Green River local news summary

Greenbelt task force touts $1.5 million in recent city projects

City accepts ownership of new trails and park amenities

Parks and recreation director Katie Duncombe receives top state honor

Council hires consultant to aid in franchise fee negotiations

Commissioners consider major solid waste district expansion

Future of ambulance funding weighed; special district an option

County aims to standardize wildlife rules for wind, solar projects

Federal land use plans and shutdown prompt special meeting

Local ‘skills game’ lounges shut down amid regulatory questions

Report cites school officers for drop in juvenile cases

Greenbelt task force touts $1.5 million in recent city projects

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. – The Green River Greenbelt Task Force has delivered projects valued at approximately $1.5 million to the city over the past two years, according to a presentation at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Task force representatives highlighted major successes, including the near-completion of the Skyline Trail, new solar lighting along the Greenbelt, the volunteer-built Teakettle Trail and significant upgrades at the city dog park. The projects were funded through a combination of grants, private donations and in-kind work from local businesses and city crews. Councilman Gary Killpack praised the group, stating, “I've never seen an organization do so much in a short period of time.”

City accepts ownership of new trails and park amenities

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. – The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to formally accept ownership and future maintenance responsibility for several recently completed community projects. The assets, donated by the Greenbelt Task Force and the Green River High School National Honor Society, include the solar lighting project on the Greenbelt, the Teakettle Trail, two new shelters at the dog park, the FMC/Scotts Bottom Trail Extension and the buck and rail fence at FMC Park. The action formalizes the city’s role in preserving the new infrastructure for public use.

Parks and recreation director Katie Duncombe receives top state honor

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. – Katie Duncombe, Green River’s director of parks and recreation, has been awarded the Wyoming Recreation and Park Association Fellow Award, one of the highest honors in the state for the profession. The announcement was made during the citizen requests portion of Tuesday's meeting by recreation supervisor Katie Blood. The Fellow Award recognizes individuals for extraordinary contributions, leadership and service. Duncombe, who has worked for the city for 18 years, was praised for her role in achieving a national Gold Medal for the department and for her extensive service to the state association.

Council hires consultant to aid in franchise fee negotiations

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. – The city will bring in an outside expert to assist with increasingly complex franchise fee negotiations. The council unanimously approved an agreement with River Oaks Communications Corp., a Colorado-based firm specializing in municipal franchise and cellular agreements. City officials stated that franchise fees, which generate about $500,000 in annual revenue, have become difficult to manage due to changing federal laws and the complexities of data services. Most of the city's current agreements are over 20 years old.

Commissioners consider major solid waste district expansion

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – The Sweetwater County Commission heard a proposal Tuesday to significantly expand the boundaries of Solid Waste Disposal District No. 1 to include Green River, Jamestown and other unincorporated areas of the county. District General Manager Dan Chetterbock presented a plan that would provide a stable disposal site for these communities and fund major infrastructure upgrades, including a new recycling facility, a tire repository and equipment to extend the landfill’s life. The expansion would be funded by extending the district’s current 2.91 mill levy to the new areas, costing the owner of a $300,000 home approximately $7 per month. While this would be a new tax for those residents, it would eliminate the per-ton “tipping fees” they currently pay. Commissioners expressed concern about imposing a tax without a direct public vote, citing a similar failed effort in 1993, and requested more information on the financial impact and public support for the proposal.

Future of ambulance funding weighed; special district an option

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – With a contract for countywide ambulance service set to expire in 2027, the Sweetwater County Commission on Tuesday began a public discussion on creating a special EMS district to provide long-term, stable funding. The county currently subsidizes the service, operated by Castle Rock Hospital District, for up to $1.8 million annually from its general fund. Commissioner Island Richards argued that relying on the general fund is not sustainable given recent property tax revenue reductions. Creating a special district, as allowed by a 2023 state law, would let voters decide whether to approve a dedicated mill levy for the essential service. Commissioners agreed that a thorough discussion with cities, industry and the public is needed before any formal steps are taken. The discussion was framed as a proactive measure to ensure ambulance services are not interrupted in the future.

County aims to standardize wildlife rules for wind, solar projects

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – The Sweetwater County Commission approved a 45-day public comment period for proposed changes to its zoning regulations aimed at creating consistent wildlife protection standards for wind and solar energy projects. Land Use Director Eric Bingham explained the amendments would align requirements between the two industries and formally define “significant adverse impacts” on wildlife and their habitats. The changes would require developers to incorporate recommendations from agencies like Wyoming Game and Fish and ensure all adverse impacts are fully mitigated. The move is intended to address what Bingham described as a “disconnect” in communication between applicants and wildlife agencies during past project reviews.

Federal land use plans and shutdown prompt special meeting

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – The Sweetwater County Commission will hold a special meeting on Oct. 31 to finalize comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs Resource Management Plan. The special session is necessary because the public comment period ends before the commission’s next regular meeting, and officials are uncertain if the ongoing federal government shutdown will result in an extension. During her report, Commissioner Mary Thoman noted that Congress has advanced Congressional Review Act resolutions aimed at rescinding recent BLM land-use plans in the Miles City, Montana, and Buffalo, Wyoming, field offices. She said U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman’s staff is exploring whether a similar action could be taken on the Rock Springs RMP, a move that could have major implications for local industries.

Local ‘skills game’ lounges shut down amid regulatory questions

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – “Skills game” booths located in Rock Springs grocery stores have been shut down, Commissioner Mary Thoman reported during Tuesday’s meeting. The closure comes amid concerns that the gambling-style machines, which are restricted to users over 21, were in locations easily accessible to minors. Thoman noted that a loophole in the state’s skills game regulations is to blame and said State Sen. John Kolb has indicated the legislature plans to address the issue in its next session to ensure better oversight and more appropriate locations for the games.

Report cites school officers for drop in juvenile cases

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. – Juvenile probation cases in Sweetwater County have seen a significant decline, a trend that officials attribute to the presence of school resource officers, Commissioner Mary Thoman reported Tuesday. According to Juvenile Probation Director Karen Kelly, the department handled 342 cases last year, down from nearly 500 in the 2022–23 period. Thoman said the reduction in offenses, which range from aggravated battery to drug abuse, highlights the success of the partnership with local school districts. The probation office works to keep juveniles out of jail through programs like counseling and services at the Youth Home.

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