A agreement to fund the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition between Green River, Sweetwater County and Rock Springs was approved by the Green River City Council Tuesday evening, committing the city to pay $30,000 into the organization.
The coalition aims to bring businesses to the county, creating more jobs and revenue for the three entities. While the initiative was approved, it wasn’t done so unanimously. Councilman Robert Berg voted against the agreement.
“I’m all for economic development,” Berg told the Council.
Berg’s concern is with how equitable the entities funding the organization pay it. Each agrees to pay $30,000 into SEDC, but Berg believes Rock Springs, which he argues pays approximately $1.28 per resident, gets a better value than Green River, which pays approximately $2.49 per resident.
“That’s the problem I have,” he said.
Other Council representatives disagree with Berg’s assessment. Mayor Pete Rust believes the distribution is fair for all three, as the organization’s goals are not completely tied to generating sales tax, which would favor Rock Springs more due to its larger population. Rust said it’s fair to pay a third of the total cost and expect a third of the benefits SEDC provides. With an organization solely based on generating sales tax, he said a funding formula based on population would make sense, but thinks economic development benefits the entire county, not just an individual city.
Rust said continued work on the Middle Baxter industrial site near the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport could result in the area being worth millions or billions of dollars, which will benefit everyone. While Rock Springs would see increased commercial development if the Baxter project does take off, he said Green River would continue to be the best residential community in the county.
“We got what we got and we’re happy with that,” he said.
In previous years, Rock Springs funded SEDC more than the other two, paying $35,000 while Green River and the county funded $20,000. Regardless of the current funding amount, City Administrator Reed Clevenger says the organization is underfunded if it’s to be effective in its mission. Clevenger said one of the early topics its new board will contend with will involve funding and if the organization could ultimately become self sufficient.
Other business
* The Council approved an amendment to Clevenger’s contract with the city. The amendment adds language to the salary section, stating the city administrator will receive the same annual salary increases approved by the Council as part of the budget approved for all full-time employees. The amendment was retroactively dated to go into effect July 1.
* Clevenger said the city is aware of mosquitoes becoming a nuisance. He said the city has doubled up on its fogging after mechanical issues with the machines were fixed.
* The Council approved an agreement with the Muley Fanatics Foundation to sponsor its Mansface Mountain Music Festival for $2,500. Councilman Gary Killpack said he’s happy the city will support the organization in this way, changing what was originally a request to fund the organization’s event to a sponsorship agreement.
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