Treasurer reports tax relief approvals and grant coordinator declines hospital sponsorship

County Treasurer Jerry Greenfield presented the September financial statement to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 18 and highlighted several fiscal items.

Greenfield asked for clarification on funds received for an Industry Liaison and reported on the State Property Tax Relief program: 150 applications were received and 100 were approved. He recommended using LATCF grant monies as matching funds for projects intended to create additional tax revenue, reported completing a true-up for the mineral severance tax, and discussed Exxon industrial siting funds and distributing those monies to other entities.

Grant Coordinator Mary Crosby told commissioners the county would not sponsor the South Lincoln Hospital District’s grant application because of too many unanswered questions about procedures; she plans to attend the hospital board meeting Oct. 24 to explain the county’s position. Crosby also reported that there was no new information on a RAISE grant application and noted potential Technical Assistance funding from DOT for community development, NEPA, transportation and housing. She said Kemmerer–Diamondville joint power board Chapter 41 applications passed review and will be presented to SLIB; Chapter 42 is not open for applications.

The board discussed upcoming calendar and legal items to be reviewed with County Attorney Spencer Allred; Commissioner Hansen raised writing a letter of support for the Town of Afton related to EPA requirements affecting the town’s water system, but no formal motion on that letter was recorded in the minutes.