Sublette County residents can expect more activities at the Sublette County Fairgrounds after the county commissioners’ approval of a master construction plan to upgrade the facility during their Tuesday, July 21 meeting.

The plan includes the construction of a new 80,000 square-foot livestock barn that will have a lighting and sound system, allowing the building to host many different activities throughout the year.

The master plan also includes moving the outside arena between the ag center and the new livestock barn. Tim Schenk from GSG Architecture located in Casper said this would create a main street atmosphere, keeping the visitors within the core area.

In addition, there will also be a new gravel parking area behind fairground buildings and new water and sewer lines around the entire site.

The Sublette County fairgrounds were going to be constructed in three different phases, involving three master plans; however, due to the present economy, work will be completed from the current approved master plan before the county decides if more work needs to done.

Construction begins this fall and the project is planned for completion in time for next year’s county fair.

Schenk said the list of ideas for uses inside the new livestock barn can go on and on. It could be used for car shows, concerts, cattle sales, ice shows and even circus performances.

He said Casper has a similar facility that is used for an indoor soccer program and Billings, Mont., uses its livestock barn for bowling tournaments.

Schenk said people only have to use a little imagination when it comes to thinking of activities that can take place inside the new livestock barn.

“I think once the (new) building is completed (people) will be amazed at the things that will come into the community,” Schenk said.



In other county news:

• The commissioners decided not to take over funding construction for Skyline Drive, the road going to the White Pine Ski Resort from the forest service.

There were three bids for construction and maintenance costs for the road all in the $8.5 million range. The Forest Service offered to fund $1.4 million, but the commissioners said that wasn’t enough.

• An idea for public transportation throughout Sublette County was proposed during the meeting. Alan Blackburn with county public transportation said offering this type of service would benefit the public because the county has many rural areas.

In a letter Blackburn presented to the commissioners, he requested the county commit roughly $5,000 toward the cost of writing an application for a Needs Assessment Grant to determine community support for public transportation.

Blackburn said public transportation could also include taking people to Rock Springs and Jackson. He said the proposed needs assessment could be funded from grant money. The commissioners said they needed more information before making a decision on the matter.

• The next commissioner meeting is scheduled



For the complete article see the 07-28-2009 issue.

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