Procedures Manual

Section 1 – Conservation Districts Overview

History and Role of Conservation Districts, the Partnership with US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and Department of Agriculture

Section 2 – State Laws and Regulations applicable to conservation districts

Conservation District Law Wyoming § 11-16-101

Special District Elections Act Wyoming § 22-29-101

Elections; Campaign Practices § 22-25-101

City, County, State and Local Powers; Uniform Fiscal Procedures Act; Wyoming § 16-4-101

City, County, State and Local Powers; Special Districts; Administration of Finances Wyoming §16-12-401

Administration of Government; Director of Department of Audit; Public Funds Wyoming § 9-1-501

Department of Audit; Budget and Reporting Forms

Special District Accounting Handbook – This link takes you to the Wyoming Department of Audit Public Funds Division website.  Click on Manuals and Select Special District Handbook to download.

Vouchers and Receipts

GASB Requirements

Reserve funds  Wyoming § 9-4-831(h)

Inventories

City, County, State and Local Powers; Administrative Records Act Wyoming § 16-3-101

Public Records Act Wyoming § 16-4-201

Department of Archives; Records Retention Requirements and Schedule 9-2-410

Districts are required to keep and archive records.  For additional information on records retention schedules, records to be kept in perpetuity, discarded etc.  please refer to the State Department of Archives.

Public Meetings Act Wyoming § 16-4-401

Special District Public Records & Meetings Act Wyoming § 16-12-301

Public Officials, Members and Employees Ethics Wyoming § 9-13-101

Taxation and Revenue; Administration Wyoming § 39-11-102

To apply for an exempt license plate please refer to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Taxation and Revenue; Ad Valorem Taxation; Administration Wyoming § 39-13-102 (p) (Statute on boundary description requirement to Department of Revenue)

Wyoming Nursery and Greenhouse Law Wyoming § 11-9-101

Water; Watershed Improvement Districts Wyoming § 41-8-101

Counties; Planning & Zoning; Real Estate Subdivisions Wyoming § 18-5-301 (Pertains to Conservation District subdivision review requirements)

City, County, State and Local Powers; Public Property; Public Works and Contracts Wyoming § 16-6-105

Administration of Government; Department of Administration & Information; General Services Division Wyoming § 9-2-1016  (NOTE: As of January 2020 Districts are not required to follow the above listed statute for procurement.  The link has been provided for guidance when purchasing supplies and equipment. A template procurement rule has been developed for district use in developing a local rule/policy.

Note:  All districts are encouraged to register with public purchase.com to advertise opportunities for project/services bids.

Additional Resources:

Index of Attorney Generals opinions pertaining to Conservation District matters can be found on the WY Department of Agriculture Website

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

Environmental Quality Act Wyoming § 35-11-101

Wyoming Surface Water Quality Standards – Chapter 1 (link to Wyoming Administration Rules database)

State Laws and Regulations affecting employees and employers

Fair Employment Practices Wyoming § 27-9-101

Please refer to the Employment and Local Government Liability Pool training presentations for additional information on Employment laws and practices.

Section 3 – Board of Supervisors

Wyoming Conservation District Supervisor Handbook

Supervisor Elections

Section 4 District Operations

Changing a Conservation District Name

Consolidation of two or more districts

Annual Reports

Annual Plan of Work

Land Use and Natural Resource Plans/Long Range Plans

Minutes

Section 5 – Personnel Management

Employee Policy – Please refer to the Department of Employment and Local Government Liability Pool training module for information on employee policies.

Independent Contract Labor – Please refer to the Department of Employment training module for more information on determining an independent contractor.

For sample contracts for conservation districts engagement of a contractor, please contact WACD.

Requirement to Report New Hire

NRCS Supervision and Personnel

For more information on supervisory roles in discipline refer to the Local Government Liability Pool training module

Position Descriptions, Job Qualifications and Performance Reviews

Recruiting, Interviewing and Hiring Potential Employees

Training Needs

Wyoming Unemployment Insurance and Worker’s Compensation

Employee Benefits – Health, Dental and Retirement

IRS Form SS4
W-4 Form
I-9 Form

Section 6 – Funding

Local Mill Levy Funding

Procedures for Obtaining a Mill Levy

Forming a Political Action Committee to raise funds for mill levy campaign activities

Suggestions to Inform and Educate your local public

Sample Mill Levy Strategy and Budget – MS Excel file

Wyoming Department of Agriculture – State Base Funding

Please visit this link for all requirements pertaining to district base funding through the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

Districts are required to participate in the Local Government Liability Pool as a condition of receiving state funding.  Additional information is available here https://www.lglpwyoming.org/

Wyoming Department of Agriculture – Water Quality Funding

Please visit this link for all requirements pertaining to water quality lab through the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

Please visit this link for all requirements pertaining to water quality grant funds through the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

Please note that all water quality grant proposals, amendment and extension requests should be submitted to WACD for the WACD Board review ranking and approval recommendations to the Board of Agriculture.

Wyoming Department of Agriculture – Rangeland Health Assessment Program  Please visit this link for information to apply for RHAP funds

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality – Water Quality grant programs

Please visit this link for information to apply for Section 319 and 205j water quality planning and watershed implementation grants.

Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resource Trust Program

Please visit this link for information to apply for WNRTF funds for wildlife and natural resource enhancement project.

Wyoming Water Development Program

Please visit this link for more information on applying for Watershed planning, Small Water Projects Program and other water development funding opportunities through WWDC.

Wyoming State Forestry

Please visit this link for more information on funding availability for forestry restoration and urban and community forestry projects.

Wyoming USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Please visit this link for more information on many sources of funds for producers and collaborative  conservation projects.

US Fish & Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program

Please visit this link for more information on many sources of funds for wildlife habitat enhancement projects.

Section 7 – Legislative and Media Relations

Parliamentary Procedure – Here is a link to Robert’s Rules of Order. Generally, districts are encouraged to utilize this resource for conducting meetings. Please note however, that some provision do not apply such as Chairman voting.

Legislative Relationships & Recommendations

Media Outreach and Effectiveness