Wednesday, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 |
Photo – Rawlins’ sign that was once posted off the interstate – Bigfoot99 file photo
Rawlins officials are considering using an annual natural gas reimbursement to upgrade the city’s entrance signs.
During the November 4th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Jacquelin Wells opened the floor to a discussion on how to use this year’s $10,068 Wyoming Community Gas grant.
Wyoming Community Gas is a nonprofit natural gas supplier that reinvests a portion of its earnings into local communities to support improvement projects.
In previous years, the City of Rawlins used the gas grant to construct a dog park, improve the VFW baseball fields, and, most recently, purchase new curtains for the cemetery pavilion.
At the November 4th meeting, Interim City Manager Matthew Hall said he consulted with city staff on how best to use the gas grant. After discussing strategies to attract motorists off Interstate 80 with City Council members, Hall suggested using the funds to upgrade the city’s entrance signs.
Hall explained that the gateway sign on the city’s east side needed the most work and was, in his opinion, the best place to use the gas grant money.
Public Works Director Cody Dill said Community Development Director Lou Lascano is already working on new entrance sign designs. Using those plans, Dill said can make the east gateway sign much more visually appealing with added flowers and illumination.
With the Wyoming Community Gas grant, Dill said he could draw much more attention to the east gateway sign. Councilman Steve Sanger said he would like all entrance signs to be illuminated and suggested installing a solar lighting system on each one. The Public Works Director offered to investigate solar lighting options but also requested using a portion of the Wyoming Community Gas grant to enhance the landscaping around the east side sign.
Dill also suggested building a walking path around the sign to encourage pedestrian traffic.
Councilman Derek Elliott recommended against planting non-native species around the gateway sign due to the added maintenance requirements. Instead, Elliott suggested using drought-resistant plants or artistic stonework.
Councilman Bruce Seilaff agreed that flowers would be difficult to maintain due to the local climate. Councilman Seilaff recommended planting trees behind the sign, adding that they will attract more attention than flowers.
Mayor Wells suggested consulting with University of Wyoming Ag and Natural Resources Extension Educator Abby Perry about region-appropriate plant life. Public Works Director Dill agreed, noting that the plants Perry recommended for the City Hall grounds are thriving with minimal maintenance from city staff. Dill said he is considering the same types of plants for the east gateway sign.
Councilwoman Tonya Lewman suggested installing picnic benches near the sign. Public Works Director Dill said a future Wyoming Community Gas grant could be used to pay for that project. Councilwoman Lewman also suggested using a future gas grant to install a Rawlins-specific mural or wrap on the proposed VFW Baseball Field concession stand.
The discussion prompted Councilman Elliott to ask if the city should use the Wyoming Community Gas grant to improve the VFW baseball fields, as it did two years ago. Councilwoman Lewman explained that the natural gas provider prefers the funds be used for a physical item, such as the gateway sign, rather than something intangible.
The matter will be decided at the next Rawlins City Council meeting on November 18th. The governing body has until mid-December to submit its project proposal to Wyoming Community Gas, with grant funds expected to be delivered in May.
