Judy and I had a wonderfully exhausting weekend. We hosted our two grandchildren while their parents went to a wedding in Florida. After three days, we were whipped. The two-year-old’s energy level is way off the chart for grandma and grandpa. I loved making pancakes and reading books with them. Hard to believe how much love you can have for two little human beings.
Our week started with a City Council work session to hear a presentation from the Horse Palace casino currently located in the Swan Ranch Business Park. They wanted to update the council on their master plan for the next phase of development. This casino has a different marketing approach from many of the other casinos in the state. They purposely located south of town near the border with the idea they would attract gamblers from Colorado rather than locals. They reported the concept has been successful with 76 percent of the customers coming from out of state. The next phase of development includes a hotel, theater, two additional restaurants, and an expansion of the casino. This is an additional $76 million investment and 375 additional jobs. I like the idea of capturing Colorado dollars and bringing them to Wyoming.
I was invited to the Cowgirls of the West luncheon by Starley Talbott. Starley and Michael Kassel wrote a book on the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project and Michael was giving a presentation on the topic. It was my first time attending their luncheon and I loved the warm welcome and the education Michael gave us on the meaning behind many of the bronzes. I love this time of year – lunch was turkey with pumpkin pie, my favorites.
Judy had surgery this week and we have been hunkering down while she recuperates. I run to meetings and then go back home to check in and make sure she is comfortable. She is so tough, but I hate seeing her this uncomfortable. Hopefully this is the last step in a long two-year ‘get healthy’ journey. We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers.
The Downtown Development Authority is an important agent for change and improvement in a very important part of our city. I think of our downtown as the heartbeat of our community. The property owners in the area actually vote to tax themselves an additional 20 mills that the DDA uses to invest back into the district. I got to meet a candidate for the DDA administrator position, and it reinforced with me the importance of the DDA and their mission to uplift our downtown. The DDA is in the middle of an update to their Plan of Development. Please take time to visit their website and review the plan and give feedback. This plan will direct future investments and improvements. We would like to know your thoughts before things are finalized.
Councilman Jeff White was joined by Brian Deurloo of Frog Creek Partners to talk with us about their Gutter Bin product and how it works to capture pollution and debris before it makes its way into our creeks and drainages. It is a product that fits into our storm drains and has a basket that collects the stuff that falls in our gutters and could pollute streams. I learned a single cigarette butt in a liter of water is deadly to fish. Millions of cigarettes are discarded on our streets, making our streams deadly for fish life. The challenge is the cleaning of the Gutter Bins is time consuming for City staff. We talked about how to improve the maintenance component and increase the number of Gutter Bins so we can improve the water quality going into our streams.
I received an email from Rock Springs mayor Max Mickelson requesting information on the ordinances we have passed to ease the development process in Cheyenne. I love the fact that the good work our Planning Department and City Council have been doing is being recognized across the state. Rock Springs is facing huge growth challenges with the proposed new trona mines. I spent some time with planners Charles and Seth to discuss our response. When you see it written down, it really is impressive.
I shared a couple of weeks ago that Gardenia Drive was the first roadway to be designated under our Critical Traffic Control Area program. After two weeks of targeted speed enforcement, we met to review the statistics and determine if the designation should continue. I am happy to report that speeds have been reduced and the committee voted to remove Gardenia’s designation. During the two weeks, our police department stopped 210 cars and wrote 81 speeding tickets. We will continue targeted speeding enforcement to make sure the roadway speeds stay in the safe range. I appreciate the drivers who recognize the importance of being safe in our neighborhoods.
The progress on our new gymnastics building is amazing. I toured the building this week and the building is completely enclosed, drywall installed and being taped, and the road was being paved. I can’t believe how much progress has been made. We have hundreds of kids in the program, and we know more would like to participate when we have room for them. I hope we will have the ribbon cutting early in the new year. Getting the road paved will definitely help the Ice and Events Center this winter and the new hotel when it opens next year.
We will have two new City Council members in the new year. Jennifer McClelland and I met to talk about an orientation and education program for them. Jennifer is the executive assistant for the council, and she came with a huge binder full of information I know will make the transition easier for our new council members. We will have busy Tuesdays and Thursdays until the swearing in on Jan. 6. I am excited Dr. Emmons and Mr. Moody want to participate.
For University of Wyoming football fans, this is a big weekend. The Pokes play Colorado State, and I am hopeful we will prevail. I have a graduated member of my Mayor’s Youth Council that attends CSU, and I am hearing smack from him. Let’s go Pokes!!