CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Governor Dave Freudenthal reiterated his concerns with Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, following the just-released Government Accountability Office report related to the provision. Freudenthal specifically noted the reference to the “shell game” that is detailed in the report.

“On one hand, we heard that the land use plans should not be detailed because the details would be worked out in the project-level analysis. With the passage of these categorical exclusions, we were told that the project-level analysis would not be done in favor of using categorical exclusions, relying on the land use plan level analysis they told us we didn’t need in the first place. I don’t really care how the analysis is done - I just want it done,” Freudenthal said.

The Governor repeated his desire that Congress address the issues raised in the report, including the concerns he has written Congress and the Department of the Interior to address, particularly the problematic 390(b)(3) subsection.

“We have too much at stake in Wyoming - in terms of air quality, water quality and wildlife in particular - to not take the ‘hard look’ that NEPA requires at some point. To short circuit the process may serve some short-term interests of those who want to play fast and loose with the rules - but the better folks in industry understand that such an approach ultimately costs them in the long run,” Freudenthal said.

The BLM approved 28% percent of all APDs from 2006 to 2008 under Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and well over half of that percentage were authorized under the 390(b)(3) subsection.

The Governor concluded by suggesting a measured approach. “But I also want to express my hope that we don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater as some have suggested. These categorical exclusions are not categorically bad - some make a great deal of sense. We need to cut with a scalpel and not with an axe,” Freudenthal said.

The complete GAO report can be found at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09872.pdf.

Wyoming’s kids are now well settled into the new school year, and I love observing them waiting for the bus, or walking hand in hand with a big brother or sister with back packs securely anchored and brimming with books, lunch pails, and the necessities for a school day!  My thoughts then wander to the end of the school day, when it comes time for them to go home, and I immediately am thankful for the many, many after school programs for our children that I have encountered as I travel the state.

It was recently my privilege to address the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance, and the message I gave to them is one that weighs heavy on my heart and mind.  I related how during the past 2 ½ years I have spent a great deal of time visiting communities across Wyoming on behalf of the work that I do on the State Loan and Investment Board and the State Building Commission.  One of my priorities this past year has been to visit county jails, Department of Corrections prison facilities, the Boys School in Worland, the Girls School in Sheridan, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program at Camp Guernsey, and the Cathedral Home in Laramie.

There is no easy explanation for why people end up in jail or prison or why our children end up in detention or rehabilitation centers.  In 2008, Wyoming had approximately 1,600 inmates in 23 county jails, over 2,000 inmates housed under the direction of our Department of Corrections, 5,358 probationers and 706 men and women on parole.  That’s almost 10,000 men and women under some level of county or State supervision.
That does not include all of our juveniles housed, under court order, in a variety of public and private facilities, or other types of supervision.

The forecast is troubling because of increased numbers and increased cost.  In some states the cost of incarceration is closing in on the cost of education! That is a crime in itself!  I connect the dots from children with no after school anchor to the increased numbers of incarcerations.  I thank and appreciate those in communities who give of their time and efforts to shore up for our children what is missing in their family environment, which hampers their ability to learn and develop properly.  I truly believe these programs, while designed to deliver education, are in reality delivering prevention!

After close to 40 years in the public sector, I have some observations about public service, state and local.  While some folks focus on organizational structure as a means to deal with issues about providing public services, I think it really relates to the quality of human beings in place at any given point in time.  Similar to the private sector, the success of a private business or furnishing a public service rises and falls with having the right combination of people in place.  People who have a good work ethic, enjoy what they do, and put the customers first even when some of the customers are a little abusive.

One example of that is the performance of the State Land Office in putting federal stimulus monies out for Wyoming capital construction projects in probably the most timely manner of any state.  Close to $40 million has been allocated to local governments all over Wyoming for water and sewer projects following review by the State Land Board for projects which otherwise probably could not have been funded by state government.  This is especially due to the efforts and skills of Lynne Boomgaarden, director, Jeanne Normans and Robert Tompkins  remarkable effort and great results.

The state investment portfolio is gradually regaining losses incurred during the past fiscal year.  Many members of the financial sector are advising that the recovery will be slow, interest rates will remain low and the rock and roll days of the past several years are not likely to return for a number of years.  Of course financial projections are not a science.  In fact, one notable commented that the value of financial projections is to make astrology look good.  Probably a little harsh judgment, but does reflect that conservative investments are likely to out perform over the long haul.

Finally, I spent a week with my two sons, Vince and Warren, in the wilderness north of Dubois fishing, rock hunting, and reconnecting. It reinforced my long term belief that the most important duty with the greatest reward for parents is spending time with their children.

As school started last month, there was more in the works then just new lesson plans and classroom exercises. At the Wyoming Department of Education, we are gearing up for busy fall. We will be working with the Joint Education Committee of the Wyoming Legislature to formulate any new legislation for the upcoming session. We will begin looking at recalibration and what that might mean for funding of education in Wyoming. Recalibration of the Wyoming Funding Model occurs every five years.

To add to already busy schedule for the department, in early August, the U.S. Department of Education released information on the rest of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act education funding. That information includes Race to the Top, Statewide Longitudinal Data System, Teacher Incentive Fund, Investing in Innovation, Education Technology grants, and others. Each of the programs has specific requirements for application and planning for the use of the money. As I have discussed in the past, I want to ensure we are using this money wisely to impact student achievement.

Each of the programs affects funding for education in Wyoming differently. For instance, the statewide longitudinal data systems grant can only be applied for and used by the state. It has the potential to improve systems at the district level, but no funding will be managed by the districts. On the other hand, the investing in innovation grant can only be applied for by districts and education organizations that partner with districts. The program is designed to help districts across the nation develop and bolster innovative programs that significantly impact student achievement.

Each of the ARRA programs has the potential to positively help Wyoming schools, but only if a process of action can be developed that effectively uses the money within a restricted timeline. Ultimately, we will be considering how the funding can be used to impact our strategic plan for education, which focuses on drop-out and graduation rates, incidents of bullying, third grade reading, and eighth grade math. These are critical areas that we need to improve across the state. I hope that we can depend on your support for these goals, because as we regularly discuss here at the department, it’s all about the children.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The State of Wyoming released a document on June 18, 2009, that offers an overall look at the funding the state has received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and its implications.

