Board of County Commissioners

2023 Commissioners. Butch Knutson, Jim Ford, Kelley McCreery, Del Shelstad and Colleen Faber

Campbell County Commissioners (from left to right): Butch Knutson, Jim Ford, Kelley McCreery, Del, Shelstad and Colleen Faber. 

  1. About
  2. Colleen Faber
  3. Del Shelstad
  4. Jim Ford
  5. Kelley McCreery
  6. Butch Knutson

Mission 

To provide quality, efficient, and cost-effective services for all Campbell County residents through sound decision making and fiscal responsibility.

Duties:

The Campbell County Board of Commissioners is the executive, legislative and judicial governing body for Campbell County. The general powers and duties vested in the Board of Commissioners can be found in W.S. 18-3-504.

Budgeting

The Commissioners have the authority to approve the budget, and so are intimately involved in spending decisions. A keen understanding of the sources of revenue and expenditures of the county is an essential skill for a successful Commissioner. The budgeting procedure for counties is administered through the Uniform Municipal Fiscal Procedures Act ( W.S. 16-4-101 through 124).

County Roads

Commissioners are charged with the care and maintenance of county roads ( W.S. 24-1-104). Campbell County owns and maintains 911 miles of road (729 gravel & 182 paved).

County Buildings

Commissioners are required to manage the county courthouse, including circuit and district courts, and all county buildings and facilities, which include the Detention Center, Public Library System (Gillette & Wright), Rockpile Museum, Gillette-Campbell County Regional Airport, Children’s Developmental Services Center, Public Health, Road and Bridge Facility, Gillette and Wright Recreation Centers (Gillette and Wright), and the Rockpile Community Center.

Planning and Zoning

Commissioners are authorized to regulate and restrict the location and the use of buildings and structures and the use, condition of use or occupancy of lands for residence, recreation, agriculture, industry, commerce, public use and other purposes in the unincorporated area of the county. The purpose of planning and zoning is as stated in the statutes: “to promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the county” ( W.S. 18-5-201 through 208).

Emergency Preparedness

County commissioners have an important role in homeland security/emergency management. The Wyoming Homeland Security Act and the Wyoming Emergency Response Act envision a leadership role for county commissioners in all aspects of homeland security emergencies and disasters regardless of whether the cause is natural, man-made or terrorism related. The current threats to national security and the creation of the Federal Homeland Security Agency have made the position an even more prominent issue for commissioners.

Federal Cooperating Agencies 

Due the large amount of land owned by the federal government (including subsurface minerals), Campbell County is designated a “cooperator” with the federal government in land use planning and environmental assessment actions. The role is a federally granted position that Commissioners possess to be at the table in determining the management actions of federal lands within the borders of Campbell County. Campbell County  Commissioners are national leaders in this role, and devote a significant amount of time to understanding and participating in these colossal efforts.