secretary of State Ed Buchanan provided an overview of the office and elections in Wyoming.

State Auditor Kristi Racines provided an overview of the office and ARPA funds.

State Treasurer Curt Meier provided an update from the office and Wyoming’s investments.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow provided an update of the office and the pandemic impacts.

President Freeman then discussed what the board has accomplished over the last year and discussed the bylaws.

President Freeman invited Barb Poley up to present the audit and finance committee report. The report was moved and second; motion carried.

President Freeman presented the memorial report. The report was moved and seconded; motion carried.

President Freeman invited Terry Wolf (Washakie County) up to present the nominating committee. He asked for nominations from the floor, no nominations, moved that a unanimous ballot be cast for Karen Rimmer (Converse County Clerk) as a Vice President (VP). Motion moved and seconded; motion carried. The nomination committee also offered the following names to be moved up to the next VP position: Melissa Shinkle, Teton County Assessor (7th VP), Brittany Nyman, Carbon County Coroner (6th VP), Karen Rimmer, Converse County Clerk (5th VP), Loretta Howieson, Uinta County Attorney (4th VP), Diane Sanchez, Laramie County Clerk of District Court (3rd VP), Barb Poley (2th

VP), and Heber Richardson (1st VP). He asked for nominations from the floor, moved that a

unanimous ballot be cast for the seven nominees for VP. Motion moved and seconded; motion carried. He then stated that the nominating committee offers the Honorable Bryan Colvard as the next President of WACO. Asked for nominations from the floor, moved that a unanimous ballot be cast for Bryan Colvard to be the next President of WACO. Motion moved and seconded; motion carried.

Former President Freeman passed the plaque onto President Colvard and President Colvard provided remarks to attendees. A gift was presented to former President Freeman.

President Colvard adjourned the meeting at 10:00am and reminded attendees that individual associations will meet for the duration of the morning.

President Willox called the WCCA meeting to order at 10:15am and thanked Wyoming Machinery for hosting dinner last night. Additionally, he congratulated Senator Nethercott, 2021 Legislator of the Year (who joined virtually).

President Willox introduced Colleen Faber (Campbell County), Robert Short (Converse County), and Lloyd Theil (Park County), who are members of the WCCA Congressional Tour Subcommittee and Bailey Brennan, Natural Resource Counsel. The panel discussed the tour details, host county responsibilities, goals, and it was decided upon that the subcommittee will work on a proposal for a future meeting around funding the tour.

President Willox moved into the committee reports and roundtable discussion. The following committee reports were given and approved: Agriculture, Water, State and Public LandsCommittee and the Energy and Environment Committee; Revenue Committee; Health, Safety and Social Services Committee; Elections, Land Use and Government Operations Committee; and the Transportation and Veterans Affairs Committee. Additional topics of discussion included: migration corridors, water rights, direct distribution, legislative interim topics, CWD, redistricting, search and rescue funding, solid waste management, County Road Construction and Maintenance

Fund, WyoLink, the RIS system, and the COVID-19 impacts around the state.

WACO and WCCA attendees met for lunch in the main hall and visited with sponsor booths.

President Willox introduced Jessica Jennings, NACo Associate Legislative Director, Transportation and Infrastructure; Renny MacKay, Policy Director, Wyoming Governor’s Office; and Erin Hurley, NACo Associate Legislative Director- Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs. The panel provided a federal update on the American Rescue Plan Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

President Willox adjourned the meeting at 2:30pm and reminded attendees of the local resource tour of Area 59 Makerspace. President Willox also reminded attendees of the WACO Social Hour at the Cam-Plex Heritage Center and the WACO Annual Banquet at the Cam-Plex Energy Hall, beginning at 5:30pm.