(Editor’s note: This letter was sent to the Green River City Council, but the author also wanted it published in The Green River Star.)
Dear Mayor Rust and Green River City Council Members,
I would like to offer a few comments in regard to the proposed 6th penny special purpose tax and Green River’s list of suggested projects.
I am a senior citizen, a resident of Green River for most of the past 50 years. I have a 5oth high school class reunion coming up in two years and I’m really dreading the expected negative comments on the downslide of Green River from visiting classmates. I’ve remained here as our town has shrunk from a vibrant community with choices in local shopping to a derogatorily termed “bedroom community,” a term I take to denote a populace that’s given up on being anything else.
There are some glaring instances of where we’ve gone badly wrong: failing to develop a vision for old Lincoln High School that would have pulled tourists off the Interstate, and allowing the highway department to funnel Green River traffic from the Gorge and all housing off Uinta Drive directly over to Walmart being just two that come to mind.
I’m as guilty as anyone for not speaking up. But this time I would like to say I agree with Mr. Clevenger and Councilperson Maes that we should “go for it,” “shoot for the moon,” and ask for what we need. I live near the sewer containment ponds, and when that aging equipment falters the stench is enough to choke off breath and bring tears to the eyes. So a new sewage system would be my first priority. Second would be developing the depot. Just letting the shell sit there is a real shame. Last year’s tours of the site by the county museum director showed people’s interest in and connection to the old building. A visit to the refurbished Cheyenne depot offers just one version of how a single building can jumpstart the revitalization of a downtown.
To date, I haven’t seen anyone mention the fact that county residents don’t pay the total of a sixth penny tax. Every dollar excluding food spent at local stores is taxed, and tourists aren’t exempt. Most of the Rock Springs mall businesses as well as Walmart, Home Depot, and the big truck stops send their profits out of state. A penny added to each dollar spent in those stores would stay right here. In addition to the decline of coal as a tax base, I recently read that natural gas could be completely replaced by renewables in 15 years, further shrinking any revenue the state might share with local governments. Sweetwater county government should really spend some study money on finding value-added industries such as turning waste plastic into railroad ties instead of focusing almost exclusively on supporting mineral extraction, but that’s another topic. The important thing to ask here is, as state contributions to the county and local communities declines, what will we to do to help ourselves?
It seems the modern tendency, instead of thinking big and looking for solutions, is to contract our horizons, let fear rule, and tuck in our heads like turtles. I think it’s time to think big about Green River. And as a final point, I would like to remind everyone that Green River residents supported the lovely new Rock Springs Senior Center and Early Childhood Center in a previous sixth penny vote, as well as county projects such as updates to the hospital. I would hope that with a solid accompanying informational drive, Green River’s goodwill would be returned by county voters as we boldly step up to meet the future.
Sincerely,
Christine Alethea Williams
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