Public meeting set for Monday to discuss shooting complex proposal

The Hot Springs County Shooting Complex Committee is seeking public comment on Monday, April 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Thermopolis Fire Hall at 400 South 14th Street. There will be an explanation of the HSC Proposal for the State Shooting Complex.

Along with Hot Springs County, eight other counties in Wyoming, including Uinta, Campbell, Natrona, Park, Laramie, Fremont, Platte and Sheridan, turned in letters of intent and have been approved to proceed through the selection process.

The Wyoming Legislature authorized $10 million to start the building of the complex; however, the cost will potentially be higher, and private funding may have to cover anything above the $10 million.

The oversight task force appointed by Gov. Mark Gordon set a timeframe for the oversight process as follows:

June 3 by 5 p.m. – The proposals will be due to the Legislative Service Office. June 10 – The LSO will do the initial ranking by committee. June 12-14 – A session held to review and screen applicants. Week of June 24-28 – The task force will hear oral presentations by applicants. July 3 by 5 p.m. – Supplemental information requested by the task force is due to the LSO.July 8-19 – Site visits scheduled.Aug. 12-16 – Task force meets to make final selection. Aug. 19-23 – LSO will draft a recommendation letter to Gov. Mark Gordon, the Joint Appropriations Committee, and Joint Travel, Recreation and Wildlife committee, requesting it draft legislation designating the site and appropriating the $10 million August 2024 to Jan. 2025 – The task force will meet with selected site stakeholders. Jan. 2025 – Legislation will be introduced, to be effective immediately.

Task force chairman Sen. Larry Hicks has asked the group to consider the “hold factor.”

“When reviewing the proposals, we need to look for what about the site will attract and hold people at that location for several days or more.” Hicks said.

Requests for Proposals were sent out to the nine counties earlier this month. They included the criteria the task force members are looking for in choosing a site including, land acquisition, topography, room for future expansion, area infrastructure, available amenities and accommodations, weather, etc.

Plan to attend this meeting to ask questions, give comments and hear the local committee’s ideas regarding the shooting complex.