2021 WCCA Spring Meeting Minutes

2021 WCCA Spring Meeting

May 20-21, 2021

Holiday Inn

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Thursday, May 20

WCCA President Jim Willox (Converse County) called the meeting to order at 8:00am.

President Willox (Converse County) then led with the Pledge of Allegiance and thanked Sweetwater County for hosting the meeting and the welcome reception (held at Bunning Hall, sponsored by Wyoming CLASS and Cowboy Skill). President Willox (Converse County) noted that extra AT&T sponsored face masks and Enbridge sponsored buffs are at the registration table (due to the WCCA Winter Meeting in December being virtual).

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Congresswoman Cheney who provided brief remarks and the topics included: an update of the House; the infrastructure package; the Department of Interior/Biden’s 30x30 goal; carbon capture and sequestration; the National Defense Authorization Act/defense budget; Wyoming Public Lands Initiative (WPLI); and the American Recovery Plan Act.

President Willox (Converse County) then provided an overview of the meeting and reminded attendees to keep their tickets that accompanied the WCCA golf balls and matchbox flies and stated that Cowboy Skill donated two Blake Shelton/CFD tickets for the drawing on Friday. President Willox (Converse County) thanked Charter Communications for sponsoring the breakfast. President Willox (Converse County) introduced the WCCA Executive Committee, Vice President Bill Novotny (Johnson County) and Treasurer Natalia D. Macker (Teton County). President Willox (Converse

County) thanked WCCA staff for their work over the last year and introduced Jerimiah Rieman (ED), Kelli Little (Deputy Director) and Britney Butler (Executive Assistant). Commissioners and Business Partners introduced themselves and a handful of commissioners virtually joined the first ever WCCA in-person, virtual hybrid meeting.

President Willox (Converse County) thanked the WCCA Associate and WCCA Business Partners for attending the meeting and helping make WCCA events possible.

ED Rieman provided a legislative recap and an interim preview. ED Rieman shared a presentation and discussed the 100+ bills the affected the WCCA during session and the current work of the legislative committees.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Eryn Hurley, NACo Associate Legislative Director- Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs. Ms. Hurley’s topics of discussion included: how to register on the U.S. Treasury’s portal; how to request recovery funds; new essential resources and guidance from the U.S. Treasury; key use of funds and reporting dates; key terms of art used in the interim rule; defining eligible and ineligible uses; reporting requirements; NACo resources; and member support. The presentation was recorded and the presentation will be shared with attendees.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Renny MacKay, Policy Director, Governor Gordon’s office. Mr. MacKay’s topics of discussion included: the American Rescue Plan Act; Wyoming’s share/distribution of funds; Governor Gordon’s Strike Team (three phases “survive”, “drive” and “thrive” and noted thatPresident Willox is on the team).

ED Rieman provided brief remarks about the American Rescue Plan. Topics of discussion included: local COVID-19 fiscal recovery fund; county allocations; municipal allocations; and recommendations of the process.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced the local legislator panel that was moderated by Sweetwater County Commissioner Lauren Schoenfeld. The panel included: Representative Clark Stith; Representative Scott Heiner; Representative Mark Baker; Senator Fred Baldwin; and Senator John Kolb. (Representative Jerry Paxton and Senator Larry Hicks were unable to attend). Topics of discussion included: overview of the legislative session; a potential special session; 2022 legislative priorities; direct

distribution; American Rescue Plan funds; Biden’s administration polices; economic growth opportunities; infrastructure; broadband; blockchain; potential sales tax on groceries; and healthcare/Medicaid expansion.

Lunch was sponsored by Wyoming Government Investment Fund/PFM Asset Management, LLC.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Senator Barrasso who provided brief remarks and the topics included: an update of the Senate; COVID-19; Wyoming Public Lands Initiative (WPLI); infrastructure; and Biden’s 30x30 goal.

A pre-recorded video from Senator Lummis was played. Topics of discussion included: an update of the Senate; an overview of her team; COVID-19; and The Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2021.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Troy Hunsucker, Wyoming CLASS, who provided a U.S. and Wyoming economic outlook for 2021 and beyond.

President Willox (Converse County) adjourned the meeting at 2:16pm and the WCCA committees met in various meeting locations in Rock Springs (Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites).

President Willox (Converse County) reminded attendees that the WCCA Social Hour and Banquet, with remarks by Governor Gordon, will be held at the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport- General Aviation Hangar. Big R Bridge and Contech Engineered Solutions sponsored the social hour. Wyoming Machinery, Jonah Bank, AT&T and J.R. Simplot Company sponsored the banquet.

Friday, May 21

President Willox (Converse County) called the meeting to order at 8:02am and thanked the social hour andbanquet sponsors and the Sweetwater County staff (County Clerk Cindy Lane and Administrative Assistant Sally Shoemaker) for their assistance in planning.

