Formation of board questioned

Despite a request, no names were put forward to represent the county on a county-wide economic board.

The Sweetwater County Commissioners aren’t quite sure what the intentions are to move the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition office out of the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and form a board to oversee the SEDC.

Currently, the SEDC is financed through three entities, Rock Springs, Green River and Sweetwater County.

During the Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, Commissioner Randy Wendling told the board he was asked if the Commissioners would join in the formation of a SEDC board, which would include two members from Green River, two from Rock Springs and three from Sweetwater County.

The commissioners were asked to provide these names by Friday, however, they have several questions they would like answered before they are even in favor of the formation of such a board.

“I truly believe economic development is important, but what should that partnership look like,” Wendling said.

Chairman Wally Johnson wanted to know if the cities of Rock Springs and Green River supported the formation of this board.

“Why do they want to move it out of the chamber,” Johnson asked.

He reminded the Commissioners that Sweetwater County did have an economic development association overseen by a board called the Sweetwater Economic Development Association. He said there was a lack of support for that organization and it ceased to exist.

“It sounds like that’s what we’re going back to,” Johnson said. “What’s driving this?”

Wendling said he thinks the new chamber director believes SEDC would move out of the chamber and into its own and become a stand-alone agency.

Commissioner Roy Lloyd questioned the timing of the whole thing. He said didn’t understand why there is such a hurry to appoint members to a board that would be responsible for bringing economic development opportunities to the county. He said more time would be needed to carefully decide who to put on that board if the Commission wants to go that route. Lloyd said he would also need to see a plan of what this board would do, what’s it objectives and goals would be.

Without any of these questions answered, the board Commissioners agreed not to do anything until they have more information.