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Friday, NOVEMBER 14, 2025 |

Photo – Hanna branch library – Bigfoot99 file photo

Northern Carbon County towns see little reason to fund their libraries if those branches are likely to close.

Recent property tax cuts have reduced county revenue by approximately $500,000, leaving less money for libraries, senior centers, and other outside agencies. The Carbon County Library System’s budget was cut by 53% this fiscal year, causing the Public Library Board to reduce operating hours across all seven branches.

Despite those measures, the deficit continued to grow. In response, Library Board members began asking municipalities to provide more funding or assume ownership of their local branches. Many towns already contribute thousands of dollars each year for utilities, trash service, and snow removal. The Library Board reported that without additional income, the less‑used branches, including Medicine Bow, Hanna, and Encampment, will be forced to close.

Speaking at the October 15th Public Library Board meeting, Chairwoman Adelaide Myers said the Board has already drawn heavily from its savings to keep all seven branches open. Even with reduced hours, Myers said the Board will exhaust its funds by the end of the fiscal year.

Last month, Chairwoman Myers met with the governing bodies of Medicine Bow and Hanna to explain the situation and request help from the towns. At those meetings, Myers reported that County Commissioner Sue Jones had secured a $15,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp to keep the Hanna and Medicine Bow libraries open through the end of the year. Commissioner Jones later reported that the Library System has received only $7,500 of the promised amount.

During the November 10th Medicine Bow Town Council meeting, the governing body discussed providing additional funding for the town’s library. Mayor Justin George said it appears that when the $15,000 grant is exhausted, the Library Board will shutter both the Medicine Bow and Hanna branches.

Mayor George said the Library Board appears to have determined that the Medicine Bow branch will close by the end of this year. With that in mind, the mayor said it would be unwise for the town to contribute any additional money.

Councilwoman Crystal Mayfield agreed, saying the Library Board was already preparing to close the Medicine Bow location when it reduced the branch’s hours to one day a week. Councilman Trevor Strauch added that the Medicine Bow library was singled out as likely to close.

After the discussion, the Medicine Bow Town Council voted not to provide the library with any additional money.

Library funding was also discussed at Tuesday’s Hanna Town Council meeting. Mayor Charlie George said he was told the $15,000 PacifiCorp grant would keep the Hanna branch open until January 1st. However, Mayor George said that may no longer be the case.

During budget discussions, the Library Board suggested using a bookmobile to serve communities where branches have closed. At Tuesday’s Hanna Town Council meeting, Mayor George said the bookmobile is unlikely to reach the town during winter, further limiting library access for residents. The mayor said the governing body has two months to explore options to keep the local branch open.

Mayor George acknowledged that the Hanna library is not heavily used. He said it remains an essential service for some residents, adding that the town cannot continue to lose amenities.

According to the Carbon County Library Board, operating the Hanna branch costs $36,392 annually. At Tuesday’s meeting, Town Clerk Vivian Gonzales questioned how a library, open just two days a week, could be so expensive to run. Additionally, the town contributes $1,500 a year for gas and pays all water and sewer fees.

The Hanna Town Council took no action to fund the local library branch.

With further property tax cuts planned, including a possible repeal of all residential property taxes, the Carbon County Library System is expected to lose even more revenue next year.

The post Northern Carbon County Towns Discuss Putting More Funds Toward Libraries first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Friday, NOVEMBER 14, 2025 |

Photo – First page of variance application – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

A Saratoga resident asked the governing body to intervene after the Planning Commission denied his variance request.

Last year, Saratoga resident Paul Newman sought a variance for his property at 208 West Saratoga Avenue. A variance is permission from the local government that allows a property owner to bypass specific zoning regulations.

Newman purchased a parcel of land that was divided into one and a half lots containing a single mobile home. The property owner asked the Planning Commission to split the parcel into two smaller lots so he could place another mobile home on the property. The commission denied the request, stating that “lot lines should be changed to create conforming lots only.”

Newman raised the issue again during the November 5th Saratoga Town Council meeting. If his variance were approved, Newman said the property would be used for two long‑term rentals. With only one home, however, the plan is to host short‑term rentals. Newman asked the governing body to weigh in on the matter.

Newman said the town’s existing zoning ordinances only permit multiple trailer homes on a single lot if the property is designated as a mobile home park. With a lot and a half, Newman said his situation doesn’t fit that rule.

