The Sweetwater County Events Complex needs improvements and would like sixth-penny projects sales tax to pay for the estimated $24 million is would cost to complete them.
Events Complex Director Larry Lloyd addressed the Sweetwater County Commission with his request for a portion of the sixth-penny tax. He said he is presenting the county with a list of what he and the complex board believes should be funded. The list included three items: the expansion and renovation of the exhibit hall for an estimated $6.78 million, the indoor arena building renovation and new indoor arena area for an estimated $16.17 million, and a water system upgrade for an estimated $1.13 million. This adds up to about $24.08 million.
"I'm not here to talk about issues that don't pertain to quality of life," he said.
Lloyd elaborated on the expansion of the exhibit hall. The front of the current facility would expand out to meet the current parking lot. This would allow for an indoor coat-check and ticket area. It would also allow residents and visitors the opportunity to stand inside while waiting to enter an event instead of waiting outside in the Wyoming elements. The back of the hall would be expanded 50 feet. This would allow more spaces to be rented out, which is something the complex has had a hard time doing. He said they have more requests than they can fulfill. The expansions would create an additional 8,000 feet.
He said they would like to build an indoor arena east of the current indoor arena, while the current indoor arena would undergo renovations.
As for the water system, during the complex's peak of the season, they are at capacity. This improvement, which includes an additional water line, would allow the complex to meet current and future water needs.
"We are right on the verge of running out of water capacity," Lloyd said.
The events complex hosts numerous big events, including the National High School Finals Rodeo. These events bring money into the community and having the ability to host more events would bring in even more money.
"This is really about being a part of economic growth for Sweetwater County," he said. "In order to continue what we're doing, we need to make improvements."
Chairman Wally Johnson said he's always supported the events complex and it's second to the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in his opinion, however, the Commission wants to keep the requested sixth-penny sales tax amount request around $80 million to $100,000 million.
"You're asking for one third of that," Johnson said.
"It's going to be difficult for us to whittle it down," Johnson said about getting the number around that $80 to $100 million mark.
Johnson said he wasn't questioning what Lloyd was asking for.
Commissioner Roy Lloyd said he was worried that if too many projects and too big of a number is on that ballot request, then none of them will pass.
"We need to get it into an area where we think it will pass," Roy Lloyd said.
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