County hears special-funding appeals from treatment program, animal shelter and conservation district ahead of budget season

Several community service organizations presented special-funding requests during the meeting and commissioners said they will consider the appeals as budget deliberations approach.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Fails, director of the Park County Court Supervised Treatment Program, requested the county repeat a $9,000 special-funding allocation used for case management and supervision. She said the program served 43 participants this fiscal year and typically receives funding from the Wyoming Judicial Branch for a set number of spots (historically 17; increased to 20 this year), which requires a 25% community match.

Freed Milbour (transcript: Freed Milbour) representing PAL Animal Shelter asked for county help and discussed shelter operations and intake routines. Conversation covered stray pickup procedures, owner fees, and potential coordination with municipal police to reduce shelter holding times. Commissioners said the shelter’s request will be reviewed during budget season.

Abby Schuler of the Pal Clarks Fork Conservation District reported on small-acreage workshops, a well-testing program (31 tests this year), and water-quality monitoring; she requested roughly $5,000 to help sustain well-testing and laboratory costs. Commissioners discussed in-kind support, possible shared services, and the county’s role in helping conservation districts that lack mill levies; staff said funding requests will be evaluated as the budget is developed.

None of the three requests resulted in immediate funding; commissioners directed staff to include the requests in the budget review process and to follow up with applicants on specifics such as matching funds, timelines, and program deliverables.