Mayor Chuck Davis instructed Newman to bring the matter back to the Planning Commission. The property owner said he didn’t want to prolong the process, adding that he believed the Town Council decides if a variance should be granted. Mayor Davis said the governing body can reject the Planning Commission’s recommendation but has not done so to this point.

Council members Jerry Fluty and Mike Cooley noted that Newman’s property has utility hookups for two trailers and has had two homes in the past.

Newman said Public Works Director Emery Penner suggested seeking a variance to divide the lots into two smaller parcels. However, the property owner reported that he was no longer satisfied with that solution.

Newman said he expected concerns about the spread of short‑term rentals to generate support for his plan to add two long‑term units. Mayor Davis agreed there is a need for traditional rentals in Saratoga. Newman added that if his variance is not approved, he will return to his original plan of offering short‑term rentals in his single trailer home.

Mayor Davis again recommended sending the issue to the Planning Commission. Newman noted the commission has already denied his variance request. The mayor said this time the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing. If the variance is denied again, the Town Council will make the final decision.

Mayor Davis said the governing body would not and should not vote until the Planning Commission reviewed the issue again. Newman said he had hoped the Council’s interest in additional long‑term rentals would expedite a decision. Since that did not occur, the property owner said he will do as the mayor asked.

The post Resident Seeks Property Variance After Commission Denies Request first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, NOVEMBER 13, 2025 |

Photo – Medicine Bow Marshal badge – Courtesy Town of Medicine Bow

In Medicine Bow, town officials expressed surprise this week at how much money the former Marshal’s Department spent before its closure.

In July, the Medicine Bow governing body voted to sell surplus guns, ammunition, and other equipment from the dissolved Marshal’s office to Koyoty Outdoor Sports in Saratoga.

During Monday’s town council meeting, Mayor Justin George announced that he had received an offer from Koyoty Outdoor Sports owner Warden Patzer. The store owner expressed interest in purchasing the town’s three 9mm Glock handguns, one .40-caliber Glock pistol, and a well-used shotgun. Mayor George said Patzer would not buy a suppressed 6.5 Creedmoor rifle outright, but agreed to take it on consignment.

The Medicine Bow Marshal’s Office was launched in 2019 using $1 million of impact assistance funding from nearby wind turbine construction projects. In early 2024 as the money was running out, the Medicine Bow Town Council voted to dissolve the department.

Closing the marshal’s office left the town with surplus police vehicles, firearms, and other law enforcement equipment.

At Monday’s town council meeting, Mayor George said that Koyoty Outdoor Sports had offered $6,000 for all the non-law enforcement specific pieces of firearms gear, such as holsters, belts, and ammunition.

Councilwoman Kristi Wickizer expressed disbelief at the amount of equipment purchased by the Medicine Bow Marshal’s Department during its five years of operation. Mayor George agreed, saying that former Marshal Roger Hawks and his deputies advocated for keeping the department open despite the lack of funding.

Mayor George said town hall staff compiled an itemized list of equipment from the former Marshal’s Department, including the prices paid by the town. The mayor cited a large stockpile of unused practice ammunition as an example of departmental waste.

Mayor George said the purchase of six tire deflation devices, called spike strips, was another example of waste by the law enforcement office.

According to documents provided by the town, each Stinger-brand spike strip cost $600. The strips armed with hollow spikes are deployed in the path of a fleeing vehicle to puncture its tires and bring the pursuit to a stop.

Items able to be reused, such as automated external defibrillators and emergency lights, were given to other departments. Mayor George said that Patzer, the owner of Koyoty Outdoor Sports declined to take any police-specific equipment. The mayor said he will attempt to sell those items to another law enforcement agency.

Mayor George said the Marshal’s Department purchased three combat-ready trauma bags with folding stretchers, at a cost of $220 each. The mayor said the kits were unnecessarily robust for the department’s needs.

Those items, along with three brand-new $120 bolt cutters, were transferred to the Medicine Bow Fire Department. An unused infrared camera system will be installed in the Community Center.

Still taken aback by the extent of waste uncovered in the Marshal’s Department, Councilwoman Wickizer questioned why no one had been held accountable. Mayor George said that current town policy states that department heads may spend up to $5,000 without prior approval from the Town Council. The mayor said many of the questionable purchases fell just below that spending threshold.

Councilwoman Wickizer said the unjustified purchases cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars. In return, the town will recover less than $8,000 from the Koyoty Sports sale.

While a portion of the supplies were meant for deputy training, the mayor said it was evident that no training had taken place.

