Notices issued — County to notify five districts still out of compliance
Weston County commissioners voted Nov. 18 to send formal notices to five local districts that remain out of compliance with state reporting requirements. The action advances a statutory process that can lead to dissolution if the entities do not meet year-end deadlines.
Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock told the board she contacted the Wyoming Department of Audit for an updated status report. Department staffer Rachel confirmed that none of the five flagged entities had met their fiscal year 2025 reporting obligations.
The noncompliant districts are Cambria Improvement and Service District, Combined Communications Dispatch Joint Powers Board, Weston Water District, Weston County Health Services and the Weston County Solid Waste District.
County Attorney Michael Stulken explained the legal process in an email to the News Letter Journal. He said the Department of Audit notified the commission in early October that the five districts had not submitted their annual reports as required by state law.
Under Wyoming statutes, all districts and other specified entities must file revenue and expenditure reports by Sept. 30. If a district
fails to file by Nov. 30, the Depart-ment of Audit must notify the county commission, county clerk and county treasurer.
The department’s Oct. 3 letter certified that the five districts had not submitted their fiscal year 2025 reports, as required under Wyoming Statute 9-1-507(a)(vii). The letter also directs the county treasurer to withhold all future disbursements to any noncompliant entity unless it shows good cause under Wyoming Statute 9-1-510(b).
The letter was signed by Richard Q. Cummings, public funds administrator, and was copied to all county clerks and treasurers. Stulken said that once the county receives the noncompliance notice, the commission must publish a legal notice warning that each district is at risk of dissolution.
The cost of the publication is charged back to the district. If a district remains noncompliant by Dec. 30, commissioners must begin dissolution proceedings, which require disbanding the district and forming a new one through an election.
Before the vote, Commissioner Ed Wagoner noted that the Weston County Solid Waste District, which he chairs, is working to complete its reporting. He said the district is working with accountant Paul Stille of Leo Riley and Co. to finish the filing.
Wagoner abstained from the vote due to a conflict of interest. The remaining commissioners approved directing Stulken to draft the compliance letters.
The correspondence will be forwarded to the clerk’s office, where staff will confirm whether any districts come into compliance before the letters are mailed. Commissioners acknowledged challenges with the state’s online reporting system but said they are required to follow state deadlines.