Airport name change is 1 step closer

The Sweetwater County Commission agrees that Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport is a good name to the rename airport.

During the Sweetwater County Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, the Commissioners voted unanimously to support the airports proposed name change from Rock Springs/Sweetwater County Airport to Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport.

Commission chairman Reid West informed the other Commissioners that at the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport Joint Powers Board meeting, the board approved moving forward with the name change.

During a previous meeting, airport manager Devon Brubaker addressed the Commissioners about changing the airport’s name to Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport. Brubaker said the proposed name change is to help market the airport better.

“Currently, we sound very municipal. We sound very small. We do not sound regional. We do not sound like we have as big of an impact as we do,” Brubaker said at a previous meeting.

Even though the Commissioners completely support the name change, the are encouraging the airport to make the change permanent instead of leaving a different name for doing business as.

“I don’t think it’s as big a deal to change the whole name as presented,” deputy county attorney James Schermetzler said.

He said they can simply change the name by amending the joint powers board agreement. Schermetzler said just changing the name and then having another name for doing business as would just be too confusing.

“I think the name change is a good idea,” Commissioner Wally Johnson said. “If they want to change the name, then change the name.”

Commissioner John Kolb said he has always been a supporter of the permanent name change and if they are worried about the cost, then the county can help out.

West said the county’s attorney and the city of Rock Springs’ attorney could work through the details. As far as the seats on the joint powers board, they will not change. There will still be so many county seats and so many Rock Springs seats.

Johnson said he spoke with other counties who use the airport and they are fine with not having any seats on the board, they just want to use the airport.

Commissioner Randy Wendling said he is in favor of the permanent name change and he thinks the airport board made the decision for the name to by doing business as, instead of changing everything over because of the cost. Wendling said he heard a name change like this could cost thousands of dollars. He said the county could help out with those costs if a permanent name change is what they really want.

Commissioner Don Van Matre, who is the liason to the airport board, also agreed that a permanent name change would be a better option than having a different doing business as name.

Kolb wanted to make it clear they are supporting the airport because the airport asked for their support. They are not telling the airport what to do.