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news letter journal
June 11, 2015 -- 3
reation center.
Prior to the meeting on
Wednesday, Bonnar said he was
encouraged after he contacted
Spencer to see if he would
take a second look at the rec-
reation district's proposal to
pilot a program for a Recreation
Director and provide a couple
of community enhancement
projects, and indicated that
Spencer is willing to meet with
the group to discuss options
this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at
the WCSD #1 Administration
Building.
Bonnar said the proposal to
the WBC sought $500,000-- in
allotments of $100,000 a year
for five years-- to establish
a community wide recreation
director who would oversee
facilities and schedule their use.
"We already have all the
facilities a recreation center
would offer. What we lack
is connectivity," explained
Bonnar.
He said Spencer doesn't
think the WBC can support
such an effort with funding,
but he does think some other
foundations in Wyoming may
be able to, and indicated a will-
ingness to facilitate conversa-
tions to help Newcastle pilot a
program for small communities
in Wyoming.
However, the second half of
the proposal from the recreation
district involved approximately
$250,000 for the completion
of the walking trail and bike
network, and another $150,000
for a pair of tennis courts to
provide the community an
avenue it has been without for
about a dozen years, informed
Bonnar. Suggestions of ideas
to enhance the Kozisek Aquatic
Center were also included in the
proposal.
"We include some ideas of
perhaps making the outdoor
deck more hospitable with
umbrellas, furniture and some
nice things there. Maybe a
mother would want to hang out
all day and tan while the kids
run in and out of the pool all
day, making it a little more user
friendly," he indicated.
Bonnar expressed some hope
that the WBC could provide
funding for those portions of the
project through a grant program.
"Mr. Spencer told me that
the half of it (dealing with con-
from page 1
struction) he believes is eligible
for the Business Community
Enhancement grants," he told
the group.
Those grants would require
a 50/50 match, and B0nnar said
he believes the community may
have already secured that much
in terms of resources for the
bike and walking trails. The
grant money-- which can be for
up to $500,000~ would help to
complete the bike and walking
paths, build the tennis courts
and enhance the aquatic center.
Wyoming Business Council
grants are funded quarterly and
a decision could come on a
grant application shortly after
September 1.
Local resources could
then be directed to creating a
full-time recreation director,
using the existing funds of
the Eastern Weston County
Recreation District and the City
of Newcastle's recreation funds,
along with support from other
local entities who wish to par-
ticipate.
Bonnar said he thinks
Spencer and the Business
Council can help pull every-
thing together.
"We just need to put some
money figures in front of him.
Then we can focus on what local
resources we have now to hire a
director and staffthese facilities,
so they are more accessible and
more available with a director
that can promote programs and
the use," Bonnar said, indicating
a desire to change a common
perception that "there is nothing
to do here."
Spencer told Bonnar he
would have to find organizations
other than the WBC to assist
with the pilot of a program to
install a Community Recreation
Director. Bounar thinks such a
pilot would provide an opportu-
nity for rural communities who
need a practical alternative to a
physical building to house all
recreational activities in, and
he believes if Newcastle can be
successful he felt other towns
in the state could benefit from
implementing similar initia-
tives.
The direc.tor would be an
employee responsible for
organizing, coordinating and
managing all facilities in the
community, and the programs
currently offered-- including
scheduling. The director would
also be the direct supervisor of
lifeguards, volunteers, referees
and all part-time and seasonal
staff and instructors.
LaCroix explained that the
Kozisek Aquatic Center already
has an office space, a phone, the
pool and a workout room and
would provide a good starting
place for community recreation
staff to be based out of.
"Lately we have been
explaining it as trying to utilize
the programs we have already
built up, and the director would
be that central person to orga-
nize or help," LaCroix sug-
gested.
The community director
would continue the relationship
WCSD #1 already has with the
city during the summer, when
the Double AACES afterschool
program provides summer
recreational activities for the
youth of the community. There
would also be a community
usage schedule handled by the
director, including not only the
facilities at the school district
but also the recreational facili-
ties managed by the city, such as
the parks and ball fields.
