News and Press Releases

Council gives boost to Progress and Prosperity

By Eric R. Wright
Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

CHEYENNE - For the city, the price of progress just went up.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to increase the city's contribution to a local economic development drive by $200,000.

The approval authorized the city to spend up to $100,000 per year for five years to participate in Progress and Prosperity II, which is aimed at raising $2.8 million for a second industrial park here.

Councilman Tom Segrave led the push for the increase from up to $60,000 per year from 2003 to 2006 fifth-penny sales tax overage money, saying the city needed to take a leadership role in bringing new businesses and jobs to Cheyenne and Laramie County.

"This is really an area where we can step forward and say, 'We are in favor of economic development,'" he said.

The Progress and Prosperity campaign effort comes four years after the original, which played a significant role in raising the capital needed to build the industrial park in southeast Cheyenne where Sierra Trading Post, Lowe's, EchoStar and other businesses are located.

Councilman Don Pierson was one of three members who voted against the amendment to increase the amount but voted for the city's participation in the campaign.

He said he supports economic development but also represents Sun Valley residents who want a new park built there.

"I'm going to speak against this for that reason alone," he said. "I think we can (increase our contribution) at any time (in the next five years.)"

Councilman Brent Beeman, who also represents the Sun Valley area but voted for the increase, said he was confident the city could do both.

"I don't think this is going to hinder us in any way."

Resident Mark Shubert urged the council to consider the possible negative impacts of economic development.

Sometimes new companies and new jobs force smaller businesses to close.

"All we hear are the good parts," he said. "There are some bad parts."

Mayor Jack Spiker acknowledged Shubert's concern as a reasonable one but reminded him that the city strives to bring in businesses that don't compete with existing companies.

"I think there's just as many examples the other way," he said.

In other matters, a resolution approving the Board of Public Utilities recommendation to leave water restrictions unchanged was withdrawn because the council agreed and therefore did not need to vote on the matter.

And its debate over a resolution that would have provided up to $55,000 from 1999 to 2002 fifth-penny overage for new playground equipment in a west Cheyenne park and lights for a tennis court in Sun Valley resulted in two separate votes.

Three council members said they talked individually with Sun Valley residents who live near United Nations Park.

Beeman and councilman Patrick Collins said they found the residents oppose the lights.

Councilman C.J. Brown said his interviews indicated support from the residents.

The council voted 5 to 4 against spending $25,000 for the lights.

An equal number of council members voted to postpone spending money on the playground equipment, saying they wanted more time to review the plans.

Councilwoman Judy Case, who said she worked for years to bring about the improvement to the park, said Collins' move for the postponement was a personal attack and retaliated with reference to council contingency spending but did not elaborate.

However, she said she requested the plans for the equipment be circulated to council prior to the meeting and was confident they were complete.

"I have done my homework on this," she said.

Brown, who was one of the four members who voted against the postponement, said the existing playground equipment there was unsafe and needed immediate attention.

"We can't look the other way," he said. "We must address this issue."

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