Mayor George said the prices offered by Koyoty Outdoor Sports seemed reasonable and recommended accepting the deal, adding that all proceeds should be used to pay off outstanding debts from the Marshal’s department, including a radio service bill from Motorola totaling more than $17,000.

The Medicine Bow Town Council voted to sell the guns and unneeded equipment to the gun shop in Saratoga. Mayor George will offer the police-specific items to the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office.

The post Overspending by Now Closed Department Surprises Town Council first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Thursday, NOVEMBER 13, 2025 |

Photo – Deshann Schinkel – Courtesy National Senior Games Association

The director of the Wyoming Senior Olympics is working to bring the annual games to Rawlins.

During the November 4th Rawlins City Council meeting, Wyoming Senior Olympics Executive Director DeShann Schinkel updated the governing body on her organization’s activities. Schinkel, who also serves as the West Region Representative for the National Senior Games Association, began by explaining her history of service to the City of Rawlins, including her role in establishing the Rawlins Downtown Development Authority and Rochelle Ranch Golf Course.

Wyoming Senior Olympics is a nonprofit organization that hosts competitive and recreational sports for adults 50 and older, guided by the motto, “Live your life. Forget your age.” Schinkel explained that before 2020, the games were operated out of municipal recreation centers across the state. After the COVID pandemic, the organization was forced to relocate to Laramie, where Schinkel was hired as part-time executive director.

Speaking to the Rawlins City Council, Schinkel said her heart is in recreation and coaching. As executive director of the Wyoming Senior Olympics, she now has the opportunity to coach senior citizens.

Schinkel highlighted several of Wyoming’s better-known senior athletes.

Schinkel said the mission of the Wyoming Senior Olympics is to inspire adults to lead active, connected lives. To meet that goal, the Executive Director said her organization offers a wide range of summer and winter sports for residents 50 and older.

Schinkel said the Wyoming Senior Olympics offers more than just sports. The organization provides older residents a place to gather and connect.

Schinkel said the organization keeps growing, with participation rising from roughly 400 athletes per event in 2018 to nearly 1,000 today.

This year, the Wyoming Senior Olympics rolled out the Sustained Athlete Fitness Exam, or SAFE, a free personalized fitness program, and added competitions for athletes 35 and up. Schinkel said the younger athletes are enjoying the new offerings.

Having lived in Rawlins for most of her life, Schinkel said she is working to bring the Senior Olympics to her hometown, adding that the games will bring an economic boost to the city.

Schinkel said that in 2026, the Wyoming Senior Olympics will bring a series of competitions to Rawlins, including golf and shooting events. Additionally, the National Senior Games Association will give participants a chance to qualify for the 2027 Games in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In 2027, the National Senior Games Association will host two qualifying events across Wyoming, one in Cheyenne and the other in Casper, with Rawlins falling under the jurisdiction of the Casper event.

Schinkel said she is taking steps to bring the 2031 National Senior Games to Wyoming, a first for the organization. While several cities are under consideration, Schinkel said Casper appears to be the most prepared to host the nationwide tournament.

Schinkel said the city’s existing sports facilities, along with its location on Interstate 80, make Rawlins an ideal site for future Wyoming Senior Olympic games.

The post Director of Senior Sports Organization Works to Bring Games to Rawlins first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 |

Photo – Proposed aquatic center – Courtesy Nick Haderlie

In Saratoga, after a proposed aquatic center proved unfeasible, its proponent, Nick Haderlie, is now advocating for a new gymnasium to be built in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club in Saratoga.

In 2022, local attorney Nick Haderlie presented a plan to construct a large-scale, indoor, water sports facility in the Platte Valley town. After conducting a feasibility study, Haderlie determined that the complex would cost between $13 million and $15 million to build, with annual operating expenses of approximately $800,000.

Speaking at the November 4th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Haderlie said that after receiving the estimated cost, he was prepared to abandon the aquatic center idea. However, Silver Spur Ranch owner John Malone pledged 1/3 of the total project cost. With that financial commitment, Haderlie said he resumed fundraising and came close to meeting the full funding goal. The Saratoga attorney emphasized that he was not ready to give up.

Haderlie said his revised plan involved connecting the facility to the Saratoga Middle High School. Although school board members expressed enthusiasm, the proposal ultimately failed due to state regulations.

Haderlie said that at the time, a Saratoga resident suggested he partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming to build a recreation center that would provide afterschool programming for children. After meeting with representatives from the organization, Haderlie said he realized the proposed facility could not realistically include a pool.

