FGD funding cut suggested

Green River Councilman Ted Barney suggested defunding a $24,000 budget request from the Flaming Gorge Days Committee because of their alleged refusal to waive booth fees for the city’s Urban Renewal Agency.

Prior to the official Council meeting, Council members discussed funding requests from community groups during a budget workshop. Barney made his suggestion, saying he wasn’t happy with the committee because of its decision.

Saying he supports Flaming Gorge Days and realizes the importance the event has to Green River’s economy, however he believes the various groups in Green River need to display civic pride and cooperation between one another.

“I don’t know how I feel about (a) $24,000 (request) from the Flaming Gorge Days Committee,” Barney said. “They won’t even give us a booth.”

Barney said it doesn’t make sense to him for the committee to ask for money from the city, then turn down a city request for free booth space. Other council representatives declined to follow through with Barney’s suggestion, leaving the $24,000 request in the city’s proposed budget.

Later in the evening, Councilman Gary Killpack suggested the city build a permanent stage near Stratton-Meyers Park as a performance space for anyone, including Flaming Gorge Days. He said the committee spends approximately $35,000 a year on a portable stage for its concerts. The stage would allow the committee to focus funding in other areas. Killpack suggested money allocated to the U.P. Depot renovation project be moved to build a stage.

“Flaming Gorge Days really is the signature event of Green River, Wyoming,” Killpack said. “It’s brought thousands of thousands of thousands of dollars to the community.”

Flaming Gorge Days has been the subject of discussion with both the city council and Sweetwater County commissioners in recent months. The long running event has experienced difficulties raising money to support itself, resulting in committee members seeking approximately $100,000 to carry on the event for the next two years.