Kemmerer local news summary

Kemmerer Council Debates Leasing Animal Shelter to For-Profit Business

Gas Franchise Agreement Stalled, Kemmerer Seeks 2% Fee

Kemmerer Event Center Fees Changed to Boost Use

Oyster Ridge Festival in Kemmerer Praised as a Success

Fossil Island Golf Course in “Nicest” Condition Ever, Say Locals

1. Kemmerer Council Debates Leasing Animal Shelter to For-Profit Business

KEMMERER — A lengthy and contentious debate took place on the Kemmerer City Council regarding a proposal to lease the city’s largely unused animal control building to a private, for-profit dog grooming and training business. The main point of contention was whether the city, and by extension the taxpayers, should subsidize the company’s utility bills, with one council member referring to it as a “city subsidized” private business. After significant discussion, the business owners, who were present, offered to pay for utilities on top of the proposed $300 monthly rent. The lease agreement was ultimately approved with those changes, though the vote was not unanimous. The discussion also touched on the building’s infrequent use. Police Chief Michael Kahre reported that an animal is only housed there for a few hours every four to six weeks, largely because social media now helps to quickly reunite lost pets with their owners. The agreement maintains that the Kemmerer Police Department will have 24/7 access to the building for animal control purposes.

2. Gas Franchise Agreement Stalled, Kemmerer Seeks 2% Fee

KEMMERER — The Kemmerer City Council voted to once again table a franchise agreement with Questar Gas Company (doing business as Enbridge Gas Wyoming), as negotiations with the company’s attorneys are still ongoing. The delay is partly attributed to “a little confusion” regarding the differences between operating in Wyoming versus Utah. A key point in the negotiations is the city’s push to secure a 2% franchise fee. The company, operating locally as Enbridge Gas Wyoming, is the successor to Questar Gas after Enbridge’s 2024 acquisition.

3. Kemmerer Event Center Fees Changed to Boost Use

KEMMERER — To encourage more local use of the Kemmerer Event Center, the council approved a new fee schedule aimed at making the venue more affordable. The changes include creating new, lower-priced rental packages for events like birthday parties, showers, and memorial services. The discount for city and county residents on individual room rentals will be doubled from 10% to 20%. A significant reduction was also made to the wedding package rate after staff noted the previous price was a barrier, with one potential customer choosing to go to Evanston instead after receiving a quote of over $4,000. Staff and council members hope the reduced rates will combat the facility’s underutilization.

4. Oyster Ridge Festival in Kemmerer Praised as a Success

KEMMERER — City department heads and Kemmerer council members praised the organizers of the Oyster Ridge Music Festival, calling this year’s event a great success. A representative from the festival committee, Jake Lozier, publicly thanked the city’s various departments for their support. It was estimated that about 500 people camped at the various designated campgrounds. The police chief reported very few arrests over the weekend, and other city staff noted a complete lack of citizen complaints, which is rare for an event of its size.

5. Fossil Island Golf Course in “Nicest” Condition Ever, Say Locals

KEMMERER — During department reports, a council member took time to pass along significant praise for the condition of the city-run Fossil Island Golf Course. The councilman relayed that several long-time local golfers have told him the course is the “nicest they’ve ever seen it,” with some having played there for 30 to 40 years. The comments were directed to city staff responsible for the course’s maintenance. The only complaint heard regarding the course was about the amount of goose droppings, a matter the city plans to discuss with the Game and Fish department.

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