Lodgepole Historical Society to request $1K from county

The Lodgepole Historical Society will likely receive $1,000 this year from Cheyenne County to help support its efforts to preserve and display the village’s history.

On Monday, Maryann Dickinson, a historical society board member, told the Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners the county had previously made an annual contribution to the group.

“But we didn’t get any last year,” she said.

This year’s budget, passed last month, likewise didn’t include any funds earmarked for the historical society.

Dickinson asked why not.

Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said 2011 was the last year the group received $1,000 in funds.

She explained while there has never been a line item in the budget for the contribution, past commissioners have allowed for the money for the society.

The funds have to be requested, though, Fiegenschuh added – which they haven’t been in recent years.

Commissioners told Dickinson if she sent a request to the county for the $1,000, they would approve it along with other claims at the next commissioners’ meeting.

Commissioner Chairman Darrell Johnson added that the historical society would need to submit the request each year to ensure the funds are allocated.

Also at the meeting:

• Commissioners unanimously approved a request from Planning and Zoning Administrator Colleen Terman to attend a conference in Gering later this month.

Johnson said one of the speakers slated to present is very knowledge and the conference would be a good opportunity for Terman.

• Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub told commissioners the county had been contacted about possibly selling off a parcel of property on the north side of Sidney.

The property is comprised of two lots totaling 16,000 sqaure feet, County Assessor Louella Pippitt said, and has a fair market value of $8,800.

Schaub said determining the fair market value of the property is the first step in the procedure of selling county land.

Commissioners approved a motion to accept the value of the land and move forward with its sale. The property will now be advertised and sealed bids accepted.

“It’s nothing we need,” Commissioner Philip Sanders said of the property.

All bids will be reviewed at the next county commissioners meeting.

• The next Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19 at 8 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Room at the Cheyenne County Courthouse.