September 25, 2023 |
Photo – Wyoming Community Gas – Courtesy Wyoming Community Gas
Wyoming Community Gas has begun asking towns how they want to spend their annual payouts.
Wyoming Community Gas is a state-wide not-for-profit natural gas provider. Every year, the gas company gives a portion of its profits back to member towns. The money is to be used to improve the quality of life for residents in the municipalities.
During last Tuesday’s Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey said Wyoming Community Gas has offered the city more than $11,000 to spend on a community improvement project. Sarvey said the council has until the end of the year to let the natural gas company know how they intend to use the money.
Sarvey said he’ll present a list of potential projects to the council during an upcoming October meeting.
In past years, Rawlins has used the Wyoming Community Gas payout to help fund the dog park located at Key Club Park.
Saratoga officials also discussed the upcoming natural gas company payments. During last week’s town council meeting, Town Treasurer Corina Daley said the council must choose how the money will be spent.
Daley said the town received $5,657.82 this year from Wyoming Community Gas. The town treasurer explained some of the projects the previous town councils used the money for. Daley said the council needs to decide how to spend this year’s payment.
Mayor Chuck Davis said in the past, the money has been used in one lump sum. Mayor Davis suggested dividing the payment into smaller portions to pay for a variety of town improvements and activities.
Tracy Young runs the Carbon County Prevention Network, a substance abuse and suicide prevention and education group.
Mayor Davis said he needs to learn exactly what the Wyoming Community Gas payment can be used for. The mayor asked the council to wait while he investigates if the town can donate a portion of the money to local youth programs before deciding.
Mayor Davis said he prefers to use the Wyoming Community Gas payment for multiple projects. The mayor said he is open to other suggestions on how to spend the $5,657. Mayor Davis asked residents to offer their recommendations to the town council.
The other Saratoga town council members offered no comment on the mayor’s idea. The decision on what to use the natural gas company payment for has been postponed until a future town council meeting.
