Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation takes stance on special districts, livestock protection

The Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation said it adopted several measures in its grass-roots policy development process at its 97th annual meeting this month in Laramie.

“Our members expressed concern about potential legislation that would give county commissioners additional authority to initiate the process to dissolve a special district,” Bureau Executive Vice President Ken Hamilton said.

"While we recognize there needs to be a mechanism for dissolving special districts, we also have to recognize in many instances there are laws on the books that will already help facilitate this process,” Hamilton said at the annual meeting held Nov. 10-12.

According to Brett Moline, the bureau's director of public and government affairs, Wyoming law allows for 28 different types of special districts and there are over 650 special districts within the state.

Concerned with increasing incidences where people have shot and killed livestock in Wyoming and other states, members passed policy related to the wanton destruction of livestock.

“Voting delegates felt the penalty should be substantial enough to deter future actions,” Hamilton said. “The policy asks for legislation that anyone found guilty of wanton destruction of livestock would have to pay a fine four times the value of the animal as restitution to the animal’s owner.”

Also, bureau members adopted a policy opposing the federal government’s efforts to create a dual speed limit in Wyoming; one for commercial vehicles and one for noncommercial vehicles. Members also passed a motion opposing speed limiting devices in commercial vehicles.