TORRINGTON – County Commissioner and chairman Carl Rupp called the meeting to order asking for the sheriff’s report which would be the last report from Sheriff Donald Murphy who will be retiring on May 31st. The County Commissioners presented Sheriff Murphy with a plaque for his service for the past 25 years.
Under Sheriff Jeremy Wardell reported that $380,000 had been billed out from the Goshen County Sheriff Department.
After a short farewell was given to Sheriff Murphy, Chairman Rupp called attention to a plot of land on the Southside of Torrington, the final contract for the purchase of the Adam Walter Botanical Park.
The property was bought by South Torrington and donated to Goshen County. The park will be leased back to South Torrington, which includes all maintenance to the park. Chairman Rupp said he would rather had South Torrington own the park but, because of their bylaws, they could not.
Commissioner Wally Wolski explained the park at one time was not pleasing to the eye and different organization came and cleaned up the property. Wyoming Conservation planted trees and grass, the park was named Adam Walter Botanical Garden after the Walters family, who first started the clean-up of the property. There were deals made and now South Torrington is taking care of the park, said Wolski.
Technically Goshen County will own the park, the railroad will no longer own the land and South Torrington will take care of the park. Chairman Rupp said the railroad gave the two local entities, South Torrington or Goshen County, to buy the property or it would go on the market at a below market price. The park is a cornerstone for South Torrington. The commissioners closed the contract for the Adam Walter Botanical Garden Park.
The Commissioners moved on to hear from the Goshen County Economic Development Corp. Chief Executive Officer Ashley Harpstreith reported on the success of the Economic Development Week activities last week, visiting towns throughout Goshen County, then hosting the Spring Fling event on Thursday at 21st and Main. Harpstreith also presented a new partnership agreement to be signed by the commission for the 2018 fiscal year.
Discussion then turned to the Goshen County Care Center and trying to keep the cost under $7 million. But, with bids coming in at $9 million, it was noted they are working with architects for other options to bring down costs.
“We will be pursuing a $3 million grant and $3 million loan through the Limon Business Council, also pitching it to OneOK,” Harpstreith said.
They are also asking for funding for EWC and Lingle which are their three biggest projects and the need for infrastructure in the town of Yoder will be brought to the attention of OneOK. Because of their pipeline project and the role Yoder will play in construction, Harpstreith said with the rail spur at Yoder and the use of it to bring in the pipe for the OneOK pipeline Yoder could be in need of food, gas and other business. The Goshen County Economic Development is looking for people from Yoder to become involved with the Economic Development to promote the needs of Yoder.
Tourism is coming to life, with the tourism legislative group in Torrington last week, looking to expand into movie and television production. Harpstreith told the commissioners Wyoming is the only state in the Rocky Mountain Region not to offer film production incentives.
With shows like Longmire wanting to film in Wyoming but the state not offering any infrastructure or funding, there’s nothing to pull in the production groups, she said. With shows filming in Wyoming it has a direct impact on tourism coming to the state.
GCEDC has visited 357 business in the last 18 months with its business retention and expansion program, working with 94 business, creating 41 jobs with business from the ground up.
Chairman Rupp then announced winners of county scholarships awarded to Megan Baker, Landon Fuller, Baily Surratt and a renewal to Noel Chapman.
Director of the Senior Center Linda Cockett came before the commission to request $5,000 this year. With an increase in meals and transportation, their transportation has increased by 1,000 rides from 2017. They transport mostly inside of Torrington, but they do go outside of Torrington for medical reasons, transporting to Cheyenne and out of state.
Meals on Wheels, which is under a separate program, delivers between 80 and 90 meals in Torrington. The home deliver program delivered 18,700 meals throughout the county in 2017, Cockett said. They also provide crafts and entertainment, health and wellness through grants
for seniors.
