Laramie County Commissioner Meeting Summaries: July - September 2026

Several years ago, the Laramie County Commissioners began live-streaming their meetings and making previous meetings available for public viewing. Everyone should take advantage of this valuable service and stay informed about decisions that affect the county’s growth and direction. Laramie County - Calendar (legistar.com) I will post a brief synopsis of the bi-monthly Commissioner meetings on my Facebook page, including my comments, and welcome community input and dialogue. For complete details, visit the County Commissioner’s website.

August 4 Laramie County Commissioners Meeting

Tuesday’s meeting was fairly straightforward through much of the agenda. Still, the final item brought a longer and, at times, difficult discussion about growth, workforce housing, property rights, and the effect development can have on established neighborhoods.

On the road and infrastructure side, we approved an additional $189,433.25 to double chip-seal Beckle Road. The County requested this change to help the road better handle additional traffic in the area.

We also approved $236,908.35 to replace the outdated control panel and monitoring system for the Archer Complex water tower. It is one of those behind-the-scenes improvements that most people may never see, but it will help Public Works monitor the system and catch problems more effectively.

The consent agenda included continued animal shelter services, annual financial audit work, and several community grants. One of the larger items was a $901,640 Wyoming Department of Health grant supporting local tobacco, substance misuse, and suicide prevention efforts through June 2028.

On land use, the Bit-O-Wyo Ranch and Events site plan was postponed until the September 1 meeting while remaining agency comments are worked through. No final decision was made.

We also approved the Billy O Gartside Reserve small subdivision, dividing approximately 35 acres into five tracts while keeping the existing residence. No one spoke during that public hearing.

The final item, and the one that brought the most discussion, was the Aspen Valley Subdivision. The property was previously approved for 174 manufactured-home lots. The requested zoning change allows campground use, with a proposed plan for 328 RV spaces intended primarily as temporary workforce housing.

Several nearby residents spoke against the change and raised concerns about traffic, drainage and flooding, neighborhood density, children walking to school, emergency services, water and sewer capacity, and the overall effect on their homes. I appreciate them coming forward. When a decision affects the place someone has called home for many years, those concerns deserve to be heard and taken seriously.

Commissioner Malm told residents that he had driven through the area and looked at the property. Commissioner Zwonitzer also walked through information contained in the agenda packet showing that the proposal had been reviewed by the Sheriff’s Office, County Fire Warden, fire district, South Cheyenne Water and Sewer District, Public Works, County engineers, WYDOT, and other agencies.

The Sheriff’s Office indicated it had no concerns with the proposed plan, and South Cheyenne Water and Sewer has agreed to serve the development. Other reviewers identified requirements involving emergency access, fire-water availability, road design, drainage, and an updated traffic study. Those requirements are not being waived and must be addressed as the project moves into the site-plan process.

After listening to the residents, reviewing the information, and considering the County’s adopted regulations, I voted in favor of the zoning change. Planning staff determined that the application met the required criteria, and the Planning Commission had previously recommended approval by a 5-0 vote.

I also believe we have to be realistic about the need for workforce housing. Workers are already coming for approved projects, even if we do not approve another major project. Providing housing intended for those workers may help reduce some of the pressure on existing rentals used by local families. Property rights also matter, and we have a responsibility to apply our regulations fairly and consistently.

I understand that my vote will not erase the concerns of the people living nearby. It is important to be clear, however, that this was a zoning decision, not final approval of a site plan. All agency review comments must be addressed before a site-plan application is submitted, and a privacy fence along the neighboring property is also required.

Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, or followed the meeting. I know we will not always agree on every decision, but I will continue doing my homework, asking questions, listening to all sides, and keeping you informed.

July 21 Laramie County Commissioners Meeting

Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Board of County Commissioners meeting included several decisions I wanted to share with you.

The Board approved Stage 1 Fire Restrictions based on the recommendation of our County Fire Warden and local fire chiefs. Earlier this summer, those same fire professionals recommended lifting the restrictions based on conditions at that time. This week, they advised that conditions once again warranted Stage 1 restrictions, and we approved their request. As commissioners, we rely on the expertise of the professionals responsible for evaluating risks like these, ask questions, review the information, and make the best decision we can based on the facts before us.

We also discussed changes to the appeals process for Planning Commission decisions. I support giving citizens the opportunity, when allowed by law, to request a review by the Board of County Commissioners before having to pursue action through District Court. Under the proposed process, a request for review would be submitted to the Laramie County Clerk’s Office within 10 days of the Planning Commission’s decision, allowing the Board to consider the matter at a public meeting. I believe local issues deserve the opportunity to be heard at the local level.

The Board also approved the Lucky Star Ranch subdivision following staff review, a public hearing, and discussion. Every application is evaluated using the same adopted regulations and the facts presented to ensure a fair and consistent process.

We also continued discussions on several planning, infrastructure, and county business items that help keep county services moving forward.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting, shared comments, or followed along. Your questions, input, and involvement help make better decisions for Laramie County, and I always appreciate hearing from you.

For complete details, visit the County Commissioners’ website.

July 7 Laramie County Commissioners Meeting

I was out of town on vacation with my family during the July 7 commissioners' meeting. However, to keep the public updated on the work that took place, I carefully reviewed the county's official meeting records and supporting materials. This summary is based on those official documents to ensure its accuracy and completeness.

The commissioners approved $149,068 in state funding to continue providing assistance and support to victims of crime in Laramie County. This funding supports critical services, including counseling, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, and other resources that help victims recover and navigate the aftermath of a crime.

The board also approved repairs at the Shooting Sports Complex and Historic Courthouse, and it approved a design agreement for planned renovations to the existing Laramie County Coroner’s Office. The $131,256 agreement covers architectural and design work and does not include future construction costs.

In other project updates, the board approved additional engineering work for the voter-approved Division Avenue and Wallick Road improvement project. The board also adopted a resolution allowing the county to better manage oversized and overweight construction vehicles using Chalk Bluff Road during the upcoming road project.

The board also considered several land-use matters, including an update to the development rules for portions of the Archer Complex and approval of two subdivision applications. A hearing involving property within the Lucky Star Ranch Subdivision was postponed to a future meeting.

Another proposed agreement, which would have allowed a media company to film employees, inmates and others inside and around the Laramie County Detention Center, was withdrawn and was not approved.

For complete details, visit the County Commissioners’ website for the full meeting materials.