Finance Committee backs three-year grazing lease for Belvoir Ranch at $210,000 annually

The Cheyenne Finance Committee on Jan. 6 recommended approval of a three-year grazing lease with Wyoming Cattle Company for the Belvoir Ranch, with a minimum annual payment of $210,000.

Vicky Nemechek, Public Works director, said the lease covers almost all of Belvoir Ranch except the Rim pasture, which has a separate, smaller lease. She told committee members the $210,000 minimum is based on a calculation of 1,050 animal-unit months (AUMs) for five months; the company may stock more than that in practice and the agreement allows adjustments downward in case of grazing problems.

Committee members asked about public access and coexistence of grazing with recreational users. Director Hach (title given in transcript as “Director Hach”) said cattle and people have coexisted on the ranch during hunting seasons and the city has “never had a problem with the cattle grazing and people on the ranch at the same time.”

A committee member asked whether Wyoming Cattle Company has been the lessee for an extended period; Nemechek stated the company has grazed the property since shortly after the city purchased it in 2003. The committee also discussed a March 9, 2022 memorandum of understanding about land managers and soil-health practices; Nemechek said she had not previously seen that memo and staff would research whether the memo’s regenerative-land practices apply to this lease and report back to council.

The motion to approve the three-year lease at $210,000 annually was moved by Finance Committee member Moody and seconded by Finance Committee member Escobel/Esquivel; the committee recorded a unanimous recommendation to adopt at the governing-body meeting.

The transcript did not include the final lease document text, exhibit numbers, or an ordinance number.