The new ‘Wyoming ARRA Funding Summary’ tracks stimulus money that has flowed into the state through existing federal and state programs and grants and also attempts to summarize grant and loan funding that may subsequently be allocated to private entities in Wyoming.

“We have worked hard to develop this summary document which provides the best snapshot thus far of the total impact of stimulus funds on the State of Wyoming,” said Lynne Boomgaarden, Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments who heads up the state’s Recovery and Reinvestment Team. Boomgaarden said that despite the team’s best effort to carefully scrutinize the money flowing from Washington, D.C., to Wyoming, there may still be funding streams that are not reflected in the summary. Developed by Deputy Director Joyce Hefenieder of the Department of Administration and Information, the Wyoming ARRA Funding Summary shows that the largest single amount of funding, $157 million, has flowed to the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The department announced last month that it leads the nation in the speed with which it has allocated stimulus funding to road and bridge improvement projects in communities across Wyoming. A wide range of other agencies have also received and allocated stimulus funding, including the Wyoming Departments of Education, Health, Workforce Services, Environmental Quality and Agriculture, and the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office. Governor Dave Freudenthal said the summary is another step in the state’s effort to keep the public informed on how much stimulus funding is coming to Wyoming and how it is being spent.

“Lynne’s team continues to do good work and to keep the public informed about the many projects and programs that have benefitted from this funding,” the Governor said. “There are many, many people in Wyoming who are working this summer who might not have been if stimulus money wasn’t flowing into our state.” Hefenieder said it remains challenging to develop a reliable total of all stimulus funding that will be allocated in Wyoming. “Some of these funding streams are grants for which the state has applied,” she said. “It’s impossible to know how much of this funding will be given to the state. There are also funding streams that flow through state agencies but go directly to beneficiaries, such as unemployment and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, or food stamps. The total that the state will receive in these instances depends on how many people qualify, and this is also difficult to determine at this point.”

The new summary document is available online at Wyoming’s recovery website: http://wyoming.gov/recovery/pdf/WyomingARRAFundingSummary.pdf.

In addition to the summary, the website also includes specific information about programs that received stimulus funding and links to other valuable resources, articles, and Web sites, including the main federal recovery site, www.recovery.gov.

Specific questions about the document should be directed to Joyce Hefenieder, 307-777-3335.

Enjoying my third summer in office, there are special events that I especially look forward to this time of year. Since 1996, the Wyoming Stock Growers’ Association and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture have hosted an Environmental Stewardship Tour in recognition of a Wyoming ranch family’s outstanding resource stewardship. This year’s award went to the Foy family (Rocky and Nancy Foy) of Glendo. The award sponsors were Sand County Foundation and EnCana Oil and Gas, USA. This event is a splendid way to recognize and to share the best practices of Wyoming’s top environmental stewards, the families who live closest to the land and depend on its’ health for their own economic well-being.

I also participated in an annual bus tour showcasing Wyoming Agriculture diversification. I joined the group at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds and heard presentations from Terry Henderson of the Cougar Valley Ranch (Shawnee) and Ron Richner of Lone Tree Mini Bales (Alcova). During the afternoon we visited the Deer Forks Ranch near Douglas, which is home to the Haar family. This tour is always a reminder of the great ingenuity of men and women who continue to pioneer ways to maintain self-sufficiency on land that, oftentimes, has been in the same family for generations.

My summer is not complete without an opportunity to attend at least a part of the Wyoming Ag in the Classroom (WAIC) summer workshop. This year, the Platte County Conservation District partnered with WAIC to offer a Natural Resource Discovery Rendezvous in and around Wheatland. I joined the program on day three for a tour of the Missouri Basin Power Plant. At Grayrocks Reservoir we enjoyed a demonstration on solar cooking provided by Jay and Karen Butler, solar cookers extraordinaire. The day ended perfectly with a milkcan dinner at the Platte County Fairgrounds with enthusiastic presentations from teachers who had participated in the workshop. These events provided a spectacular experience in learning, observing, and being very grateful for the agricultural roots that bless us all in Wyoming!

Something we already knew is floating around nationally.  Wyoming is among the top 10 states in the union for low taxes, average salaries, management of expenditures, and quality of living.  The other 40 states are experiencing sizable budget deficits with discussions ranging from four-day work weeks for public employees to increasing taxes on a wide variety of items.  It doesn’t help that these states have traditionally funded operating expenses and appropriations by short and long term borrowing, which adds to their problem.  Political gridlock in many of these states between the executive and legislative branches is becoming acute even where the same political party is in power in both branches.

Wyoming has a long tradition of living within its means.  When times are fiscally good, needed infrastructure improvements and needed programs have been funded together with suitable savings for a rainy day.  When times are not so good, marginal programs and expenditures have been limited until the next boom hits.  It’s in our nature.  It’s in our blood, and we progress improving Wyoming over time without the fits and starts experienced by most other states.

It’s even better this year.  Reservoirs filling, streams running high even in July, and the greenest state I have ever seen for this time of year.  Why are we so lucky?  Because you and I have chosen to live here, raise our children here, and enjoy each others company here.  Hope you had a great Frontier Days. 

Joe Meyer

In Wyoming, we are very fortunate that most of our state has a small town feel to it. For the most part, we know our neighbors, see people around town, and are blessed to enjoy other aspects of living in close knit communities. Our education system benefits from those same positive characteristics. But one area that continues to be a challenge for our school districts and our state is the number of students who drop out each year or don’t graduate on time. I have real concern for those students who are our neighbors, friends and friends’ children.

For the past ten years, our graduation rate has hovered between 77 and 81 percent. I believe we can do better, and that is one of the reasons I have made improving our graduation rate over the next five years a key mission for the Wyoming Department of Education. It goes beyond just our department; the Wyoming Board of Education agrees, as do members of the Wyoming P-16 Council. To that end, we are partnering to bring resources to bear on this issue starting with a Wyoming education summit in August. We will be bringing together educators, policy makers, and other members of our Wyoming communities to sit down and take a hard look at what we are doing, what needs to change, and how we are going to affect that change.

