TUESDAY, September 29, 2026|
Photo – Collapsed sewer lines at VFW Ball Park in 2025 – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Work on the various projects around Rawlins is progressing, though some are moving more slowly than others.
The City of Rawlins began several construction and infrastructure projects over the summer, including repairing the corrosion prevention system on the Sage Creek pipeline, which supplies the majority of the city’s drinking water, and replacing water and sewer lines beneath Edinburgh Street.
The city is also working on constructing a new concession stand at the VFW Ballpark on Daley Street. The city demolished the original building in 2024 after it fell into disrepair, with no plan to replace it. Later that year Rawlins Little League President Dawn Arce told the council that food and snack sales made up most of the league’s income and that removing the stand hurt the organization’s ability to bring in money. In October 2024, then‑mayor Terry Weickum committed $200,000 toward building a replacement concession stand.
Last month, after nearly two years of planning and design work, the governing body gave City Manager Matt Hall authority to begin reconstructing the underground utility lines serving the concession stand. During the September 15th Rawlins City Council meeting, Councilman Bruce Seilaff asked for an update on the project.
Public Works Director Cody Dill explained that he is prepared to issue a request for proposal, or RFP, for the concession stand after the Date Street Booster Station project begins. Dill said in the meantime, Parks and Recreation Director Billy Hunt’s team will locate underground utilities at the VFW Ballfield and find a plumber to repair the water and sewer lines.
Councilman Seilaff asked when Dill expected to issue the RFP. The public works director responded that he was unsure and needed to check with City Engineer Karl Smith.
Parks and Rec Director Billy Hunt added that his crew would begin locating the underground utilities the following day. Hunt said he anticipates that the VFW Ballfield concession stand will be ready for the Little League regional tournament the city is scheduled to host next summer. If the work is not completed, he said the tournament can be moved to the sports complex across from the Rawlins Family Recreation Center.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Terry Patterson asked for an update on the Date Street Booster Station. An underground pump is being built at the corner of Date and 9th streets, where the city’s high‑pressure line meets the low‑pressure system. Once finished, the facility will allow the city to reroute low‑pressure water into the high‑pressure system when repairs are needed on the high‑pressure line.
After multiple breaks were discovered on the high‑pressure line in late April and early May, the city declared a water‑infrastructure emergency, which allowed it to apply for a $1.5 million Mineral Royalty Grant from the State Lands and Investments Board to construct a booster pump station at Date Street. The grant requires a 50 percent match, meaning the application was technically for $750,000 of state funding. The city’s half of the grant will come from a mix of general‑fund reserves and a loan to the water enterprise fund.
The project was expected to be completed by late October or early November. Back at the September 15th meeting, City Manager Matt Hall said because of the complex engineering, construction is moving along a little more slowly than expected.
Despite the delays, City Manager Matt Hall said he still expects the booster station to be in the ground by November. He said that after the pump is finished, the rest of the work should go quickly.
Hall added that the booster station is still his top priority.
Vice Mayor Darril Garner asked how work was progressing on the La Paloma Drive sewer issues. Last year, residents living behind Memorial Hospital of Carbon County complained that their sewers were repeatedly flooding into their homes. At the time, Public Works Director Cody Dill explained that the sewer pipes in the La Paloma neighborhood have settled over time, forming low spots known as bellies. When improperly disposed of items, such as wet wipes, accumulate in those areas, he said they obstruct the flow of sewage and back up the entire system.
Dill estimated that permanently fixing the issue would require a $3 million large-scale sewer line replacement project. The governing body instructed him to find a less expensive solution.
Responding to Vice Mayor Garner’s question, the public works director said a recent camera inspection of the La Paloma Drive sewer lines showed a large root ball obstructing the pipe near El Rancho Drive.
Dill added that the rest of the sewer lines in the area are still in good condition.
