Richard Jones appointed to Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center board after brief interview

The Park County Board of County Commissioners appointed Richard Jones to the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center board to fill a recent vacancy.

Jones told commissioners he previously served on the visitor center board for more than eight years, including a term as secretary, and said he remained active as a volunteer. He described the visitor center as a nonprofit entity that operates the facility and bookstore, raises most of its operating revenue through sales and donations, and manages a volunteer corps and paid manager positions. Jones said the board has overseen capital and maintenance needs and a reserve fund worth several hundred thousand dollars that the board uses for repairs and operations.

Commissioners asked about the board's roles and the relationship among the facility, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming Department of Transportation and the state park. Jones explained the visitor center's role is storytelling and stewardship of the site and that the board has worked with federal and state entities to expand visitor experiences.

After the interview, a motion to appoint Jones passed on a voice vote. The board asked staff to notify the visitor center of the appointment.

Separately, the board discussed a notice from the Wyoming Local Government Liability Pool that an at-large board position is open; the board took no nomination at the meeting and said it expects Chairman Brad Bassi to seek reappointment.