A recent study looked at dropout rates and how we can begin the discussion of increasing graduation rates. The conclusion of the report involves focusing on three big areas. First, we must focus on increasing the attachment of students to the school by various key missions, such as showing them how the curriculum connects to the real world, creating smaller learning communities, and creating meaningful connections to adults. The second focus area is to work on increasing and tracking attendance through early warning systems of truancy, developing community partnerships, notifying parents and guardians, and making sure students have the support they need if they require additional learning time. The third focus is on working towards high achievement for students by concentrating on early reading, ensuring that reading is taught across the entire curriculum, and assisting teachers with professional development so they are aligned to the specific learning needs of students.

Through all of these areas of focus the old adage “it takes a village” is true. It is not just the schools that are needed to affect this change.  It takes the entire community, its’ support, and endorsement. That includes parents, business members, civic leaders, and many others. When we work together, we can affect the change we not only want, but must achieve.

CASPER, Wyo. - Ninety one percent of participants at the Building the Wyoming We Want: Vision and Values conference in Casper on June 9 and 10 said that they are confident that the challenges associated with growth in Wyoming can be resolved if residents come together and work collaboratively to address them.

In an instant polling exercise on the final day of the two-day forum, participants showed optimism about their ability to make the necessary changes at the local level, to ensure that growth and development happens in a way that is consistent with Wyoming’s values.

“Without active public participation, the very things that Wyoming residents care most about could be lost,” Terry Cleveland, advisory committee chairman said.

“Change is going to happen, whether we’re ready for it or not,” Cleveland said.

“We need a process to engage the sleeping giant and get the public actively involved in deciding the state’s future.”

At the conference, Dee Allsop, a nationally-recognized opinion researcher, presented the findings of a statewide values survey, which indicated that Wyoming residents think themselves, not the government, are the ones who should guide the state’s growth. The findings also indicated that Wyoming’s wide open spaces, access to the outdoors, and the state’s safe, friendly communities were the most important to residents, when asked what they value the most highly about living here.

Governor Freudenthal challenged participants to take charge, and to ensure the things they value in Wyoming don’t slowly disappear.

“We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and help, but the next step is yours,” he said.

In the final session of the two-day forum, Cleveland and Allsop joined State Auditor Rita Meyer and the Governor in response to questions about how the initiative will move forward.

The public-private partnership is currently working on developing a ‘toolkit’ of resources that will have two purposes: to help local officials understand the tools available to them to address growth-related challenges, and to help communities develop their vision for the future by devising strategies to implement that vision. A key resource is the power of GIS technology, which can create visual images of future growth scenarios, so people can envision how their communities might look in the future depending on how they choose to grow.

Alan Matheson, CEO of Envision Utah, explained how GIS modeling is successfully used in the initiative. In public meetings, Envision Utah helps communities generate several different growth scenarios, and after voting on those, the scenarios are used to help guide forward development.

Following the January 2008 Building the Wyoming We Want conference, the public showed great enthusiasm for creating an initiative similar to Envision Utah in Wyoming. Cleveland said that the Wyoming initiative will likely model its activities after the Utah organization, and may even contract with Envision Utah for a pilot project.

“We’re looking for a few communities to come forward and volunteer to test drive this process,” Cleveland said. “We’re hoping to hear from communities around the state who think that this might help them get a handle on some of the challenges they face in the future.”

The initiative will provide resources and help in any way it can, the Governor said, but it will not make decisions for communities.

“We’re developing a tool box, not a decision box,” he said. “The decision about how a community wants to grow will not come from us, and it will not come from this initiative. The whole reason this works is because it comes from the people. The stakes are high, and the Governor encouraged participants to take the message, that it is no longer enough to sit on the sidelines and watch, home to their communities. If you care about Wyoming’s future, you must step into the arena.

“One of the challenges is that in Wyoming, we all have our opinions about how things should be, but we also want to just let it go and assume that someone is going to take care of it for us,” Governor Freudenthal said. “The problem is that the consequence of letting it go and not getting involved, is that we sacrifice all the things we love.”

To learn more about the Building the Wyoming We Want initiative, visit: www.buildingwyoming.com.

The “lazy days” (as an animal lover, I prefer “Dog Days”) of summer are here!

If you ask any of your Elected Officials, they will tell you that during the summer our pace actually picks up. We increase our travel around the Cowboy State, attending meetings of major associations (Wyoming Mining Association, Wyoming Association of Realtors, Wyoming Petroleum Association, Wyoming Travel and Tourism, etc.), touring communities, and joining in local celebrations. I will log between 15 and 20 thousand miles. It is important for the elected officials to be familiar with issues around the state and to see problems and projects first hand.

Many Wyoming folks will be hitting the road to take advantage of our recreational opportunities, and thousands of tourists from around the world will visit all areas of our beautiful state.

When I stopped to donate blood at the blood bank last week, I learned that the increased number of travelers and the many events create an increased need for blood donors, particularly those donating platelets.

I hope you will join me and give the “gift of life.” Call your blood bank today!

There are events in our lives that stand out as life-changing experiences. I recently had the privilege and honor to participate in the Wyoming Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., which transported over 100 of Wyoming’s World War II Veterans to view the WWII Memorial.

The ages of these veterans ranged from 81-94. A two-day trip was a huge undertaking for them, and yet they came in wheelchairs, with walkers, using canes, carrying oxygen tanks, and others walking stooped and slow, and many needing assistance to even walk. Their faces, however, were determined and bright with anticipation. They had a great send-off, with Governor Freudenthal and Mayor Kaysen both speaking at a farewell ceremony. They then accompanied by motorcade to the airport.

The trip was sponsored by donations of both money and time. Many volunteers stepped up to provide necessary accompaniments required for a trip of this magnitude. I do not have words to express the experience that I had at the Memorial as I witnessed these veterans gaze at the names of their fallen brothers and sisters in service. The looks on their faces, some with tears streaming down, and memories flooding over their countenances, defies any description I can give you.

They received a warm welcome home to Cheyenne on May 20, and I know they are eternally grateful for the experience afforded them by others who gave so liberally to make this happen. Another Honor Flight is being planned for September. The contact is Larry D. Barttelbort, COL, USA (Ret.), Director, Wyoming Veterans Commission, 307-772-5016.

