SEEDA appointment stirs controversy

Appointment of a city representative to the Sheridan Economic and Educational Development Authority drew protest from a county resident Tuesday, and board member Erin Kilbride resigned for an unrelated reason.

Appointment of Patrick Henderson as a city of Sheridan representative to the board sparked protest from Vicki Taylor of Banner, who argued his appointment wasn’t appropriate.

Neither Henderson nor any other member of the SEEDA board responded to Taylor, and Henderson was later elected secretary of the SEEDA joint powers board, replacing Rich Bridger. Bridger resigned the secretary’s post to accept election to vice chairman of the board.

In an unrelated action, Erin Kilbride tendered her resignation as the at-large member of the SEEDA board.

But Kilbride is now a trustee with the Northern Wyoming Community College District, which also appoints two members to the SEEDA board.

Dr. Walt Tribley, who’s president of the college district and one of the district’s specifically appointed SEEDA members, said the current makeup of the board is uneven, with two representatives appointed by the city of Sheridan and three from the college district.

Kilbride said the member at-large piece is important for SEEDA and wouldn’t necessarily be there if she remains on the board. She said if a true at-large representative can be found for SEEDA, she would like to step off the board. She said she would remain on the board until a true at-large representative can be found.