Haderlie said the new design, without a pool, involves building two separate gymnasiums. The Saratoga attorney said one half of the recreation center would be exclusively used by the Boys and Girls Club while the other would be available for Carbon County School District Number Two.

Haderlie said under the current arrangement, the school district receives scheduling priority at the Platte Valley Recreation Center, requiring the town to plan its events around the school calendar. The proposed $15 million Boys and Girls Club facility would eliminate that constraint.

Haderlie said he isn’t trying to change the character of Saratoga. Instead, he is simply attempting to address a lack of after-school activities for the town’s youth.

Haderlie said he needs written endorsement from the governing body to proceed with the project. The attorney stated he will present a resolution at the November 19th Saratoga Town Council meeting, requesting an official pledge of support.

Haderlie explained that donors are more likely to give when the town fully endorses the project.

Mayor Chuck Davis said he will present Haderlie’s resolution to the governing body at the next Saratoga Town Council meeting.

The post Try for New Gymnasium as Aquatic Center Not Feasible first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 |

Photo – Rawlins’ sign that was once posted off the interstate – Bigfoot99 file photo

Rawlins officials are considering using an annual natural gas reimbursement to upgrade the city’s entrance signs.

During the November 4th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells opened the floor to a discussion on how to use this year’s $10,068 Wyoming Community Gas grant.

Wyoming Community Gas is a nonprofit natural gas supplier that reinvests a portion of its earnings into local communities to support improvement projects.

In previous years, the City of Rawlins used the gas grant to construct a dog park, improve the VFW baseball fields, and, most recently, purchase new curtains for the cemetery pavilion.

At the November 4th meeting, Interim City Manager Matthew Hall said he consulted with city staff on how best to use the gas grant. After discussing strategies to attract motorists off Interstate 80 with City Council members, Hall suggested using the funds to upgrade the city’s entrance signs.

Hall explained that the gateway sign on the city’s east side needed the most work and was, in his opinion, the best place to use the gas grant money.

Public Works Director Cody Dill said Community Development Director Lou Lascano is already working on new entrance sign designs. Using those plans, Dill said can make the east gateway sign much more visually appealing with added flowers and illumination.

With the Wyoming Community Gas grant, Dill said he could draw much more attention to the east gateway sign. Councilman Steve Sanger said he would like all entrance signs to be illuminated and suggested installing a solar lighting system on each one. The Public Works Director offered to investigate solar lighting options but also requested using a portion of the Wyoming Community Gas grant to enhance the landscaping around the east side sign.

Dill also suggested building a walking path around the sign to encourage pedestrian traffic.

Councilman Derek Elliott recommended against planting non-native species around the gateway sign due to the added maintenance requirements. Instead, Elliott suggested using drought-resistant plants or artistic stonework.

Councilman Bruce Seilaff agreed that flowers would be difficult to maintain due to the local climate. Councilman Seilaff recommended planting trees behind the sign, adding that they will attract more attention than flowers.

Mayor Wells suggested consulting with University of Wyoming Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator Abby Perry about region-appropriate plant life. Public Works Director Dill agreed, noting that the plants Perry recommended for the City Hall grounds are thriving with minimal maintenance from city staff. Dill said he is considering the same types of plants for the east gateway sign.

Councilwoman Tonya Lewman suggested installing picnic benches near the sign. Public Works Director Dill said a future Wyoming Community Gas grant could be used to pay for that project. Councilwoman Lewman also suggested using a future gas grant to install a Rawlins-specific mural or wrap on the proposed VFW Baseball Field concession stand.

The discussion prompted Councilman Elliott to ask if the city should use the Wyoming Community Gas grant to improve the VFW baseball fields, as it did two years ago. Councilwoman Lewman explained that the natural gas provider prefers the funds be used for a physical item, such as the gateway sign, rather than something intangible.

The matter will be decided at the next Rawlins City Council meeting on November 18th. The governing body has until mid-December to submit its project proposal to Wyoming Community Gas, with grant funds expected to be delivered in May.

The post City Council Discusses Uses for Community Gas Grant first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 |

Photo – Road top on Edinburgh Street – Bigfoot99 file photo

The City of Rawlins, this week, has finalized the contract to begin the Edinburgh Street project.

On Monday, the city council held a special meeting to sign the contract with Lewis and Lewis, the Rock Springs-based contractor selected for the Edinburgh Street project. Councilman Steve Sanger began by moving to approve the $7,903,100 road repair contract. The document apparently included several clerical errors that needed to be corrected.