For the past few weeks, I have been meeting with school districts over the WEN Video system, a compressed video system that is in each of high schools around the area. I have been meeting with six districts at a time, for about an hour in the morning or afternoon. The reason for the meetings has been to discuss the recent CREG report and the stimulus funds.  I wanted to make sure the districts heard about any changes to the fiscal outlook for Wyoming’s education system from me first. The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) report gives us an idea of what the state’s revenues will look like for the coming year. As I’m sure you have read or heard in the media, we are looking at a reduction of revenue for the next year.

Here at the Wyoming Department of Education, we participated in the development of a 10 percent cut of our agency budget as requested by the Governor. For our school districts, the story is a little different. Because the funding sources for the block grant model come from payments gathered the previous year, the funding for our school districts for the upcoming year is stable. The districts will not have to make any significant changes to their budgets because of a shortfall. However, it looks like there is still a potential for a state revenue deficit in the following year. Fortunately, we and the school districts have a year to plan for that shortfall. I have been speaking with the districts to encourage them to consider their budgets carefully and not plan on starting any new activities or projects until we have a more concrete outlook for the next school year’s funding. Through careful planning and coordination, as well as some help from the stimulus funds, we should be able to handle a state revenue shortfall without any significant impact to our classrooms or students.

CHEYENNE - On May 20 and 21, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Gov. Dave Freudenthal conducted a two day tour of several major energy production regions in Wyoming.

Gov. Freudenthal invited the Administrator to visit Wyoming and see first-hand the production of traditional and renewable energy resources.

Wyoming is currently the nation’s largest net exporter of energy. The state also has some of the best wind energy potential in North America, with highly-rated wind production areas stretching from the western border with Utah to the state’s eastern plains.

Administrator Jackson toured a wind farm near Cheyenne, a coal mine near Gillette and a natural gas drilling site near Pinedale. She said the site visits illustrated the importance of domestic energy production and its role in not only decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, but also in driving America’s economic recovery. All of these goals can be achieved while also protecting human health and the environment, Jackson said.

“Wyoming is a place where economic possibilities, environmental and human health concerns, and the pursuit of energy independence all come together,” Administrator Jackson said. “As a home of wind, coal, and natural gas, Wyoming is at the heart of America’s energy future. Gov. Freudenthal and his staff were gracious in inviting me here and I enjoyed our healthy dialogue about the opportunities possible in energy production that do not forsake our environmental responsibilities.”

“I appreciate the Administrator’s willingness to take time to visit our state and see on the ground how coal, natural gas and wind are produced here,” Gov. Freudenthal said. “This was an important opportunity for us to discuss issues including carbon sequestration, the management of water produced in coal-bed methane development and the technologies used to recover natural gas in unconventional fields in Wyoming.”

On Wednesday, May 20, the Administrator visited Duke Energy’s Happy Jack Wind Farm west of Cheyenne. The facility’s 14 turbines operate at 2.1 megawatts each, contributing a total of about 30 megawatts to the local Cheyenne Light Fuel & Power electric grid.

On Thursday, May 21, the Administrator visited Wyoming’s Powder River Basin in the northeast part of the state, where the majority of the nation’s sub-bituminous coal is produced. Jackson toured Arch Coal’s Black Thunder coal mine that produces 91 million tons of coal per year.

Along with the neighboring North Rochelle mine, the facilities produce about 10 percent of total U.S. coal production.

Later on Thursday, the group viewed coal-bed natural gas development from the air and toured the extensive natural gas development in the Jonah Field, located 35 miles south of Pinedale in southwest Wyoming. The field is Wyoming’s single largest developed unconventional natural gas field and includes reserves estimated at 10.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas held deep underground in tight sand formations.

On February 23, 2009, an historic event took place in the Wyoming State Capitol Building. History coalesced in the present. On that day, all five living Secretaries of State joined together for a photo shoot.

Wyoming became a state on July 10, 1890. We’ve enjoyed nearly 119 years of statehood. Over the course of those years, many individuals have participated in her governance. There have been 31 Governors and 20 Secretaries of State. Given that history, it is amazing that the five living Secretaries of State represent more than one-third of the years of statehood, and they all came together so history could be preserved.

Thyra Thomson, a Republican, served as Secretary of State from January 1963 to January 1987; Kathy Karpan, a Democrat, served from January 1987 to January 1995; Diana J. Ohman, a Republican, served from January 1995 to January 1999; Joseph B. Meyer, a Republican, served from January 1999 to January 2007; and Max Maxfield, a Republican who is the current Secretary of State, began his term on January 2, 2007. These five individuals total 46 years of leadership as Secretaries of State.

So, on February 23, 2009, current Secretary of State Max Maxfield organized and hosted a gathering of the five Secretaries. Dove Studios was hired to capture this special moment of living history. The result was photographs which will be provided to State Archives for preservation and a couple of which will be displayed in the State Capitol.

When you think of the leadership and accomplishments of these individuals over so many years, it was clear we needed to preserve this moment. Diana, who has been living in Germany, was going to be in the States on business so it was the perfect chance to include her with the other four Secretaries who live here in Cheyenne. Dove Studios did a fantastic job and the morning was capped by an informal luncheon and a time to share stories.

Two of the photographs will be on display in the Secretary of State’s area of the State Capitol beginning June 1st.

As an elected leader, I am well aware of the long-term revenue projections. But, I also understand that even though Wyoming was a few short months ago reveling in its revenue projections, that picture can change very quickly…and it has. In times of plenty, government has the tendency to do more than it might be able to continue for the long term, and try to be all things to all people. What we can do and what we should do in making funding decisions, in times of plenty, is often in conflict. I have been at the decision-making table when the flow of revenue changed directions and the State was faced with the need to downsize or to completely eliminate existing programs to balance the budget. That is not a pleasant experience.

In times of plenty, there is tremendous political pressure to start new programs aimed at helping more of Wyoming’s citizens. These programs “grow” government. Over time, as the cost to maintain these programs increases and the flow of revenue changes direction, the decisions to cut funding and/or dismantle existing programs become much more difficult. Striking the right balance between growing government and supporting the needs of a growing economy is key to successful leadership at both the state and local level.

