Riverton council hears Red Cross plea for volunteers, approves airport agreements and park funding
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Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Riverton City Council heard a Red Cross appeal to recruit local disaster volunteers, approved designation of Wyoming Community Gas funds for a City Park drinking fountain, authorized an MOU to house emergency trailers at the airport and hired a consultant to prepare a Passenger Facility Charge application.
The Riverton City Council on Nov. 18 heard a multi-agency Red Cross presentation urging more local volunteers to support disaster response and approved several measures tied to airport operations and community improvements.
Red Cross representatives told the council the organization has handled eight calls for assistance in Riverton since Jan. 1, mostly home fires, and described services that include short-term financial aid, sheltering, reunification and mental-health support. Carol Harper, the Red Cross community partnership lead, said the group can provide training and on-the-ground kits but needs local volunteers to offer immediate in-person assistance. Andrea Gold, disaster action team program manager for Colorado and Wyoming, said virtual responses are possible but in-person volunteers allow distribution of supplies such as hygiene kits and blankets and immediate client support.
"We need a few more volunteers," Harper said, directing residents to redcross.org/volunteer and describing flexible training that includes background checks and roughly eight hours of core Disaster Action Team modules.
Why it matters: Council members and staff said local volunteers would shorten response times and improve outcomes when the nearest Red Cross field staff must travel in from Cheyenne or Colorado. The presentation framed volunteer recruitment as a preparedness gap that affects sheltering, health-service replacement (medications, CPAPs) and family reunification after fires.
Votes at a glance: The council recorded several formal approvals during the session. - Finance committee claims: Approved (committee recommended claims totaling $909,404.90). Mover: Councilwoman Karen Johnson; second: Councilwoman Rebecca Pearson Lewis. (Finance committee, approved.) - Consent agenda (minutes, finance committee recommendations, municipal court report, replat): Approved by the council. Mover: Councilman Eric Carr; second: Councilwoman Carla Borders. One abstention noted on a Bailey Enterprises line item. - Wyoming Community Gas funds designation (drinking fountain in City Park, $22,000 project): Approved as budgeted. Mover: Councilman Kyle Larson; second: Councilwoman Carla Borders. - MOU with Fremont County Emergency Management Agency to park three mass-casualty medical-supply trailers at the Riverton airport: Approved after removing from the table. Initial mover: Councilwoman Carla Borders; second: Councilman Mike Bailey; (removal-from-table motion mover: Councilwoman Karen Johnson; second: Councilman Eric Carr). - Task order with Dura Group Inc. to prepare a Passenger Facility Charge application (Task Order 2025-01): Approved, $25,555 to engage consultant; funds expected to be reimbursed from future PFC collections. Mover: Councilman Eric Carr; second: Councilman Mike Bailey. - Nevin Estates resubdivision (Devon Estates): Approved (planning commission recommendation; minor certification language update requested by Fremont County). Mover: Councilman Kyle Larson; second: Councilwoman Karen Johnson.
Airport and emergency-preparedness details: Public works director Bridal Toman told the council that locating mass-casualty trailers at the airport provides cleared, accessible space for air and ground ambulance operations and faster local access to medical caches. Council members discussed whether the airport should charge a nominal ground-lease fee; staff said comparable non-aeronautical rates range from $0.11 to $0.25 per square foot and that a baseline figure of $0.20/sf is an available reference point. Council ultimately accepted the MOU recognizing the operational benefit of on-site trailers.
PFC consultant and capital projects: The council approved a $25,555 task order with Dura Group Inc. to prepare a Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) application to the FAA. Public works staff said the consultant fee will be paid from PFC proceeds once the application is approved and that PFC funds have previously supported taxiway rehabilitation, snow-removal equipment and apron work.
Community funds and parks: Council discussed alternative uses for the Wyoming Community Gas Community Funds before voting to designate the proceeds toward a previously budgeted City Park drinking fountain (public works estimated installation cost at $22,000; packet anticipated roughly $14,000 from gas fund proceeds but staff said the actual amount will be slightly smaller). Several council members asked that future community-fund allocations consider high-visibility projects (lighting, cameras) while leaving room for small emergency clean-up funds.
What’s next: Staff invited residents to a public meeting on the Riverview Road project the following day and the council directed the airport board to study fees and rate comparisons for airport leases and report back. The meeting adjourned at about 9:04 p.m.
Attributions: Quotes, facts and motions are drawn from public remarks and motions recorded at the Nov. 18, 2025 Riverton City Council meeting.
