GILLETTE, Wyo. — On Tuesday, the Campbell County Board of Commissioners ratified the CARE Board and approved appointments for the county’s Weed & Pest Board.
The county’s CARE — or Community, Advocacy, Resources & Education — Board approved appointing Angela Luciano to fill a private appointed term expiring Jan. 31, 2026, at its Dec. 19 meeting. It also approved the appointment of Cheyenne Neville, appointed by the Gillette City Council on Nov. 5, to fill a public term expiring Jan. 31, 2028.
The CARE Board is a tripartite board that oversees funding for various community services in Campbell County, said CARE Board staff liaison Kristin Young. It aims to help people move out of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.
The board is made up of members elected by the low-income community, private appointees and public appointees. It manages funding from sources like the Community Services Block Grant, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and county health contracts, Young said.
The CARE Board works with organizations like the Council of Community Services and the Gillette Abuse Refuge Foundation to provide services such as eviction avoidance, food security and health assistance. It carefully monitors how funds are spent by these organizations and ensures accountability through reporting and audits.
The CARE Board’s terms and membership are:
- Lindsy Turgeon (Private, Appointed) – Term ending Jan. 31, 2026
- Mikki Pierce (Elected)– Term ending Jan. 31, 2027
- Angela Luciano (Private, Appointed) – Term ending Jan. 31, 2026
- Liza Thomson (Public, Appointed) (Town of Wright) -Term ending Jan. 31, 2028
- Cris Schmitz (Elected) – Term ending Jan. 31, 2027
- Taylor Jones (Elected) – Term ending Jan. 31, 2027
- Norberto Orellana (Private, Appointed) – Term ending Jan. 31, 2026
- Cheyenne Neville (Public, Appointed) (City of Gillette) – Term ending Jan. 31, 2028
- Jim Ford (Public, Appointed) – Non-Voting Commissioner Liaison
Weed & Pest Board
Appointed to the county’s Weed & Pest Board were B.J. Clark for Area 1, James Tarver for Area 2 and John Cosner for Area 5.
The Weed and Pest Department in Campbell County is a special district established in 1973 to control state-designated and county-declared noxious weeds and pests, according to Weed & Pest Director Quade Schmelzle. Funded through a mill levy, it strives to be fiscally responsible while providing cost-sharing programs for landowners to help with pesticide treatments.
A current challenge is the widespread presence of cheatgrass, which may soon be declared a state noxious weed. While the department aims to mitigate its spread, particularly in areas affected by wildfires, it acknowledges the limitations in treating such a prevalent weed. It plans to prioritize treatment in specific situations like hayfields and reclamation areas.
The department also offers resources like affordable pesticides and sprayer rentals to the public, encouraging community involvement in weed control.