Our nation’s employers and employees are feeling the insecure times. In Wyoming, many are experiencing financial downturn and dilemma, and we are seeing unemployment increase. We are, at the same time, faced with budget challenges. When I look at the price of gas at our local stations, I know two things are happening: lower prices translate to more economy for struggling families…and lower prices also mean that Wyoming is losing anticipated revenue and State services could be impacted. In Wyoming, our collective working together to solve tough issues is something we have always strived to do well for the benefit of our citizens, and I anticipate that to be the outcome through these present difficult times.

The state treasurer is primarily responsible for the state investment portfolio, currently valued in excess of Ten Billion Dollars. In addition, the state treasurer wears several other hats. In serving on seven boards and commissions, current financial and economic circumstances are affecting not only state investment returns but intruding on many other state and local operations.

In the investment world and returns, the value of the state’s holdings has decreased, expected to recover over time, but more significantly actual cash returns have decreased. This is due in part because interest returns on fixed income holdings, bonds and the like, have dropped dramatically because of actions by the Federal Reserve System to stimulate the economy through low interest rates. This situation is projected to continue during the near term. Interest earnings by Wyoming political subdivisions will also be affected.

For the boards and commissions the state treasurer serves on, some in depth thinking and planning will be required in this environment to develop and present options for the Governor and Legislature to consider. For the State Loan and Investment Board, there may be less funding and opportunities to assist upgrades and needed improvements to local water, sewer and waste disposal systems. For the State Land Board, trustees for state school lands in excess of 3.6 million acres, royalties will drop. The State Building Commission, currently managing construction contracts in excess of $100 million, will have to choose its recommendations for future construction knowing that revenues will be down but also knowing that construction and material costs have also dropped dramatically.

One of our strengths in Wyoming is our people. Successful businesses and government operations are easy to identify. As a group they all have hard working, dedicated and thoughtful human beings who are problem identifiers and solvers before a crisis hits. I am blessed to work with two such persons in the Office of Treasurer, the chief deputy Sharon Garland and the chief investment officer, Michael Walden Newman. Due to their efforts for the citizens of Wyoming, working with a talented and seasoned group within this office, any citizen can follow and track the state investment portfolio on our website and be aware of their collective efforts as we weather the financial storm. And we will.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

Joe Meyer

As the regular school year ends, many people around the state may not be aware that it is also the beginning of what has become an award-winning program for education in Wyoming. Last summer, Wyoming was recognized nationally for its outstanding summer learning opportunities provided to Wyoming students through the Wyoming Bridges grant. The Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Summer Learning Champion of Summer Learning Award was presented by Senators John Barasso and Mike Enzi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to a delegation from Wyoming. Summer school programs have suffered from a perception that summer school meant punishment, which is not true in our state. Summer school programs are so much more than the classrooms from the 80s comedies. Summer school programs provide excellent outreach opportunities for students and primarily assist in retention of knowledge through the long summer break. In Wyoming, the Bridges grant encourages summer learning opportunities that engage students in higher order thinking through practical and real-world application. It also incorporates learning through hands-on experiences relevant to a student’s learning style. Summer programs are required to develop an individual learning plan for each student. Teaching and learning is encouraged to be different in the Bridges program, which creates a better environment for students with the greatest needs. The Bridges program is also unique because it is funded exclusively by the efforts of the Wyoming Legislature. The state Legislature has financially supported Wyoming Bridges program for the past four years, and current funding is $11 million. This program is a great example of combining national research with the expertise of Wyoming’s excellent educators to develop a system that successfully addresses a student’s needs in special circumstances. Research has long shown that most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in math and reading skills over the summer months, a loss particularly evident in low-income students. Recent research conducted by Wyoming Bridges program has confirmed that high quality summer programs can mitigate this achievement gap over time, an encouraging finding supporting national data.

Cheyenne – Gregg Blikre of Gillette, and Terry Kimble of Evanston, were sworn in as members of the Wyoming House of Representatives of the 60th Wyoming Legislature on Friday, September 11, at 8:30 a.m. in Cheyenne in the House Chambers of the Wyoming State Capitol.  Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Barton Voigt administered the oath of office and Representative Pete Illoway of Cheyenne presided over the ceremony.

Following the administration of the oaths of office, legislators, legislative staff, family, and friends welcomed Representatives Blikre and Kimble to the Wyoming Legislature. 

After the ceremony, Representative Blikre commented on his new role, “I’m very happy and excited to be here, and I’m looking forward to working hard to serve the people of Campbell County and Wyoming.”

After taking the oath of office, Representative Kimble expressed his thoughts on representing the people of House District 49. “I appreciate the opportunity from the County Commissioners for me to serve the City of Evanston and I intend on working very hard for the citizens of Evanston, as well as Wyoming.”

On August 18, the Uinta County Commissioners appointed Kimble to fill the vacant House District 49 seat formerly held by Saundra Meyer, who was recently appointed to the Wyoming Senate. The Campbell County Commissioners appointed Blikre to the House District 53 seat on September 1, after Erin Mercer moved out of the district she represented.

Kimble, a retired teacher and former member of the Evanston City Council, has been appointed by House Speaker Colin Simpson to the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee.  Blikre will replace Representative Bernadine Craft on the committee.  Simpson has moved Craft to the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee after the vacancy created on that committee when Meyer was appointed to the Senate.  Simpson noted that he is still finalizing committee appointments for Blikre, a banker and former member of the Campbell County School Board.

WASHINGTON – Women in Wyoming looking to start a business in the state just got a boost from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), according to U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso, and Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo. The Wyoming Women’s Business Center (WWBC) was awarded $150,000 from the SBA on Sept. 14.
The delegation wrote a letter of support for the center to receive the grant and asked the SBA to place an emphasis on women’s entrepreneurship.

“Women-owned businesses are a vital and growing part of Wyoming’s economy. There has been a lot of support for the Wyoming Women’s Business Center, making it a crucial resource to women entrepreneurs across the entire state,” Enzi said. “Women-owned businesses in Wyoming depend on the WWBC and our state’s economy depends on their business.”

“The Wyoming Women’s Business Center will continue to ensure that every woman who owns a small business in Wyoming – or any woman who dreams of owning one – has access to the tools they need for their business to be a success,” Barrasso said.

