May 1, 2023 |
Photo – Rawlins City Hall – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Rawlins City Council listened to funding requests from non-profit organizations. On Wednesday, April 19th, the council held a special work session. Thirteen of the county’s non-profit organizations asked the council for funding for the coming fiscal year.
The first presenter was Children’s Advocacy Project Executive Director Stacy Nelson. The Children’s Advocacy Project provides counseling and other services to victims of child abuse. Nelson said her organization is one of the few in the state able to provide the type of help the victims require.
Nelson said out of the 282 child abuse interviews her organization performed last year, 22 were in Rawlins. All were related to sexual abuse. She is asking for a continued investment of $5,500 for the next fiscal year.
Stepping Stones Youth Home Senior Director of Youth and Outreach Services John Tengsdal was next. Tengsdal explained the type of services his organization provides.
Tengsdal and the Volunteers of America took over the former Carbon County Youth Crisis Center in July of 2022. Since that time, Tengsdal said Stepping Stones Youth Home has helped 54 kids. He said they have a 95% successful discharge rate. Stepping Stones Youth Home is asking for the same $25,000 as last year.
Theresa Pacheco, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County, presented her funding request. Pacheco explained how the Boys and Girls Club helps local kids with schooling and provides supplemental meals.
Pacheco said the Boys and Girls Club of Carbon County has 180 members. She requested $10,000 from the Rawlins governing body, down from last year’s request of $15,000.
The Executive Director of the Carbon County Child Development Program Mindy Monson-Greene said that her organization is a preschool which offers Head Start Services to prepare very young children for school. Monson-Greene said needed funding will go toward student lunches.
Last year, Carbon County Child Development Programs requested $12,600 from the city. Monson-Greene said Wyoming’s Child Care Food Program is providing her organization with $48,000. So, for the upcoming fiscal year, Monson-Greene has requested only $9,000.
Up next was Carbon County Economic Development Corporation Board President Copper France. France explained the support Executive Director Yvonne Johnson offers to local entrepreneurs.
France said the success of the Economic Development Corporation isn’t always immediately noticeable. He said some businesses that use their services ask to remain anonymous. France petitioned the Rawlins City Council for a $5,000 increase in funding, bringing the total to $20,000.
Jennifer Evans, the Executive Director of Carbon County Community Organization for Victim’s Emergency, or COVE was next to present her funding request. Evans, who is the sole COVE employee, explained her organization.
Evans said COVE has helped 119 victims so far, with two months still left in the fiscal year. She said the majority of COVE’s finances are used to house victims and provide legal services. Evans asked the city council for $20,000 in funding, an increase of $5,000 over the previous year.
Carbon County Senior Services was next. Executive Director Kelly Morrell said her organization provided senior citizens with meals and a place to eat and mingle.
Morrell said Carbon County Senior Services served over 60,000 meals last year, with more than 26,000 served in Rawlins alone. She asked the city council to approve an increase of $10,000 over the last year to cover the rising cost of food, bringing the total funding request to $30,000. Several seniors were on hand to express their gratitude for the program.
High Country Behavioral Health was next. Mental Health Technician Sam Whinery explained what the organization offers the community.
Whinery said High Country Behavioral Health supports 265 clients in the Rawlins and Carbon County area. Whinery requested the same $10,000 the organization asked for the previous fiscal year.
Rawlins Airport Board Treasurer James R. Eggleston asked the city council for continued funding. Eggleston said the board is responsible for taking care of and upgrading the airport.
Eggleston asked council to approve the same $20,000 in funding for the Airport Board as the previous year.
Pet Partners of Carbon County President Margaret Quintrall presented next. Quintrall explained what her organization does.
T and R stands for trap and release. Quintrall said her organization will provide traps for people to catch feral cats and have them spayed or neutered.
Quintrall asked the city council to approve $15,000 in funding. Last year she requested $10,000. Quintrall said the increase was to cover the cost of taking care of a growing number of animals.
Project Reach Early Intervention Center and Preschool Program Coordinator Nichole Maravilla explained the services her school offers.
Maravilla said her organization serves 45 children, with all but ten of the children receiving special education. Maraville asked for $8,000, the same as the previous year.
Tina Hill from the Wyoming Frontier Prison was next. Hill provided the city council with some back story about the Old Pen.
Hill said the Old Pen attracted over 12,000 visitors last year, with 96.5% of them coming from outside of Carbon County. Hill requested a $15,000 increase in funding for the coming year. She explained that the $35,000 in city funding would be used for employee salaries and to advertise the Old Pen on Interstate 80.
Downtown Development Authority Main Street Executive Director Pam Thayer was the final presenter. Thayer said with the council’s financial support, she has been able to expand the reach of the DDA for the past 17 years. She said she uses every dollar wisely.
Thayer asked for the same $50,000 the city council provided the previous fiscal year.
The council thanked every presenter for their time and the support they provided for the community.
The council said that due to lower-than-expected revenue, the city’s budget would be less than in previous years. Meaning, the Rawlins City Council will have to make tough decisions about what organizations they will fund, and how much, for the coming 2023-2024 fiscal year.
