Park County commissioners agree to fund off‑site courtroom for large Gunwerks trial; approve cell‑tower permit and name Powell Tribune official newspaper

Park County commissioners voted Wednesday to support holding a large civil jury trial tied to the Gunwerks litigation at an off‑site location and to cover related county costs if necessary, approved a special‑use permit to expand an existing cell tower on Forest Service land with adjusted conditions, designated the Powell Tribune as the county's official newspaper for 2025, and directed staff to bring final Planning and Zoning Commission bylaws back for review.

The action to underwrite off‑site courtroom costs followed a presentation from the district court explaining that the Gunwerks case likely will involve multiple parties and 20-plus lawyers at trial and that the county courtroom cannot physically accommodate the attorneys, support staff and jurors. The court proposed renting meeting space at the Holiday Inn in Cody as the primary option and, as a fallback, using the larger courtroom in Green River (Sweetwater County). Commissioners approved moving the trial off site if necessary and agreed to review a budget amendment at year end or during routine budget work to cover any overages.

The commissioners' approval means the county will be prepared to pay the district court's local costs for a larger venue and related ancillary services; the court gave examples during the presentation including an approximate room‑block rate for attorneys of about $125 per night, an estimate that 35–40 hotel rooms could be used for trial participants, and example venue rental estimates of about $10,410 for a roughly three‑week (19‑day) boardroom setup and $14,080 for a four‑week setup (figures did not include taxes and other incidentals). The court also said it will seek daily cost monitoring and will return to the commissioners if significant deviations occur.

Why it matters: the Gunwerks case is set as a multi‑week jury trial; local officials said holding the trial inside the county courthouse is infeasible because of courtroom size and furniture layout, and moving the trial could reduce economic strain on local witnesses and businesses compared with sending the trial out of county. The move also raises short‑term costs to the county that will be handled through an end‑of‑year supplemental budget amendment if needed.

The district court presentation stressed security and logistics. The court said it plans to increase courtroom security staffing to three or four bailiffs during the trial and has coordinated with Park County Sheriff Daryl Stewart and the county's head bailiff, Mike Neville, to monitor the site. The presenter said: "They put them on the table, I gather them up, we have the hearing, and at the end of it, I give them their weapons back," noting the practical steps the court uses to manage weapons present in public hearings. The court reiterated that many jury‑related expenses and clerk costs are not recoverable from litigants under Wyoming practice.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve moving the Gunwerks trial to an off‑site location if needed and to allow a supplemental/budget amendment if necessary: motion passed (voice vote). The meeting record does not list individual tallies. - Consent agenda (minutes, payroll, vouchers, FY reports, lease renewal for Collection Professionals Inc.): approved. - Special Use Permit (SUP 270) — Dead Indian Hill tower (MasTec Communications Group): approved with staff recommendations 1, 4, 5 and 6 removed and with a clarified solid‑waste/disposal condition (applicant must use an approved disposal site). The permit authorizes expansion of an existing 89‑foot tower, a generator on a 4x10 concrete pad, a 190‑gallon diesel tank and an 8x16 fenced compound; construction is limited by a seasonal restriction tied to winter big‑game range. Motion passed (voice vote). - Designation of official newspaper for 2025: Powell Tribune selected at the rates proposed in its written quote; motion passed (voice vote). - Planning and Zoning Commission bylaws: discussion and edits directed; final bylaws to return to the commissioners (scheduled for February 4) after county attorney review.

Details from the Dead Indian Hill SUP discussion: Planning and Zoning staff said MasTec requested to expand a preexisting, unpermitted 89‑foot tower sited on U.S. Forest Service land about 21 miles northwest of Cody. The application adds a backup generator, diesel tank (190 gallons), a small equipment shelter and an 8x16 fenced compound. Agencies notified included DEQ (permitting guidance), Game and Fish (the site lies in crucial deer and elk winter range; staff recommended avoiding construction activity Nov. 15–Apr. 30), the county fire district (response list), WYDOT (no concern), Rocky Mountain Power (no comment), and the Forest Service (coordinating the access road and permitting). Planning staff recommended approval with nine conditions; commissioners removed several redundant conditions and clarified that solid waste must be taken to an approved disposal site rather than directing it specifically to the county landfill.

On newspapers, commissioners heard competing quotes and historical practice of using both the Powell Tribune and the Cody Enterprise at a shared 50% legal rate. The Powell Tribune quote presented a lower overall annual estimate; commissioners approved the Powell Tribune for 2025. Staff noted legal notices and minutes remain available on the county website and that advertising for local hearings may still be placed in the other paper at staff discretion to reach specific communities.

Planning and Zoning bylaws: Planning Director Joy Hill presented draft standalone bylaws the Planning and Zoning Commission approved at its recent meeting. Commissioners identified typos, terms to clarify ("biennial" vs. "biannual"), and questioned a recommendation that commissioners use county‑issued devices. The board directed staff to remove wording about providing county devices now, keep the recommendation for county email addresses, adjust language about electronic communications and cybersecurity per the chair's direction, and return a final draft after county attorney review; the board set a follow‑up for February 4.

Speakers quoted or cited in this story are identified in the meeting record as the district court presenter (court staff), Planning Director Joy Hill, Planning staff Jenny Kramer, Powell Tribune representative Toby Bonner, and county staff including Deb Carroll and Teresa Rowan, among others. The meeting record shows voice votes with motions seconded and approved; individual roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the public transcript.

Ending: Commissioners closed the business items after the actions above and moved on to other scheduled agenda items. The court said it will proceed with a status conference with the remaining attorneys and notify the commissioners once dispositive rulings are finalized.