Commissioners consider 2 percent cost of living adjustment for county employees

County to issue $350,000 in severance tax refunds to energy producers

Commission approves rezoning 640 acres for future industrial park

Library system annual report highlights cost savings, service reductions

County issues "no objection" for Rock Springs off-track betting renewals

1. Commissioners consider 2 percent cost of living adjustment for county employees

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — Sweetwater County employees may see a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment effective Oct. 1 following a robust discussion by the commission. Aided by recent unexpected revenues—including a $528,000 Payment in Lieu of Taxes increase and $223,000 in carryover funds—Chairman Keaton West directed Human Resources Director Garry McLean to draft a resolution implementing the raise. While the board broadly supported the increase for core county staff, they debated extending the adjustment to component units. Commissioner Island Richards opposed writing additional checks to component units, estimating the expansion would cost roughly $750,000, while Commissioner Mary Thoman warned against repeating past practices of falling behind on wages. Ultimately, the commission leaned toward excluding the component units due to differing organizational funding structures.

2. County to issue $350,000 in severance tax refunds to energy producers

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — Sweetwater County will take a financial hit this year due to standard, required severance tax true-up adjustments, issuing $350,000 in refunds to local energy producers. Commission Chairman Keaton West announced the update provided by County Treasurer Mark Cowan, explaining that energy producers submit estimated monthly payments based on production and previous mill levies. Once the actual mill levy is certified by the state, the county must apply standard statutory adjustments to reconcile the estimates. This routine reconciliation process will result in the $350,000 refund from the county and an additional $662,000 refund from Sweetwater County School District No. 1.

3. Commission approves rezoning 640 acres for future industrial park

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a zoning map amendment Tuesday to rezone approximately 640 acres from agricultural to heavy industrial use. The land, owned by the Rock Springs Grazing Association, is located near the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport and the J.R. Simplot Company agribusiness facility, and was identified in a pre-pandemic study as an ideal location for a future industrial park. County Land Use Director Eric Bingham noted that proactively rezoning the parcel eliminates a regulatory hurdle and makes the site more attractive to industrial developers. Overcoming future infrastructure costs to bring water and electricity to the site, however, remains a challenge for development.

4. Library system annual report highlights cost savings, service reductions

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — Sweetwater County Library System Director Lindsey Travis presented the fiscal year 2026 annual report to the commission, highlighting that local libraries saved residents an estimated $5.8 million through materials borrowing and free programming during the recently concluded budget year. Despite high attendance and a 12.2 percent increase in summer reading participation, budget constraints forced the library board to eliminate the popular Hoopla digital book service, which cost the system $95,000 last year. Travis noted that the library will continue to offer digital access through Libby, a significantly cheaper consortium alternative, and she highlighted several recently opened, grant-funded renovations to community meeting rooms.

5. County issues "no objection" for Rock Springs off-track betting renewals

GREEN RIVER, Wyo. — Complying with a state law granting local governing bodies authority over simulcasting permits, the county commission unanimously passed resolutions stating "no objection" to permit renewals for two Rock Springs businesses. The resolutions apply to Wyoming Downs LLC on Foothill Boulevard and 307 Horse Racing LLC, operating as Derby Club, on Dewar Drive. Because both off-track betting operations confirmed no operational changes, the county declined to file formal objections based on land use, public safety, or taxation concerns.

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