BROKEN BOW – The Custer County Board of Supervisors held its first meeting of July Tuesday morning; Supervisors Chairman Barry Fox was absent.
The primary focus of the 2-hour meeting was the Board of Equalizations, specifically how the county would be dealing with valuation in the aftermath of the 3 fires that made up this spring’s Cooksley Complex Fire.
Five individuals and 4 agricultural operations appeared before the board to present From 425, which reports the destruction of real property as a result of a disaster. Among those presenting their cases was Barb Cooksley on behalf of Cooksley Land Company, and Tri C Land & Cattle, who had roughly 10,000 acres of land scorched between Custer and Blaine Counties, and for whose family the fire was named.
The cause of the largest of the 3 fires, after investigation, was established as a stray spark from a passing Burlington Northern train; it was also this fire that impacted the family to the greatest extent.
In her appeal to the board, Cooksley said that as of this month, Burlington Northern had offered no direct assistance or relief to her operations, a fact that, unfortunately, doesn’t come as any real surprise, given her history with the railroad.
“The last time we made a claim with the railroad was 23 years ago. As far as the fences that were taken out in that fire 23 years ago, the railroad paid just enough to replace the bottom wire, but no posts.”
As with 7 other appeals, Cooksley’s was taken under advisement by the supervisors, who are now deliberating as to how to proceed with additional aid. When it comes to disaster through From 425, the Board of Equalizations can reduce taxes on damaged property for the coming year based on the severity of destruction, but will not offer direct aid.
One idea the board may pursue is to appeal directly to District 43 Senator Tom Brewer as well as Governor Jim Pillen to allocate some form of assistance to the hurting producers.
The next step for the supervisors will be final decisions on a case-by-case basis for taxation adjustments.
The board also unanimously approved 3 right-of-way crossings and both resolutions to close the necessary roads for next month’s SORC race.
Additionally, Mike Kozeal was unanimously elected to the county’s Planning Commission Board, and with Chairman Fox absent, the board tabled the ongoing valuation process for the lots it has recently considered selling. The chairman is spearheading the effort and is currently working on a possible procedure.
The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m., with the board reconvening at 1 p.m. to discuss budgets with its various departments.
