Sue Blakey from the Dancing Bear Folk Art Center in Wyoming sent this update on the Wyoming Big Horn Basin Nature and Discovery Center:
House Bill 239 asked for $15 million to help build the first phase of the facility in Hot Springs State Park. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Lorraine Quarberg (Thermopolis), Rep. Debbie Hammons (Worland); Senators Hank Coe, Gerald Geis & Ray Peterson.
On Jan. 30, Thermopolis and Worland residents appeared before the House Committee on Minerals, Business & Economic Development. Speaking in behalf of the bill was Milward Simpson, director, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources; Diane Shober, director, Wyoming Travel & Tourism; Sara Needles, director, cultural resources, Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources. Also speaking were Frank Manning, Hot Springs County Commissioner; Toni Casciato, Thermopolis Town Council; and Sue Blakey, Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation.
The Committee passed the bill 8 to 1 in favor and left the funding intact. On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the bill was read in the House Appropriations Committee. It passed 7 to 1 but the funding was cut to $100,000. Unfortunately in re-wording it, the bill ended up stating that $1 million must be raised before the state provides $100,000. This did not seem to be the intent of the committee, however; and Rep. Quarberg has assured us that she will ask for amendment.
From here, the bill goes to the House floor, and if approved, moves on to the Senate, where it goes through the same process.
Our thanks to all those who have made the drive to Cheyenne to attend. From Thermopolis: Kevin Skates, Hot Springs State Park superintendent; Dr. Guy & Beth Drake; Jacque Michel, CPA; Kyle Gillette, Schutz-Foss Architects (Gillette); Jackie Manning; Bev & Dave Koerwitz. From Worland: Eric Decker, Big Horn Basin Resource Conservation & Development Council; Mark and April Whitlock, also representing the Council.
You can follow the bill’s progress on http://legisweb.state.wy.us/