A scrivener’s error is a minor mistake in a legal or official document, typically made during transcription, typing, or formatting.

City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave said that, in addition to some misnumbered paragraphs, the contract listed the wrong dollar amount for liquidated damages. Attorney Maberry-Nave said liquidated damages are daily fees intended to ensure the project is completed on time. The original contract, prepared by WWC Engineering, incorrectly stated the fee as $1,500 per day instead of the agreed-upon $2,500.

The contract gives Lewis and Lewis 250 working days, or until next July, to remove and replace 10,500 square yards of asphalt on Edinburgh Street, from Dunphail to Murray, install 3,000 feet of new water lines, and 2,900 feet of storm sewer pipes. However, unlike the contractor’s agreement with the Town of Saratoga, the City of Rawlins is allowing Lewis and Lewis to shut the project down for the winter.

In 2022, Lewis and Lewis was hired to complete a water and sewer replacement project on Spring Avenue in Saratoga. Multiple delays, including groundwater issues and difficulty procuring equipment, extended the project nearly seven months past the original October 31st deadline. Completion did not occur until May of 2023, resulting in more than $300,000 in liquidated damages. The Town of Saratoga ultimately returned most of the fines to the Rock Springs contractor, minus costs incurred by the town during the unexpected shutdown over winter.

At the special city council meeting in Rawlins, Councilman Bruce Seilaff asked if the impending winter might delay the project.

Public Works Director Cody Dill said Lewis and Lewis are not concerned about frozen ground. Dill added that city crews frequently dig up broken water lines in the area without additional difficulty.

The Public Works Director said he will discuss the impact ground frost may have on the project when he meets with Lewis and Lewis representatives next week.

Attorney Maberry-Nave said the agreement includes a provision granting the contractor five additional days beyond the expected completion date for every five hours lost to adverse weather, adding that the governing body can revisit the clause in the future if necessary.

The city council voted to sign the Edinburgh Street project contract with Lewis and Lewis. The city has pledged to contribute $1 million of impact assistance funding toward the project, with the rest of the money coming from the Specific Purpose 6th Penny Tax.

The post City of Rawlins Signs Contract to Begin Edinburgh Street Project first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 |

Photo – Senator John Barrasso – Bigfoot99 file photo

In the United States Senate on Monday, the Majority Whip, Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, said government is on the path to reopening while warning of an upcoming battle with Democrats over Obamacare.

At the same time, Congressional Democrats were outraged and called for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to be removed from his leadership position.

After 40 days of stalemate, eight Senate Democrats voted to advance the bill Sunday night. None of the eight are up for reelection in 2026. So, Schumer, who cast a “no” vote, is taking heat from his party.

Standing on the floor Monday, Senator Barrasso said moving the bill forward was the right thing to do.

Democrat Senators Dick Durbin, Jacky Rosen, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan and Tim Kaine, along with independent Senator Angus King, voted to advance the measure on Sunday.

The House could take up the spending compromise later this week.

The bill, as passed, also fully funds food assistance. SNAP, and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) will receive their full appropriations. Senator Barrasso celebrated the outcome.

Senate Democrats had repeatedly voted against the stopgap bill, arguing that it did not address the Affordable Care Act subsidies, also known as Obamacare, that were set to expire at the end of the year.

Senator Barrasso leaned into the upcoming fight over Obamacare.

Health insurers have enjoyed a free ride since Obamacare became law. Their stocks are up more than 1,000 percent since Obamacare passed, and they now receive roughly a trillion dollars per year in federal subsidies.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he supports the clean Continuing Resolution (CR) that advanced in the Senate Sunday night.

Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed a funding package to end the record-breaking shutdown, putting the federal government on a path to reopening in coming days.

It was a sure sign that the longest-ever funding crisis, which has wrought havoc and pain for millions of Americans for more than a month, is coming to an end.

The post Wyoming Senator Says Government is on a Path to Reopening Soon first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 |

Photo – Search and Rescue banner – Courtesy Carbon County Sheriff’s Office

County Commissioners have agreed to support a grant request to purchase portable internet equipment for the Sheriff’s Department.

During the November 4th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff Alex Bakken requested a letter of support for a grant application through the Wyoming Community Foundation’s Intertie Investment Program to purchase six Starlink systems for Carbon County Search and Rescue. Sheriff Bakken explained that the idea was well received at the previous night’s biannual search and rescue meeting, particularly by volunteers who participated in the August rescue of an injured hiker from the Platte River Wilderness Area.

