Bairoil mayor charged with nepotism

The mayor of Bairoil was recently charged with two counts of nepotism in a case accusing the mayor of hiring family members to municipal posts.

Sue Rigano was served with a summons Tuesday following the Sweetwater County Commission meeting in Green River.

According to the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, nepotism is a misdemeanor that carries a possible maximum possible penalty of a fine of not more than $1,000.

Nepotism is part of the Ethics and Disclosure Act under Wyoming statute. The penalties section under the act also specifies that “violation of any provision of this act constitutes sufficient cause for termination of a public employee’s employment or removal of a public official or public member from his office or position.”

As described in court documents, Rigano was elected to her current term as mayor of Bairoil on May 13, 2013 and had previously held the position of mayor in the town as well.

“Anthony Rigano is the spouse of Sue Rigano. He is employed as a water system operator and a police officer for the Town of Bairoil. He has had both of these positions throughout the time of the charged offense;” further that “Mayor Sue Ann Rigano directly supervises manages and acts in her official capacity regarding Anthony M. Rigano’s employment with the Town of Bairoil,” court documents state.

In addition, “Jeffrey L. Evans is the child of Mayor Sue Ann Rigano. Jennifer A. Evans is Jeffrey L. Evans’ wife and a member of his household. Jennifer A. Evans is Mayor Sue Ann Rigano’s daughter-in-law” and “Jennifer A. Evans is acting Town Clerk of the Town of Bairoil and has been employed by the Town in some capacity since July 2013 ... Mayor Sue Ann Rigano directly supervises, manages and acts in her official capacity regarding Jennifer A. Evans’ employment with the Town of Bairoil.”

A release from the sheriff’s office states county detectives served search warrants in Bairoil Oct. 1 at the Bairoil Town Hall, Bairoil Town Community Center, and Sweetwater County Solid Waste District No. 2 and seized a large quantity of documents, computers, and computer records related to the investigation.

The summons orders Sue Rigano to appear in Circuit Court in Rock Springs on Oct. 28.