Trustees heard a detailed history and mixed status reports for two county projects: mountain wayfinding signage funded through Visit Casper and a land-and-water conservation grant intended to underwrite informational kiosks.
Parks director Michael Brown said Visit Casper provided passage-through funding for the wayfinding sign project but cost overruns and changing prices prompted design and material changes. Brown told trustees that the signage bid package was prepared based on a subcommittee’s final determination but did not proceed to contract award because county legal review and other timing issues intervened; he said the sign procurement needs to be rebid.
On kiosks, Brown explained the county applied for a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) reimbursement grant for four kiosks totaling $460,000 (a $230,000 county match and $230,000 grant component). Brown said the county later cut the matching funds from the budget and therefore does not currently have the local match to construct the kiosks. He told trustees that the LWCF award would be reimbursable and require the county to front funds for later reimbursement.
Long-time community members urged trustees to review earlier subcommittee work before rebidding or spending. Bruce Lamberson, who helped work on earlier designs, warned that content and placement decisions matter and that some money allocated years ago could expire if projects are not carried out: “The kiosks were designed… that’s real money,” he said, and pressed staff to confirm deadlines and the intended locations.
Why it matters: the projects use grant and partner dollars and have been planned for years; trustees said they want to avoid spending limited county funds on outdated designs and want to ensure signage and kiosks serve visitor needs.
Discussion vs. decision: trustees received background and directed staff to compile final bid documents and confirm matching-fund availability; there was no vote to commit additional county funds at the meeting.
Next steps: parks staff will reassemble subcommittee materials, rebid the wayfinding signage after road construction timing is resolved, and report back on the LWCF match status and kiosk design deadlines so trustees can prioritize funding or rebid activity.