“The Wyoming Women’s Business Center plays a vital role in our state’s growth and economic vitality,” Lummis said. “Women-owned businesses in Wyoming are growing faster and larger every year. This grant will go a long way in allowing the WWBC to continue helping those businesses expand and flourish.”

The WWBC is expected to remain state-funded. The funding from the grant will allow the center to greatly increase the economic independence and self  sufficiency of women and their families through self-employment nurtured by community support, outreach, and partnership. The grant will provide the WWBC with the needed working capital to continue their mission of assisting women-owned small businesses statewide.

In 2007, WWBC Executive Director Rosemary Bratton of Laramie gave her testimony before a Senate Small Business Committee hearing, “Expanding Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs,” which helped lay the framework for the organization  and other rural areas to receive this grant.

The WWBC provides essential services for low-to-moderate income women including technical assistance, capital, business counseling, networking opportunities, and a path to national certification as Women-Owned and Controlled Business, a designation that helps Wyoming business gain customers and contracts from across the country. The University of Wyoming, the Wyoming Small Business Development Center, the Wyoming Business Council, the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and others have joined together to financially support WWBC services since 2000.

The Wyoming Legislature is a citizen legislature, meaning members elected serve part-time and legislative service is typically not the members’ primary occupation. Wyoming remains one of the few states that has a true part-time citizen legislature. The part-time nature of the institution allows members to stay in close contact with their constituents and concerns of their communities.

Wyoming legislators come from a variety of backgrounds and hold diverse occupations, mirroring the backgrounds and occupations of their communities across the state. Some of the more unique occupations for Wyoming legislators include an auctioneer, a television producer, and a poet.

Analysis of legislator occupations is based on self-reported biographical data from legislators. Reported occupations were categorized into general occupational categories using the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics 23 Standard Occupational Classification groups. These categories were renamed and condensed into 20 groups.

Of the 90 legislators, 20 reported that they are retired or semi-retired, while 70 of the remaining legislators hold full time jobs in addition to representing Wyoming residents in the legislature.

Totals for each of the occupational categories, including the occupations of retired legislators are as follows: Agriculture (12); Architecture and Engineering (3); Business and Finance (9); Community and Social Services (4); Construction and Extraction (6); Education (12); Entertainment and Media (3); Healthcare (4); Installation, Maintenance, Repair (3); Legal (13); Life, Physical and Social Sciences (5); Miscellaneous (8); Services (2); and Transportation (6). (See Figure 1.)

Totals for the occupational categories of the 70 legislators who are currently employed are as follows: Agriculture (12); Architecture and Engineering (2); Business and Finance (8); Community and Social Services (4); Construction and Extraction (5); Education (5); Entertainment and Media (3); Healthcare (4); Installation, Maintenance, Repair (2); Legal (13); Life, Physical and Social Sciences (3); Miscellaneous (3); Services (2); and Transportation (4). (See Figure 2).

Occupations with fewer than two legislators in a category are included within the group of “Miscellaneous.”

• There are 30 members of the Wyoming Senate.


• There are 23 Republicans and 7 Democrats currently serving.


• Members serve four-year terms.


• Candidates must be 25 years old to serve.


• Candidates must be a citizen of the United States and Wyoming and must have resided within the district they wish to represent for at least 12 months preceding the election.


• The President of the Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate.


• Impeachment shall be tried in the Senate.


• The Senate Chamber is located in the west wing of the second floor of the Wyoming Capitol.

• There are 60 members of the Wyoming House of Representatives.


• There are 41 Republicans and 19 Democrats currently serving.


• Members serve two-year terms.


• Candidates must be 21 years old to serve.


• Candidates must be a citizen of the United States and Wyoming and must have resided within the district they wish to represent for at least 12 months preceding the election.


• The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the Wyoming House of Representatives.


• All revenue-raising bills must start in the House.


• The House has the sole power of impeachment (Governor, and other state and judicial officers can be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, or malfeasance in office.)


• The House Chamber is located in the east wing of the second floor of the Wyoming Capitol.

A great deal of the Legislature’s work is accomplished through the efforts of legislative committees. Most legislators serve on several committees. The information below provides details about how different committees are structured in the Wyoming Legislature.

Management Council

A legislative committee called the Management Council serves as the leadership of the Legislature and serves as the administrative arm of the legislative branch of state government and serves as the policymaking body when the Legislature is not in session. The Management Council consists of 13 members representing both parties and consists primarily of legislators in the leadership positions.

Standing Committees (meet only during session)

There are 12 permanent parallel committees in the Wyoming Senate and Wyoming House of Representatives. These committees are called “standing” committees. Standing committees meet during legislative sessions to review bills, hear testimony, and recommend action on legislation for the consideration of the full body of the Senate or House. Standing committees meet before and after the daily general session of the House and Senate and during the noon recess. These committees generally consist of nine members in House standing committees and five members in Senate standing committees.

The 12 permanent standing committees in the Senate and House include: Judiciary; Appropriations; Revenue; Education; Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources; Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources; Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions; Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs; Minerals, Business and Economic Development; Labor, Health and Social Services; Journal (does not meet as a committee), and Rules and Procedure. All legislation being considered during session is assigned by the presiding officer in the House or Senate to one of these committees for review and recommendation before being considered on the floor by the entire body of the House or Senate.

Joint Interim Committees and Sub-Committees

In the interim – the period between sessions – the standing committees in each body, with the exception of the Journal and Rules committees, merge to form joint interim committees. Joint interim committees study topics assigned by the Management Council during the interim between the sessions of the legislature. Some committee chairmen may create sub-committees to address specified topics assigned to their joint interim committee. These committees often meet throughout the state during the interim.

Other Legislative Committees and Task Forces

In addition to the 10 permanent joint interim committees, members also serve on a variety of select committees and task forces during the interim. Some of these select committees are permanent entities authorized in statute, some are approved through legislation for a time-limited basis to address an identified issue of concern to the Legislature, and others may be authorized by the Management Council.

Washington, D.C. – As the Senate Finance Committee began consideration of its health care reform bill today, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., said he would offer amendments to reduce health care costs for average Americans, scale back the total spending in the bill, and protect American workers from new taxes and costly mandates.

