Over the past few months, the Campbell County Cemetery District Board meetings have been quite the scene. However it appears that board has taken a few steps on rounding the corner to make the Campbell County Cemetery District Board just another board in Wyoming.
At yesterday’s meeting by a vote of four to two, the board decided to move their meetings to 5:30 pm to allow more members of the public to attend and voice their concerns. This will be done for a three month trial period.
Other interesting development that may smooth over the public’s perception of the board was the announcement by board member and Treasurer Nikki Johnson that she would like to form an advisory committee made up by the citizens.
“You know when it comes to issues such as the budgeting, you know we’ve been scrutinized by the public by that, and also having a lot of questions on how our financial practices are being done.” Johnson continued, “As a board myself included, we have struggled with answering those questions.”
Johnson added that during the interviews for the vacant board seat, they had a number of great candidates with a wide variety of ideas and experience. She wants to harness that and add to the public’s involvement.
“I’m thinking anywhere from 3 to 5 people. But I’m just not sure how well received it is by the public, if there are people that are interested in serving on the committee” Johnson explained. “Once we have those applicants I would look through them and council with the board to see what they think. But I don’t want to be too limiting.”
Recent board applicant Jim Hastings, who did well in the voting but could not beat Duffy Jenniges for the vacant seat, appeared to like Johnson’s idea.
Hastings informed the board that “I was glad to hear Nikki suggest that and I’d like to have you put my name on that list.”
The news coming out of yesterday’s meeting was also good for those in the community who would like to see the controversy at the district settle down. The public comment portion of yesterday’s meeting was short, concise and constructive.
In fact, the most vocal member of the public to speak yesterday indicated that she was glad to see the board meetings decrease in public spectacle.
“It’s quite a relief after coming here to the August meeting, and coming here to the September meeting, to have the audience out here keep their damn traps shut for a change” exclaimed the enthusiastic attendee.
A few of the other comments came from the previous applicants who desired to fill the seat vacated by Christina Maycock that was later filled by Duffy Jenniges. Cliff Ritchie commented that he thought things went very well at yesterday’s meeting.
Jim Hastings also had a couple of points that he kept concise and constructive. Hastings advised the board, “I encourage you to pick out two, or three, of four or nine or whatever, cemeteries at other locations that have some similarities to yours, and ask them for their planning.”
Stay tuned to our four radio stations and BasinsRadio.com for more information after next month’s meeting.
