TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Board of Commissioners listened to further analysis of the county’s 2019 fiscal year from consultant Ron Russell, and heard reports from a few county department heads during its regular meeting on Aug. 20 at the Goshen County Courthouse.
During her report, Goshen County Fairgrounds manager Stefanie Lofink brought the commission several questions from the Goshen County Fair Board, including an inquiry as to who can rent out office space in the county-owned University of Wyoming Extension Building.
“The county maintains it, so who can have office space in that building?,” Lofink asked. “I’ll have more follow up with this, but to ask what they want to ask next, I have to wait.”
“Who do you want to put in there?” Kenyon asked.
“I’m not at liberty to answer that,” Lofink said. “My question is who can have an office in that building?”
County Attorney Eric Boyer confirmed that Lofink was asking on behalf of the fair board, and questioned why the information couldn’t be disclosed.
“They want to know, but they won’t say why?” Boyer asked.
“Not at this time,” Lofink answered.
“What is the rational for not disclosing any of that?” Boyer said.
“We don’t want to get the cart before the horse,” Lofink said. “Maybe we should discuss this in executive session, and it doesn’t have to be today.”
However, according to Wyoming Press Association attorney Bruce Moats, that discussion doesn’t fall under Wyoming’s list of topics that can be discussed in executive session. Kenyon pointed out there is already a renter in the building.
Lofink also asked the GCC about allowing the fair board to utilize county land west of the fair grounds, and if any county resources work together to help keep costs down. Boyer said it is up to the GCC as to how county funds and resources are utilized.
The commission accepted Lofink’s report 2-0.
Russell, who presented the commissioners with the report to figure out how much non-dedicated money the county has on hand, told the GCC that the county is on more stable ground right now that it has been in several years.
“Four or five years ago, there wasn’t much free cash available to pay bills,” Russell said. “We’ve got to be careful here to sort out how much money that we have on hand is actually available cash to spend, It’s one of the more complicated working capital positions I’ve ever worked with.”
Treasurer Leticia Dominguez’s monthly report showed the county’s cash position at $5.7 million, but most of the money is already dedicated to a purpose. Dominguez and Russell figured that the county actually has around $1.6 million to spend.
“Of our $5.7 million, $4,040,000 is not available to spend,” Russell said. “That is what we’re trying to show you. It’s a confusing account to look through – when you look through your cash, you think that’s where we’re at – but it’s not. We have $1.6 million of available cash at the end of June.”
Goshen County Clerk Cindy Kenyon said the report will be useful in managing the county’s funds.
“This is the best report ever. This is wonderful,” Kenyon said.
Goshen County Sheriff Kory Fleenor reported the GCSO profit and loss statement is sitting at $38,7171. His report was accepted 2-0.
During Kenyon’s report, the commission signed a document to inform Gov. Mark Gordon’s office there would be no public bid process for repairs and upgrades to courthouse elevator.
“Since there is no one who provides elevator replacements or elevator services in Wyoming except this company, we have to notify the governor that there hasn’t been a bid process,” Kenyon said.
Kenyon’s report was accepted 2-0.
