Million dollar sales tax refund pending

The Wyoming Department of Revenue informed Carbon County Treasurer Cindy Baldwin of a recently filed amended tax return that may lead to approximately $1 million in sales tax revenue having to be returned.

Baldwin reported this to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners at their Aug. 18 meeting in Baggs.

According to Baldwin she does not know who filed the amended return, but it appears that they over paid tax on the sale of property, possibly between oil companies. Baldwin is also not sure if the county will take the entire brunt of the tax to be refunded or if municipalities are involved. Another uncertainty, according to Baldwin, is when the money will have to be returned and if it will be done over time or in a lump sum.

Several county board positions were appointed or reappointed and one resignation was accepted at the Aug. 18 meeting. Michael Bradford resigned from the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County board and the commissioners accepted his resignation.

H. D. Criswell and Matt Feldmann to were reappointed to the Baggs Solid Waste Disposal District. Lloyd Buford was reappointed to the Upper Platte River Solid Waste Disposal District. Linda Butler was newly appointed to the Platte Valley Community Joint Powers Board. Joyce Menke and Tom Callison were also nominated and elected to the Carbon County Library Board.

In an effort to work with the Carbon County Museum Board, the commissioners discussed removing the dangerous building designation from the Hugus-Ferguson building so that contractors, architects and possibly members of the public can tour the building without the accompaniment of a county official. The major concern expressed at the commissioner’s meeting was about liability issues if someone gets hurt inside the building.

The commissioner’s also approved contracting LeRoy Graham for code enforcement services for the Planning and Development Department.

Sheriff Jerry Colson addressed the commissioners about the need to fill four positions within the Sheriff’s department. Due to staff moving on to other jobs Colson said he is looking to hire one dispatcher, two detention deputies for the jail and one patrol officer for the Rawlins area. After being questioned by one of the commissioners Colson said that there was no indication that any of the staff was leaving because of a lack of recent pay raises.