Barkhurst Resigns as Commissioner

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) accepted the resignation of Commissioner Byron Barkhurst at their October 17 meeting in Medicine Bow. Barkhurst, who was first elected to a two-year unexpired term in 2018, was nearing the end of his four-year term on the five-member board.

The BOCCC accepted Barkhurst’s resignation, which was dated October 11, and declared a vacancy in the office of commissioner. Chairman Sue Jones signed a letter providing written notice of the vacancy to the chairman of the Carbon County Republican Central Committee. Per Wyoming State Statute 18-3-524, the chairman has 20 days after receiving the letter to call a meeting and select three qualified people to fill the vacancy. The BOCCC then will have 20 days to fill the vacancy after receiving the list of qualified persons.

In his resignation letter, Barkhurst lauded the work the BOCCC had done during his five years on the board.

“We have strived to contribute to, among many other things, providing a more transparent local government, in defending and protecting individual liberties and in protecting private property rights by working to balance those rights with new industry and tax bases,” wrote Barkhurst. “We have worked hard in keeping our Natural Resource plan, Land Use plan and County land development and subdivision regulations current and functional.”

Barkhurst also wrote about his honor in being involved with the success of the emergency coordination center, the remodels of the Carbon County Courthouse and Carbon Building - Courthouse Annex, and the Carbon County Fire District.

“We have worked with other intergovernmental agencies to protect as much of Carbon County as possible, all while being open minded to new Economic Development and new tax bases that are essential to the operation of limited local government,” wrote Barkhurst. “All of which I am proud to have had the honor of being part of.

In the letter, Barkhurst wrote he had made the decision to resign from the BOCCC after “deep thought and prayer, and for other personal reasons that are beyond my control.”

“It has been my highest honor to work together with the other Honorable County Commissioners who truly have the best interests of Carbon County in mind as they labor over decisions that affect all facets of Carbon County, and I thank them for this high honor of serving with them,” wrote Barkhurst.

The former commissioner also lauded the work done by the other elected county officials such as the Carbon County Clerk and the Carbon County Attorney.

Anyone interested in filling the vacancy left by Barkhurst’s resignation are encouraged to contact the chairman of the Carbon County Republican Central Committee. The person selected to fill the vacancy will finish out the rest of the term, which is up for reelection in 2024.