"I hope this group gets a little
bit bigger. I believe the county
has some assets, I think the
Osage Service and Improvement
District has an asset that we can
tie in, and I think the Senior
Center is an asset that we can
tie into for some of these things.
But (it would be nice) to have
one person to know which of
these assets are available when,
which assets are suited for
what," Bonnar said.
Moving ahead with a
Community Recreation
Director will happen after it is
determined how much money
the combined effort can make
available.
Then decisions will need to
be made regarding who will be
on the hiring committee, and
who would oversee the director.
The hope is that all of the finan-
cial aspects and plans will come
together in the next few months
so the group will' be able to hire
someone for the new position in
the fall/ -,;~ " :
It only makes sense in small
communities like this. It is long
overdue that we start working
together," Councilwoman Hunt
commented.
from page 1
runs between their home and barn-- where the
county road used to exist prior to being moved
in front of their current residence. Commissioner
Randy Rossman, who has grappled with the ease-
ment issue for a number of years, explained to
fellow commissioners that the county road existed
in its current location before the family moved
their house closer to the road.
Unfortunately, the anticipated increase in
traffic on the road has created concern for the
property owners.
"There was no problem until the Wyoming
Club," declared Rossman, and Commissioner
Tracy Hunt agreed, noting that the current belief
that the proposed Wyoming Club development is
definitely going to occur has prompted the couple
to raise an issue with the road and the amount of
traffic projected to travel along it.
Commissioner Marty Ertman professed that
former County Attorney Don Hansen informed the
commission the last time the subject was broached
that he was personally against the request to install
speed bumps due to the "amount of liability that
comes with them," and the commissioners dis-
cussed a number of other potential problems that
could arise due to the obstructions in emergency
situations involving fire trucks and ambulances.
Hunt added that not only is there a liability
and emergency issue, but that a large number of
people would probably be angry if the bumps were
installed. That said, he also expressed a level of
understanding for the property owners concerns.
"I am sympathetic with their problems,"
announced Hunt, and the commissioner came to
the conclusion that they did not have enough infor-
mation, specifically when it came to the liabilities
and legalities surrounding speed bumps, to make
a decision at their June 2 meeting. County Clerk
Cheryl Kregel was instructed to schedule the topic
on the agenda for their June 16 meeting so the
discussion could continue and a decision could
possibly be made.
Commissioner Marry E~an:raised issues over the drug dog recently obtained by
Sheriff Bryan Colvard money reeeivedth private donations. She said she is con-
cerned over tiabili~ ff something ~ere:to:go :~ong with the dog that will be used by both
the Weston County Sheriff,s Offieeand:the Newcastle Police Department. Colva~ assured
her there would be no issues involving the dog, that is actually owned by the Weston County
Peace Officer's Ass6eiafioni:i expt~ning that liability insurance is ::taken care of throug[a
Wyoming's ~al: Govemmenf I~iabiii~: P~[.
He said that many drug dogs throughout the state are owned by organizations and not
the eommissioaers weat :into exe -:
tire session to discuss Malto Camp: and possible litigation regarding camp Curie),
the request imme ately after entering the commissioner s meeting room, aM did not profide
any information to suggest Which SpeCie issue involving
could result in litigation. : :: : " : i
* Delia,representing ~e NorthEast Wyoming Economic Develo Co.option
C), approached: the:Wes on County Co issioners to :p opose :a part in
which the county would pay a one fee and the commission would receive help preparing
among other thugs. C0neems were raised by Commissioner M~ Er~an d~e to
previous arrangement :the'e0mmiSsion had with NE~EC, the
commission put the past behind
mission at the June2 meeting.
/
response to that mediation by June 12: The commission also
Business Counei s Northeast Direetor~: Da~e Spencer, allowing him to contac!
to get an update on the situatiom The WBC
Events Center to :be constructed:
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