Archaeological, Geological and

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, ch. 10
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-101 County commissioners may purchase, construct, accept by gift, museums and collections of exhibits.

Each board of county commissioners may purchase, construct or acquire by donation or otherwise archaeological, geological and historical museums and collections of exhibits and articles to be included in or added to the museums and collections.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-102 Appropriation for construction and maintenance; annual tax levy.

Each board of county commissioners of any county owning, constructing or acquiring any museum or collection of exhibits may annually levy a tax on the taxable valuation of the property in the county, for the construction, maintenance and support of the museum or collection of exhibits. The levy shall be made at the same time as other county and school levies are made. The proceeds from the collection of the levy shall be placed in a special fund by the county treasurer and used solely for the purpose for which the levy was made.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-103 Board of trustees; appointment; composition; qualifications of members; terms of office; vacancies; removal.

(a) Each board of county commissioners of any county owning, constructing or acquiring any museum or collection of exhibits shall appoint a board of trustees for the museum or collection composed of five (5) electors of the county. The initial board of trustees shall be appointed as follows: one (1) member for a one (1) year term, two (2) for a two (2) year term and two (2) for a three (3) year term, with each term commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment. Thereafter the terms shall be three (3) years. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms. (b) The county commissioners may remove any member of the board of trustees for cause without a public hearing unless the trustee requests that the action be taken during a public hearing. Vacancies on the board of trustees shall be filled by the county commissioners for the balance of the unexpired term created by the vacancy.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-104 Board of trustees; duties generally; employment of personnel; rules and regulations.

(a) Each board of trustees of a county museum or collection of exhibits shall: (i) Have the custody and control of the museum or collection; (ii) Employ such personnel as required; (iii) Make rules and regulations as necessary for the preservation, maintenance, operation and display of the museum or collection of exhibits; (iv) Consult with the department of state parks and cultural resources on matters relating to the management and operation of the county museum and enter into agreements with the department of state parks and cultural resources for the purpose of lending or borrowing materials and improving the management and operation of the county museum; (v) Annually not later than June 1, file with the board of county commissioners a report detailing all gifts and donations made to the museum or collection and the receipts and expenditures during the preceding fiscal year, together with estimated requirements for expenditures for the ensuing fiscal year.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-105 Board of trustees; authority to provide funds for preservation of historical artifacts and landmarks.

The board of county commissioners may provide funds for the preservation of historical artifacts and landmarks when the same are threatened with removal or destruction.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-201 Petition of property owners; public hearing; written protests; election.

(a) Repealed by Laws 1998, ch. 115, § 5. (b) Repealed by Laws 1998, ch. 115, § 5. (c) Repealed by Laws 1998, ch. 115, § 5. (d) Repealed by Laws 1998, ch. 115, § 5. (e) A special museum district may be established under the procedures for petitioning, hearing and election of special districts as set forth in the Special District elections Act of 1994.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-203 District a body corporate; name; powers.

(a) Each district established is a body corporate by the name of "the .... museum district". The name shall be selected by the board of county commissioners of the county in which the greater area of land within the district is located and will be entered in their records. (b) The district may: (i) Hold property and be a party to contracts; (ii) Sue and be sued; (iii) Through its governing board acquire property for museum purposes by gift, devise, bequest or purchase or contract for the acquisition by purchase or lease of real and personal property; (iv) Convey, lease and otherwise dispose of property for museum purposes; (v) Establish sinking funds for museum purposes; (vi) Issue bonds for the purchase of real property, improvements and equipment as provided by W.S. 18-10-214; (vii) Make rules and regulations as necessary for the proper operation of the district, which shall be filed with the county clerk for each county in which the district is located.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-204 Election of trustees; generally; terms.

An election of the six (6) initial trustees shall be held at the same time as the election to form the district under W.S. 18-10-201 and in accordance with the Special District Elections Act of 1994, including by mail ballot. The board of trustees elected shall govern the district affairs and serve without compensation. At the first subsequent director election three (3) members shall be elected to serve until the next subsequent director district election and three (3) members elected to serve until the second subsequent director district election and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-205 Trustee terms.

Trustees shall hold office for four (4) years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-213 Administration of finances; assessments and taxation.

(a) Annually, each county assessor shall provide the board of county commissioners with the total assessed value of all taxable property within a special museum district in his county. (b) The board of county commissioners at the same time they levy for county purposes shall levy a tax not exceeding one (1) mill upon the taxable property in the district in its county for its proportionate share based on the assessed valuation and the estimated amount of funds needed by each district. The taxes shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as state and county taxes. The tax levy provided by this section shall not be construed as being a part of the general county mill levy.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-214 Coupon bonds; generally.

The board of trustees of special museum districts may submit to the electors of the district the question whether the board shall be authorized to issue coupon bonds of the district to a certain amount, not to exceed two percent (2%) of the assessed value of the taxable property in the district, bearing interest at a certain rate, payable and redeemable at a certain time not exceeding twenty-five (25) years, for constructing or acquiring property for museum purposes.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-215 Election; ballots.

The election authorized under W.S. 18-10-214 shall be called by the boards of county commissioners and conducted, canvassed and returned in the manner provided for bond elections by the Political Subdivision Bond Election Law, W.S. 22-21-101 through 22-21-112.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-216 Form; notice; bids; sale.

If the proposal to issue bonds is approved, the board of trustees may issue bonds in such form as they decide and shall give notice by publication in some newspaper published in the counties in which the district is located and in some newspaper of general circulation in Cheyenne, Wyoming of its intention to issue and negotiate such bonds and to invite bidders therefor. In no case shall the bonds be sold for less than their full or par value and the accrued interest thereon at the time of their delivery. The trustees may reject any bids or sell the bonds at private sale if they deem it for the best interest of the district.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-217 Preparation and execution.

After ascertaining the best terms and the lowest interest at which the bonds can be negotiated, the board shall secure the proper engraving and printing and consecutive numbering thereof and the bonds shall then be properly prepared and executed. They must bear the signature of the president of the board of trustees and be countersigned by the county treasurer of the county in which the funds of the district are kept, and the coupons attached to the bonds must be signed by the president, secretary and county treasurer. The secretary of the board shall endorse and sign in his official capacity a certificate upon every bond that it is within the lawful debt limit of the district and is issued according to law. When so executed the bonds shall be registered by the county treasurer where the funds of the district are kept in a book provided for that purpose, which must show the number and amount of each bond and the person to whom it is issued.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-218 Preparation and execution; full faith and credit; payment of principal and interest.

(a) The full faith and credit of each museum district is solemnly pledged for the payment of the interest and the redemption of the principal of all bonds which are issued by the district. (b) The county treasurer where the funds of the district are kept may pay out of the district tax fund the interest and principal due upon any bonds upon presentation at his office of the proper coupon or bond which must show the amount due and each coupon must also show the number of the bond to which it belonged. All bonds and coupons so paid must be reported to the district trustees at their first regular meeting thereafter.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 18-10-219 Existing museums not affected; museum may submit to electors question of organizing district.

All archaeological, geological and historical museums and any mill levy made pursuant to W.S. 18-10-101 through 18-10-105 shall not be affected by the provisions of W.S. 18-10-201 through 18-10-218. Any archaeological, geological or historical museum, by a majority vote of the board of trustees may submit to the qualified electors of the county, or any portion thereof, in which the museum is located the question of organizing a special museum district under the provisions of and in accordance with the procedures specified in W.S. 18-10-201 through 18-10-219.
Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title18.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026

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