2022 WCCA Virtual Winter Meeting

2022 WCCA Virtual Winter Meeting

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

WCCA Headquarters

Cheyenne, Wyoming

I. Welcome and Introductions

President Jim Willox (Converse County) welcomed attendees to the Wyoming County

Commissioners Association (WCCA) Winter Meeting and led with 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.

II. Approval of Minutes

President Willox moved approval of the previous meeting minutes; it was seconded; motion carried.

III. Presentations

Derek Smith with Devon Energy introduced the first two speakers: Senator Ogden Driskill

and Representative Albert Sommers.

Senator Driskill talked about property tax relief, general fund money, the importance of

decorum in the chamber, ARPA money, and one-time money.

Representative Sommers gave a CREG report overview, property tax relief discussion, and

raises for state employees.

President Willox introduced the next speaker, Ashley Harpstreith, Executive Director of the

Wyoming Taxpayers Association. Mrs. Harpstreith gave a presentation titled “Wyoming

Revenue Outlook.”

After a short break, President Willox introduced Chris Wolf of the Wyoming Office of

Homeland Security. Mr. Wolf discussed the Emergency Management Program, their role,

and the roles of elected county officials within the program.

Mikki Munson, also with the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, discussed the CARES

Team, Cyber Assistance Response Effort, which can assist counties with cyber events and

incidents along with the Critical Infrastructure Protection Program.

After lunch, two committee meetings took place, Natural Resources and Revenue. Discussed in the Revenue Committee were the following topics: direct distribution, Amendment “A”, Campbell County Community College, mill levies, access to state grant programs, and property taxes.

The Natural Resources Committee discussed WIR updates, GrSG Resource Management

Plan Amendment, Black Hills Forest Plan Amendment and Committee Sponsored

Legislation: Wyoming outdoor recreation trust fund and Active transportation and

recreation grant program.

Next was a roundtable discussion introduced by Converse County Bank. The discussion

centered around NACo’s Legislative Conference, energy and the Bureau of Land

Management.

Following the roundtable discussion was Leah Curtsinger, Grants Program Officer with

Daniels Fund. She discussed the history of Daniels Fund, the different types of grant

programs, and how to apply for applicable grants.

Rob Samford with Wyoming Machinery introduced Landon Stropko of Invariant LLC. He

discussed midterm election results and what to expect in the future.

After a break, the meeting resumed with the WCCA Business Meeting portion of the winter

meeting began with the recognition of outgoing commissioners. That was followed by the

election of officers with the following winning their respective offices:

President – Bill Novotny

Vice President – Natalia D. Macker

Treasurer – Robert Short

President Novotny thanked commissioners for the opportunity and thanked past president

Willox for his service to the WCCA.

A short video of the outgoing commissioners was shown.

IV. Adjournment

At 5:10 pm the WCCA Virtual Winter Meeting was adjourned.