Memorial Gardens Grant Approved

SIDNEY--The Cheyenne County Board of Commissioners had its regular meeting on September 16 with many items on the agenda. Among the topics discussed were County Tax Sale Certificates, an Improvement Grant for the Living Memorial Gardens, and a discussion about opening a road on a plot of land containing several farms.

After approving the agenda and minutes from the September 3, 2024 meeting, the commissioners heard from Cheyenne County Treasurer Shelly Bowlin concerning County Tax Sale Certificates. She told the commissioners that the group of properties with unpaid taxes had been listed in the register for three years, and they would be turned over to the county. Since the foreclosure notices had been held for three years, the right of redemption had expired, and the properties were ready to go to the county attorney for foreclosure. The commissioners approved the resolution unanimously.

Cheyenne County Tourism Director Kendra Mitchell next addressed the commissioners concerning an Improvement Grant for Living Memorial Gardens in Sidney. She explained that the Living Memorial Gardens was renovating the grounds, including removing walkway pavers through the gardens with concrete walkways. The reason for the replacement is the difficulty that elderly visitors, those in wheelchairs, and others who need assistance walking have navigating the paver pathways. The Living Memorial Gardens requested $8000 from the Visitors Committee, which was approved in their last meeting. The County Commissioners had to give their approval for the monies to be released. The Living Memorial Gardens group needed $26,300 for the project, which was raised with a combination of local donors and a matching grant. The commissioners approved the Improvement Grant unanimously.

A discussion about ARPA (American Rescue Plan) funds was held, and Commissioner Randy Miller asked County Attorney Paul Schaub if advertisements asking for bids for the new Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Evidence Room upgrade and Fencing for the impound yard had been placed in the Sun-Telegraph. Schaub said that Sheriff Adam Frerichs had sent the notices for bids directly to the Sun-Telegraph. Miller then asked Schaub to inform him when he determines the date of the bid opening.

Mary Kay Ernest-Warner then spoke with the commissioners regarding a proposal to open a road by the Southeast Quarter of Section 12, Township 16, Range 49 West of the 6th P.M. in Cheyenne County. She explained the history of the parcel, that was originally purchased by her father. There was a lengthy discussion concerning the geography of the land and the challenges of creating access to the south-corner farm. The commissioners made it clear that they had no interest in creating a new road that would have to be maintained by the county, however, Ernest-Warner said the road did not need to be anything special and would be a minimum-maintenance road used just by the occupants of the farm. Commissioner Miller directed Cheyenne County Highway Superintendent Skyler Saucedo to look at the area and see where the best place would be to place a minimum-maintenance road.

Randy Mathewson next spoke with the commissioners concerning an alarming increase in noxious weeds in Cheyenne County. He particularly noted in Potter along Road 36 seeing about 20 patches of bindweed. He said the weed infestations will lower property valuations and tax revenue. Mathewson said that the county needs to devote more resources to the problem of noxious weeds. Commissioner Miller noted that Cheyenne County has a new Weed Superintendent and Highway Superintendent, and they are both getting familiarized with the problem and what particular areas need immediate attention.

During the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Sidney Resident Marguerite Pool said that the last item on the agenda, “Support, opposition, criticism, suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to the 2024-2025 Cheyenne County budget”, was not posted on the Cheyenne County website, and requested that this agenda item be moved to the next regular meeting on September 30 as she and other concerned citizens did not know to prepare for this public comment opportunity. Chairman Darrell Johnson said that it would not be possible to move the agenda item to the next meeting as the budget had to be approved before September 30, 2024. Johnson said that the final Budget meeting would be on Thursday, September 19 at 8 a.m. and that she and any other concerned citizen would be welcome to voice their concerns about the budget during that meeting.

On September 19, the Budget Meeting was held and no members of the public attended or voiced concerns during the Public Comment portion of the meeting. The total property tax request amounted to $6,215,772 and the Mill Levy Rate was set at 4.065. The operating budget for the county decreases by 4 percent, from $22,717,103 to $21,794,450. The requested Property Tax amount decreased one percent from 2023’s $6,263,500. Valuation fell by 1 percent. The County Fair property tax request is $68,500. The total operating budget for Cheyenne County decreases from 2023’s amount by 4.06 percent. Total assessed property value in Cheyenne County decreased .52 percent from the previous year. The budget was unanimously approved by the commissioners. Commissioner Miller stressed that the Levy Rate and Total Property Tax asking amount represented decreased from last year’s budget. The budget was then unanimously approved and the meeting was adjourned.