GILLETTE -- Three Campbell County Cemetery Board members refused to resign Wednesday when asked to do so by fellow board member Rita Mashak and several area residents.

Eda Reno, Shirley Schafer and Dorothy Slattery each face criminal charges of violating the state open meetings law.

The resignation requests were made during Wednesday's board meeting.

"I just feel they have not performed up to what they were voted in for," Mashak said. "Personally, I hope they take into consideration the community's concerns, not their own personal agenda."

Despite Mashak's request, Slattery, Reno and Schafer all said they would not resign at this time. Each is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 12, along with two other former board members.

The charges against Reno, Schafer and Slattery followed an investigation by Campbell County Attorney Jeani Stone, which also led to charges against board member Christina Maycock, who resigned her position on Sept. 16. Maycock is charged with one felony count of obtaining property by false pretenses and misdemeanor charges of wrongful appropriation of public property, misuse of office and two counts of open meetings act violations.

Maycock was scheduled to appear in Circuit Court on Wednesday morning, but her preliminary hearing was postponed. The date for her new hearing was not immediately available. If convicted of the felony charge, Maycock faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

During Wednesday's meeting, cemetery board attorney Greg Goddard addressed public comment about the charges of open meetings violations that could result in $750 fines for each violation He reminded those in attendance that Reno, Schafer, Slattery and Maycock are innocent until proven guilty.

Also during Wednesday's meeting, board members and new groundskeeper/sexton Darrin Edmonds fielded several questions from the public regarding operations at the cemetery and those who have been hired to replace the employees who have been fired in the past few months. Edmonds said he hired two groundskeepers from South Dakota and hopes to hire an office assistant in the next couple of weeks.

"We're trying to get back to an established, normal routine," Edmonds said. "Regardless of the past history ... things have to move forward from Sept. 2. I haven't done everything once yet, but I feel I have a good feel. I should be in pretty good shape going forward."

Board member Nikki Johnson expressed concern about new employees being unaware of the ongoing issues at the cemetery. He questioned Edmonds extensively about the new employees.

"I'm concerned. We've had a turnover of more than 15 employees in the last two years here," Johnson said. "I want them to be aware of what has happened here previously."

Several members of the public voiced disapproval of the choice to hire employees, attorneys and accountants from out of town and out of state.

"I think you should start with our own unemployed," Gillette resident Lilian Kent said. "Or hire our own people back that you got rid of."

The board also decided it will move away from previous procedures for open board positions. In the past, when a position has become available, the board has appointed whoever received the second-highest number of votes for the position during the most recent election. Since Maycock's resignation leaves an open position, the board voted to take applications for the position until 5 p.m. Oct. 21.