The Cherry County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on May 24^th. The meeting was called to order at 10:00 A.M. by Chairman Mark Adamson. Commissioner Jim Van Winkle’s motion to appoint Sheila Wheeler to the Valentine Library Board of Trustees was approved.

  The Board reviewed the proposed budget for Emergency Management Region 24 as submitted by Doug Fox. A motion to approve the Cherry County portion of the Region 24 budget for 2011-2012 as submitted was approved.

  The Board discussed the Burney lawsuit.  It was the consensus of the Board to authorize the Chairman of the Board to proceed with working toward a resolution with the County’s legal counsel Jami Simmons.

  The Board discussed the City/County dispatch agreement.  Chairman Mark Adamson stated that the new agreement was being prepared for submission to the City. 

  Tim Gentile, Brian Herrick, Bill Huey, Paul Ryan, Tom Hawk and Joe Beckenhauer provided the Board with an update on the Justice Center.  They indicated that June 3^rd is the projected date of substantial completion.  Warranties on new equipment and some issues identified during the most recent inspections were discussed. 

  It was the consensus of the Board to plan a dedication of the new Justice Center building at 4:00 P.M. on June 17^th.

  As a Board of Corrections, the Board conducted some job interviews for the Justice Center Administrator and discussed other related issues.  It was the consensus of the Board to authorize Chairman Mark Adamson to extend an offer to one of the job interviewees following the meeting. 

  The Board voted to review the original food service contract with CBM Managed Services. They decided to discuss the matter further with CBM and to authorize Commissioner Van Winkle to negotiate new terms if acceptable. 

Cherry County Relay-for-Life Survivors' ice cream social will be held Saturday, June 4th at Niobrara's Valentine Lodge from 2 until 4 pm. Survivors can pick up their complimentary survivor's purple t-shirt at this time to wear at the relay.  If you need more information, have any questions, or need to register as a survivor, please call Deb Compton at 402-966-2122 or Kim Epke at 402-376-1593.

Final plans are coming together for the annual Relay for Life in Valentine on June 11^th. The date has been moved up this year to hopefully avoid the heat of July. At this time there are 18 team registered and over 200 walkers for the event. More teams are welcome or individual walkers can be placed on a team. Activities start on the 11^th with a hamburger feed by the Lions Club at 5pm. The Relay for Life will begin at 6pm and go throughout the night until 6 the next morning. The fund raising goal for this year is $18,000. For more information contact Sally Conner, local chair person. Money raised during the event will go to the American Cancer Society for research and patient services.

The Valentine/Cherry County Economic Development Board met Monday evening for a regular monthly meeting.  It was approved to proceed working with Info-USA to pursue small manufacturing companies to relocate to the Valentine area.  Over 1,000 companies with 5 to 20 employees will be contacted about moving business to Valentine. There was also discussion about helping to make older properties ready for new development.  The board is submitting a bid to host the 2010 spring economic developer conference which would bring over 120 people to Valentine next spring. A motion picture company was brought to Valentine in recent weeks to scout locations for a couple different films which could be made in the area. Exposure gained through these movies would help to promote the area attractions and benefit local businesses. Sales tax figures continue to show improvement in the economy.  Receipts from August of 2010 through March of 2011 are up about 3 million dollars over the previous period.  There have also been some new business contacts made about bringing other business to Valentine and interest from local businesses in expansion projects.  Several projects depend on what action the city council takes on June 9^th regarding the future of the economic development program.  If the ED board ceases to exist these projects will come to a halt.