Albany County approves $300,000 in initial funding and awards bid for Pilot Hill Trailhead after board asks for $400,000

Pilot Hill Incorporated asked Albany County Commissioners on Jan. 21 to contribute $400,000 toward the Pilot Hill Trailhead project in Laramie, saying rising construction bids have pushed the project’s total cost to nearly $3 million. Commissioners voted to award the construction contract to Archon Inc. and directed county staff to allocate a mix of county funds this fiscal year and a placeholder in fiscal 2026 to help close the gap.

Why it matters: Commissioners and project leaders said a county contribution would both close an immediate financing shortfall and signal local commitment that could help secure matching funds from the city, the University of Wyoming and grant programs.

Sarah Brown, speaking for the Pilot Hill board, told commissioners the project went to bid and both Wyoming contractors’ offers exceeded the project’s $2 million budget and brought the total nearer $3 million. “We are coming to you this morning because we need to bridge the funding between what we’ve secured to date…and we’re asking the Albany County Commissioners to consider a contribution of $400,000 to this project,” Brown said.

Brown outlined other funding prospects: a Feb. 3 City of Laramie request for $200,000; an application to the county recreation mill (rec mill) for $100,000; and a request to the University of Wyoming trustees for roughly $194,000 from a campus beautification fund targeted to landscaping. Brown said those commitments would “bridge the majority of the gap” but left about $75,000 still to be raised from additional grants and private donors.

Commissioners and staff discussed options if some partners do not provide their full requested amounts. Brown said the Pilot Hill board has considered phasing parts of the project and delaying landscaping, fencing and some lighting, but warned that delays would likely increase costs. “The manufacturer…said the cost on [the shelter] will go up $200,000 if we had to push it out to 2026,” Brown said.

County staff, represented at the hearing by Bailey (county staff), presented a recommended funding split to cover the county’s portion this fiscal year: $100,000 from the economic development fund (split between two revenue sources), $99,789 from the Capital Improvement Special Projects (CISP) account, and $100,000 from miscellaneous uncommitted funds. The motion approved by the commission also included a placeholder of $100,211 in the fiscal 2026 budget to complete the county’s share.

The commission then moved to formally award the construction contract. Brown confirmed Archon Inc. submitted the lowest responsive bid; she also noted the University of Wyoming will provide a construction manager as a donated service. “The University of Wyoming has a construction manager. Josh Ecker…is serving as our construction manager,” Brown said.

Action and vote: Commissioner Pete Lane moved to award the Pilot Hill Trailhead contract to Archon Inc. and to direct the county to allocate $100,000 from economic development funds, $99,789 from CISP, $100,000 from miscellaneous uncommitted funds in fiscal 2025 and to set a $100,211 placeholder in fiscal 2026. A second motion followed and the commission voted unanimously; the motion carried.

What’s next: With county funding commitments in place and a contract awarded, project leaders said they plan to begin construction in May and hope to hold a ribbon-cutting celebration in the fall. Project leaders said they will continue fundraising for the remaining gap and pursue the city, university trustees and grant programs for additional support.