President Willox (Converse County) moved into reports from the Committee meetings that were held Thursday, May 20th, 2021:

Agriculture, Water, State and Public Lands Committee and the Energy and Environment Committee- John Espy (Carbon County) provided a meeting overview. Topics of discussion included: a NEWY Tour; predator management; an update from the Governor’s office (Joe Budd, Policy Advisor, Governor Gordon’s joined virtually); DEQ’s work; carcass disposal/CWD. Robert Short (Converse County) moved approval of the minutes. Terry Wolf (Washakie County) seconded; motion carried.

Health, Safety and Social Services Committee- Fred Frandson (Washakie County) provided a meeting overview. Topics of discussion included: WY Department of Health/community convention program; suicide prevention lifeline call center; pandemic response update/vaccinations; opioid settlement; and air ambulance services. Fred Frandson (Washakie County) moved approval of the minutes. Robert King (Lincoln County) seconded; motion carried.

Transportation and Veterans Affairs Committee- Robert King (Lincoln County) provided a meeting overview and it was noted it is the first meeting of the committee with the addition of Veterans Affairs. Topics of discussion included: WyoLink/working group (Deputy Director Little and WYDOT Director Luke Reiner provided updates); county road and bridge funding; 911 call centers; and it was noted that Tim Shepard, Executive Director, Wyoming Veterans Commission, was unable to join the meeting. Robert King (Lincoln County) moved approval of the minutes. Heber Richardson (Albany County)

seconded; motion carried.

Revenue Committee- Vice President Bill Novotny (Johnson County) provided a meeting overview. Topics of discussion included: SF60/Mineral Ad Valorem (Dan Noble, Director, Department of Revenue and Speaker Barlow joined by phone); tax bill sent to yearly filers/60-day delay; and the working group that has been meeting to discuss the topic. Vice President Bill Novotny (Johnson County) moved approval of the minutes. Nick Siddle (Sheridan County) seconded; motion carried.

Elections, Land Use and Government Operations Committee- Dossie Overfield (Park County) provided a meeting overview. Topics of discussion included: DEQ industrial siting; carcass disposal/CWD; cyber security of election equipment; H.R. 1 (Secretary Buchanan and his team provided an update and asked that the WCCA issue a letter of support for his opposition to the bill); mapping/broadband update; and ED Rieman discussed elections/redistricting. Dossie Overfield (Park County) moved approval of the

minutes. Mike Colling (Converse County) seconded; motion carried.

President Willox (Converse County) began the roundtable discussion. Commissioners discussed being prepared for the incoming ARP funds and topics of discussion included: pursing hiring additional staff/contractors; pooling resources to fund the position; neighboring counties work together to find a grant manager; opt-in and opt-out options; and a special assessment of the funds. WCCA staff and the Executive Committee will evaluate the concept and potentially hold a special Board meeting to further discuss.

Other topics of discussion included: the Board approving the FY22 budget; FY dues (discussing thecensus population figures in the future); building project update; a Business Partnership overview; Next Generation 911; WyoLink; Wyoming Council for Women’s Business/entrepreneur award applications; and President Willox (Converse County) is on the Strike Team and commissioners brainstormed ideas to share with the team.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Nada Wolf Culver, Deputy Director, Policy and Programs, Exercising the delegated authority of Director, BLM who joined virtually. Topics of discussion included: the BLM’s 75th anniversary; multiple use mandate; Biden’s 30x30 goal; public land permits; new generation civilian work; meetings with stakeholders regarding leases; BLM transmission line approval hurdles; BLM grazing revision rules; executive orders; and oil and gas permitting.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Liz Archuleta, Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, USDA who joined virtually. Topics of discussion included: the Biden administration’s goals with the USDA; rural development; infrastructure; broadband; logging; American Jobs Act overview; work with agriculture and forestry; $5 billion rural regional partnership program; water infrastructure; and rural/urban economic impacts.

President Willox (Converse County) introduced Chris Brown, Executive Director, Powering Up Wyoming, who provided an overview of maintaining Wyoming’s energy leader status. Mr. Brown stated that Rick Grant (Converse County) and Gunnar Malm (Laramie County) are on Powering Up Wyoming’s Advisory Board. Topics of discussion included: renewable and traditional resources; Wyoming’s energy leadership; wind tax; solar tax; siting requirements; and the benefits of wind for Wyoming.

Drawing winners included: Sally Shoemaker (Sweetwater County- $250 fly fishing package), Lonnie Wright (Sheridan County- $250 golf package), and Mary Thoman (Sweetwater County- Blake Shelton CFD tickets).

President Willox (Converse County) adjourned the 2021 WCCA Spring Meeting at 11:54am and reminded attendees that WACO will be held in Gillette, September 21-23, 2021.