“The Finance bill spends too much and does too little to bring down health care costs.  The hidden taxes and government mandates in this bill will actually increase health care costs for many families,” Enzi said.

“We need to focus like a laser beam on getting costs under control.  Instead of creating a new entitlement program and doling out more and more taxpayer dollars in subsidies, we need to make quality care more affordable.”

Enzi filed 20 amendments to improve the Finance Committee bill, including reforms to reduce costs, control spending, and protect American families by:

Giving Americans affordable options – The Finance bill includes a number of new mandates for coverage, requiring Americans to purchase high-end, expensive plans, regardless of their needs.  The Enzi alternative would give Americans the option of purchasing low-cost affordable plans that meet their budgets and health care needs.

Eliminating junk lawsuits – Despite the President’s call for medical malpractice reform, the Finance bill does not include any meaningful effort to reduce frivolous lawsuits or curb the costly practice of defensive medicine.  The Enzi alternative would include a serious commitment to reward states for establishing alternatives, like health courts, to traditional litigation and for adopting caps on non-economic damages.

Protecting jobs, wages – The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has concluded that the employer penalties similar to those in the Finance bill would result in lost jobs and lower wages.  The Enzi alternative would prohibit those penalties from going into effect unless the Administration certifies that they would not result in lower wages or higher unemployment.

Scrapping new taxes – The Finance bill imposes new, hidden taxes on medical devices that will drive up health care costs for millions of Americans.  The Enzi alternative would allow exempt critical medical devices, like products used in neo-natal intensive care units and devices used to treat pediatric cancer, from the new tax. 

Encouraging wellness – The Finance bill does not include significant measures to bring down costs by encouraging people to make healthy lifestyle choices.  The Enzi alternative would reduce health care spending and help people live healthier lives by letting companies charge lower health insurance premiums for people who adopt healthy behaviors, like eating well, exercising and giving up smoking.

Giving Medicaid patients high quality options – Forty percent of doctors will not take new Medicaid patients, yet the Finance bill significantly expands Medicaid and requires millions of Americans to enroll in the program.  The Enzi alternative would allow Medicaid beneficiaries to opt out and enroll in a high quality private plan.

Targeting assistance to those who need it most – Despite an estimated deficit of approximately $9 trillion in the coming decade, the Baucus bill carries a price tag of nearly $1 trillion.  The Enzi alternative would scale back the size of the bill by reducing health care costs for everyone and targeting government assistance to those who truly need it.

For more information on Enzi’s efforts to improve the Finance bill, please visit enzi.senate.gov.

Washington, D.C. – Following a week traveling in Wyoming and listening to constituents, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., heard time and again the concern many people have with the energy bill recently passed by the House. Enzi said the bill is a national energy tax disguised as a program to decrease carbon emissions, when in reality the cap and tax program included in the bill is like a Ponzi scheme.

“Cap and tax is designed to take money from business and their customers, plain and simple. It does hardly anything to stop carbon emissions. The plan is for the government to print a bunch of certificates, not backed by anything, then give away and auction them among energy companies. Once the companies get the certificates, they will pass the increased price of their energy products down to you and me, the consumers. Companies don’t pay taxes, consumers do. Then when energy and gas bills get more expensive, the government will take the money from certificates and give a small portion of the money back to whom political leaders see fit. If you are in the favored group, then maybe you can pay your increased utility bill that the government caused in the first place. I call this a Ponzi scheme,” said Enzi.

“The House passed the bill by buying votes with pork projects. There are hundreds of pages in the bill that have nothing to do with energy legislation and everything to do with securing pet projects. That type of vote trading is a felony in Wyoming, and it should be a felony in Washington. Our country can’t afford expensive and detrimental legislation.

“Not only is cap and tax bad domestic policy, it would hinder U.S. global competitiveness by increasing the cost of doing business. Subjecting U.S. companies to a national energy tax is like dropping anchor on a sailboat at the start of a race. It doesn’t make sense unless you want to lose,” said Enzi.

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing today to consider the international trade consequences a cap and tax system would have on the U.S. economy.

Yesterday the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on clean energy and reducing global warming and the impacts that could have on American competitiveness.

The House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, H.R. 2454, by a vote of 219-217on June 26. The Senate is expected to take up energy legislation before August.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., are leading a bipartisan charge to reform the congressional earmark process by restoring fiscal responsibility and transparency to the broken system.

“American families are being forced to cut back on their expenses and make sacrifices to deal with the effects of the economic downturn,” Lummis said. “They are right to be frustrated with the inability of Congress to control its own fiscal appetite as their tax dollars support an endless trough of pet projects. It is way past time to restore transparency, fairness, and fiscal restraint to the earmark process. Our plan will do just that.”

“Funding from appropriations can be responsible and awarded fairly as long as the process is open and transparent, and that is where Washington has often fallen short,” said Kirkpatrick. “This bill will continue efforts to reform the appropriations process so that we can ensure that taxpayer dollars are well spent.”

The “Predictable, Equitable and Transparent (PET) Project Act,” H.R. 3233, will cap the amount of money available for earmarks at no more than one percent of congressional spending. The bill will divide earmark funds equally between the House and Senate and equally among members of both bodies. Members of Congress would be forced to prioritize within their limit, but also have the option to devote the money to deficit reduction.

“Earmarks may only be a small part of the federal budget, but they add up. Last year alone, earmarks cost taxpayers $19.6 billion,” Lummis added. “My bill will cut the cost of earmarks by almost half, give members of Congress the option to use their earmark dollars to reduce the deficit, and shine a spotlight on the process.”

The PET Project Act creates a permanent public record of earmark requests, as well as an electronic database of earmark requests that is timely, user-friendly, and accessible by the public. Each member will be required to submit all earmark requests, whether or not they are funded, for posting on House and Senate clerks’ websites. They will also be required to submit in the Congressional Record certifications that members and their immediate families have no financial interest in their requests.

The PET Project Act also prohibits “air-dropped” earmarks that escape public scrutiny by being added last minute to House-Senate conference report bills that are unamendable and on which debate is limited. The bill will require earmarks to first pass either the House or Senate.

