Thursday, April 2, 2026 |
Photo – Lots donated to City of Rawlins – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The City of Rawlins cleared five parcels of donated land in preparation for a future use.
In February, Henry Hewitt and John MacPherson of Sinclair Land and Development offered five unused, industrial‑zoned plots of land on Bonanza and Piper streets to the City of Rawlins. In return, the city would cover the back taxes on the properties, totaling just over $780.
City staff were initially hesitant to accept the land donation, saying the city had no use for the parcels. However, after careful consideration, staff devised a plan to relocate the city’s asphalt manufacturing plant from the center of town to the industrial properties.
Members of the Rawlins City Council questioned the plan to move the asphalt plant near residential homes on Glasgow Boulevard. Public Works Director Cody Dill acknowledged that the donated parcels are closer to houses than the existing site, but said the area already contains two other paving material production facilities. Relocating the city’s plant there would bring all related operations into one location. Dill added that a new batch plant would cost between $4 and $5 million.
Speaking at the February 3rd Rawlins City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Darril Garner said he lives near the existing asphalt plant and described a time when the wind blew dust and a foul smell into his home. Vice Mayor Garner said the proposed location would place the facility even closer to a residential neighborhood.
Citing their proximity to homes and the lack of a need for additional city‑owned industrial property, the Rawlins City Council narrowly voted not to accept the land donation.
Following Robert’s Rules of Order, a widely used guide for conducting meetings, the previously defeated motion was brought back for reconsideration at the City Council’s February 17th meeting. City Manager Matt Hall accepted responsibility for the unpopular proposal to build an asphalt plant on the donated property. Instead, Hall suggested that the Public Works Department use the land for storage, adding that, if the donation is approved, the department would immediately begin preparing the property for use. Should the city decide to sell the property, trees and shrubs would be planted to make the land more appealing to developers.
Councilman Derek Elliot, who opposed the donation, mentioned that the parcels have remained unused since the 1980s, which he said reflects a lack of interest from private investors. Rather than taking on more land the city does not need, Councilman Elliot urged the governing body to focus on completing projects already in development.
Following another vote, the Rawlins City Council accepted the five donated industrial parcels of land.
At the March 17th City Council meeting, City Manager Matt Hall reported that the properties are now ready for use and noted that an appraisal has also been completed.
With the parcels now cleared of debris, the city is able to move forward with creating a storage area for the public works department on Bonanza and Piper streets.
