May 17, 2023 |
Photo – 4th Floor of the Carbon County Courthouse – Courtesy Carbon County Clerk’s Office
Wyoming dignitaries attended the re-opening celebration of the Carbon County Courthouse on Friday.
Approximately 200 people attended the grand re-opening of the Carbon County Courthouse. Completed in 1940, the 80-year-old building was showing its age. Starting in 2016, the county began planning to make safety and quality of life improvements to the aging structure. With the passing of the 6th penny tax in May of 2019, work began to bring the building up to modern standards.
After three years of work, both the Carbon County Courthouse and Carbon Building are ready for occupancy. The county held a grand re-opening ceremony at the courthouse last Friday. Hors d’oeuvres, along with coffee and soft drinks, were served during the event. Carbon County Commissioner Vice-Chairman Travis Moore led the event as the master of ceremonies. Governor Mark Gordon was on hand to deliver a welcome address. Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Honorable Kate Fox shared her insights about the importance of having a justice center.
Best-selling author, James Chandler gave a speech titled “Truth is Better than Fiction.” Carbon County Commissioner John Johnson discussed the courthouse remodel project. Afterwards, Carbon County District Judge Honorable Dawnessa Snyder spoke about how the legacy of the courthouse will continue to inspire justice in the future.
Carbon County Clerk Gwenn Bartlett said everyone was pleased with the remodel. Bartlett said county staff suggested changes they wanted to see in the courthouse.
Built about a decade before the courthouse, the Carbon Building, located at 215 West Buffalo Street, was remodeled in the same project. Bartlett explained that the Carbon Building needed updates similar to the courthouse.
With the completion of the courthouse remodel, all Carbon County criminal justice services are now under one roof.
Clerk Bartlett thanked the voters of Carbon County. Seventy-six percent of registered voters opted to allow the county to use the 6th penny tax to pay for the remodel project.
The courthouse originally opened in September of 1940. Eighty-three years later, a second opening brings the historic building into the 21st century.
