CASPER, Wyo. — State lawmakers rejected a proposal to require industrial companies to post bonds for upfront impact assistance to local governments.

The Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee let the draft bill die without a motion during its recent meeting. Lawmakers instead advanced an alternative that uses state funds to help communities facing financial strain from industrial projects before construction begins.

The defeated draft bill, 27LSO-0021, would have authorized prepayments to local communities, but it required the permit applicant to submit a bond to cover that amount.

Mills Mayor Leah Juarez told the committee the current system is broken because towns must wait for construction to start before receiving funds. She said Mills is waiting on hundreds of thousands of dollars for the delayed Dinosaur Solar Energy Project and Settler wind developments.

“Mills can’t afford this. We can’t afford to keep shouldering this burden,” Juarez said^.

She echoed earlier comments from Natrona County Commissioner Dave North that cities and towns often enter contracts for expensive equipment long before a project breaks ground. He called for upfront funding, specifically pointing to long lead times to purchase fire trucks and ambulances.

He said local governments just want an advance on future tax revenues.

“We are not asking for anything additional from the companies at this point in time,” he said, suggesting a prepayment of up to 50% might be appropriate rather than the 20% cap in the draft bill.

Rep. Jayme Lien asked the committee to mandate a 100% upfront bond.

“Without adequate upfront resources, our citizens suffer things like overcrowded schools, strained emergency response, deteriorating roads, increased pressure on housing, infrastructure,” Lien said^{. “The upfront payment ensures accountability. If the project does not proceed responsibly, the bond is available to mitigate harm.”}

Industry advocates and some lawmakers opposed the bonding suggestion. Holland & Hart LLP attorney Cindy DeLancey, who represents industrial clients, said Wyoming competes with neighboring states to attract large facilities.

“To add additional burdens in the process, additional costs … really undermines that position that we’re trying to signal to the world that we want business in Wyoming,” DeLancey said.

Rep. Christopher Knapp, R-Campbell County, said he was initially interested in the original bill but withdrew his support when the bonding requirement was introduced. He also spoke against the bill draft that provides upfront payments to local governments from state legislative reserve funds, thereby placing the risk on the state. The state would then recoup the funds through withheld payments once the project begins.

Knapp said the state shouldn’t bear the financial burden for speculative improvements or equipment, adding there are alternative funding avenues available to communities, such as the State Loan and Investment Board.

“When it comes to a very specialized piece of equipment, often times industry themselves provide that equipment on site,” he said, citing Campbell County’s coal mines as an example.

Sweetwater County Rep. J.T. Larson said lawmakers shouldn’t fear investing in the state’s communities.

“If a project falls through, why are we afraid? We’re helping those local communities get something they need or replace something that they have needed to replace for many years,” he said.

Related

Wyoming saw its first rabies case of the season in Sheridan County, the state’s Department of Health reported Wednesday.

The case was reported in May in Sheridan County. A rabid bat was found in the backyard of a home in a downtown residential neighborhood, according to the health department.

Humans and pets can become infected from bites and scratches of an animal with rabies. Rabies is not spread through the touch of an infected animal or its feces or urine.

Bat bites are not always visible. Anyone who has direct contact with a bat or who wakes up with a bat in their room should immediately contact a doctor or public health provider for assessment.

There were six confirmed cases of rabies in Wyoming animals last year.

Tips for preventing rabies:

• Don’t touch or feed wild or stray animals.
• Treat animal bites with soap and water and contact a medical professional immediately.
• People waking to find a bat in their room or a child’s room should contact a medical professional immediately.
• Vaccinate dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and other selected livestock for rabies and keep vaccinations up to date.

For more information about rabies exposure in Wyoming, please visit:

https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/infectious-disease-epidemiology-unit/disease/rabies/ [links-2.govdelivery.com]

A number candidates attended the Take Back Wyoming: Non-Freedom Caucus Republican Candidates Shop Party at Ryan Brothers Trucking last Friday. The event was hosted by and was a fundraiser for a House District 28 candidate.

The group was comprised of Wyoming Republican voters, who have become disenchanted with the Freedom Caucus, which currently controls the Wyoming State Legislature, and with actions taken in recent months by the State of Wyoming Republican Party to change the party’s By-Laws regarding support for candidates prior to the primary election.