Starlink is a satellite-based internet service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. For a monthly fee, Starlink provides high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is limited or unavailable.

Sheriff Bakken explained that Starlink will help search and rescue volunteers communicate more reliably across the county. The sheriff added that the system can also extend the range of their handheld radios.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked what would happen if the Wyoming Community Foundation denies the grant application. Citing the system’s low cost, Sheriff Bakken said he would request to purchase the Starlink arrays in the next fiscal year, beginning July 1st.

The Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed to offer a letter of support for Sheriff Bakken’s Wyoming Community Foundation’s Intertie Investment Program grant application to purchase six portable Starlink antennas and batteries.

The post Sheriff Requests Letter to Support Grant Application first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 |

Photo – Hobo Hot Springs – Courtesy Town of Saratoga

The Platte Valley Arts Council is planning to install a history-themed mural at the Hobo Hot Pools.

July 4th, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To commemorate the occasion, Governor Mark Gordon established the Wyoming Semi Quincentennial Planning Task Force to distribute funding to counties, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations for their individual 250th anniversary celebration events.

During the November 5th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Platte Valley Arts Council Board President Stacy Crimmins announced that her organization plans to apply for a grant through the state’s 250 Task Force. Crimmins said the funding would be used to commission a mural at the Hobo Hot Springs.

Arts Council President Crimmins asked the governing body to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing a mural to be placed at the hot pools. Under the terms of the agreement, Crimmins said the Arts Council would retain ownership of the mural, with no cost to the town.

Crimmins said she is asking the State’s 250 Task Force for a $22,500 grant. If approved, the money will be used to pay an artist and cover of cost of marketing, signage, and the installation of the piece. Once the town approves the memorandum of understanding, the Platte Valley Arts Council will begin soliciting artists for the hot springs’ mural, which is planned to be completed in time for the 250th anniversary.

Crimmins added that the scope of the project may change depending on the cost of the selected artist.

Reading from the memorandum of understanding, the Arts Council President explained that the mural will reflect America’s 250 themes, linking Wyoming’s culture to state and national celebrations of the country’s 250th birthday. The agreement also states that the three-dimensional metal mural will be installed on the concrete wall separating the town’s public swimming pool from the hot springs.

Assuming the grant is approved, Crimmins said the Arts Council will pay to install and maintain the mural if the town agrees to the conditions of the memorandum of understanding. For one, the town must obtain the Arts Council’s permission to remove or relocate the mural. Additionally, an Arts Council representative must be granted access to perform maintenance and repairs at the organization’s discretion.

Crimmins said all routine maintenance and care of the mural shall be the responsibility of the Arts Council.

Councilman Jerry Fluty noted that painted materials tend to deteriorate quickly when exposed to steam from the hot pools. Crimmins responded that the mural is not expected to be painted. Instead, the installation will be entirely metal, allowing steam and airborne minerals to give the piece a weathered appearance.

Crimmins added that the final design will be up to the chosen artist.

Councilman Jerry Fluty expressed concern that the memorandum of understanding prevents the town from removing the mural. The Councilman asked what would happen if the town determined that the piece needed to be taken down, but the Arts Council disagreed. Crimmins said the agreement can be ended if the mural begins to deteriorate, adding that other murals around Saratoga are showing signs of wear earlier than expected.

Town Clerk Jennifer Anderson stated that the Hobo Hot Springs is a popular attraction and that mural upkeep may disrupt its use. Crimmins said she will coordinate with Public Works Director Emery Penner to schedule any work on the piece in a way that avoids the need to close the hot pools.

Councilman Bub Barkhurst raised questions about vandalism, noting that the hot pools are always assessable by the public. Crimmins said the Arts Council carries insurance on every piece. However, vandalism has not been an issue with any of the organization’s other works, suggesting that people treat art differently than typical public spaces.

Crimmins said a signed memorandum of understanding with the town will allow her to apply for a 250th anniversary grant through the state.

The governing body expressed support for the proposed mural at the Hobo Hot Springs. Mayor Chuck Davis stated that Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip must review the memorandum of understanding prior to his signature. The Town Council agreed to authorize Mayor Davis to sign the agreement pending legal review.

The post Hot Pools May See History Themed Art in the Future first appeared on Bigfoot 99 Radio.