Washington, D.C. – Following a week traveling in Wyoming and listening to constituents, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., heard time and again the concern many people have with the energy bill recently passed by the House. Enzi said the bill is a national energy tax disguised as a program to decrease carbon emissions, when in reality the cap and tax program included in the bill is like a Ponzi scheme.

“Cap and tax is designed to take money from business and their customers, plain and simple. It does hardly anything to stop carbon emissions. The plan is for the government to print a bunch of certificates, not backed by anything, then give away and auction them among energy companies. Once the companies get the certificates, they will pass the increased price of their energy products down to you and me, the consumers. Companies don’t pay taxes, consumers do. Then when energy and gas bills get more expensive, the government will take the money from certificates and give a small portion of the money back to whom political leaders see fit. If you are in the favored group, then maybe you can pay your increased utility bill that the government caused in the first place. I call this a Ponzi scheme,” said Enzi.

“The House passed the bill by buying votes with pork projects. There are hundreds of pages in the bill that have nothing to do with energy legislation and everything to do with securing pet projects. That type of vote trading is a felony in Wyoming, and it should be a felony in Washington. Our country can’t afford expensive and detrimental legislation.

“Not only is cap and tax bad domestic policy, it would hinder U.S. global competitiveness by increasing the cost of doing business. Subjecting U.S. companies to a national energy tax is like dropping anchor on a sailboat at the start of a race. It doesn’t make sense unless you want to lose,” said Enzi.

The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing today to consider the international trade consequences a cap and tax system would have on the U.S. economy.

Yesterday the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing on clean energy and reducing global warming and the impacts that could have on American competitiveness.

The House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, H.R. 2454, by a vote of 219-217on June 26. The Senate is expected to take up energy legislation before August.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Barrasso , R-Wyo, has called for a Senate investigation into the silencing of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and Small Business Administration lawyers by the Administration.

“It is clear that there is a culture of intimidation in the EPA. They have ignored and willfully blocked warnings from their own scientists, their own economists, and their own lawyers,” Barrasso said.

This spring, the Obama Administration strongly reacted to revelations that their own attorneys had serious concerns about regulating climate change using the Clean Air Act.
“These concerns were both economic and scientific and were ignored by top officials in the Administration,” Barrasso said.

“This is unacceptable behavior for any Administration, let alone one that claims to support openness. Unfortunately, the culture of intimidation has now become a pattern.”

A new EPA study has surfaced, questioning the science underlying its own proposed endangerment finding. Dr. Alan Carlin, a PhD economist in the EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, authored the report.

Carlin questioned a number of inconsistencies in the EPA’s scientific data. He also questioned why the EPA has relied entirely on outside scientific research to make its conclusions.

“Rather than incorporate Dr. Carlin’s scientific findings and listen to his warnings, his EPA superiors tried to silence him,” Barrasso said.

The EPA actions are highlighted in the Wall Street Journal: “The EPA Silences a Climate Skeptic.”

“The EPA has ignored, and willfully blocked, warnings from their own scientists, their own economists and their own lawyers,” Barrasso said.

“As Ranking Member of the EPW Oversight Subcommittee, I believe we can no longer allow this type of behavior to go unchecked. Behavior where the best advice and counsel is ignored, blocked and kept hidden from the public.”

Barrasso has requested EPW Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Whitehouse launch a Senate investigation.

“A culture of intimidation has no justification in any Administration. This Administration has publicly promised to hold itself to a standard of openness, transparency and accepting of opinions from individuals with differing opinions,” Barrasso said.

“So far this Administration has failed to make the grade.”

Editor’s Note: This is the second in an ongoing series of articles about the recent collaboration of the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County to create a Laramie County Community Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board (JPB).

On October 1, 2009, the Laramie County Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board met for the first time.  Appointed JPB members were introduced and work began.  Two major goals were established immediately, with the creation of subcommittees that will tackle each aggressively to meet upcoming deadlines.

As part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, the State of Wyoming has been charged with the opportunity to distribute funds to counties throughout the state.  Two million dollars have been earmarked for “Juvenile Detention” as a result of the ARRA specifically for Laramie County.  The JPB will have to develop a conceptual plan for detention, generate plan inputs and submit for grant application and submit the grant by December 31, 2009. 

It became very clear during the meeting that the “Juvenile Detention” plan that will be submitted for this grant money will include the construction of a new facility. In this very short planning and application timeline, the JPB will not only have to decide what purpose the facility will serve (hardware secure, staff secure, or intake), but building type, size, operating agency, ownership, services, construction agency, and much more.  In addition, they will have to secure sources of funding above and beyond what the grant will allow.

According to JPB member, Alfreida Gonzalez, “We are not starting from scratch.  There is a lot of work that has already been done.”

Ronn Jeffreys added, “A preliminary plan was done with a lot of people.  It’s a skeleton or general plan.” He went on to explain, “All we know about is the two million dollars [for facility costs]. The City and County is putting in x amount of dollars currently.  By December 31, we will have a specific plan for the two million dollars.  It may just be a portion of the detention needs.” The preliminary plan referred to was submitted to the Governor Summer 2009.

Sheriff Glick said, “We need to build to expand.  The [County] Commission has already offered up land.”  He went on to add that he believes there will be a day when Cornerstone will not be in operation, and furthermore the Wardle facility was never constructed to house detainees.

According to County Commissioner Jeff Ketcham, the county has offered land for the building of a new facility.  The land is located at the corner of College and Fox Farm Road.

In addition, there are approximately 286 thousand dollars available in funding from the State of Wyoming to be used to develop a continuum of care within juvenile services. These funds are allocated to each county based on the percentage of state youth population living within that county, with a minimum of fifty thousand per county for counties with a youth population below 5,000.

Jeffery Herb, Juvenile Services Program Analyst for the Wyoming State Department of Family Services, took time to describe the efforts that will be needed from the board to secure these funds. He explained the concept of Continuum of Care and how it corresponds with the facility needs of Central Intake and Assessment. 

Beginning October 8, subcommittees of the JPB will begin meeting to hash out the details to submit for grant funding.  The first meeting for the detention plan subcommittee with be Thursday, October 8, 2009. Followed by several other meetings.  The strategic plan subcommittee (continuum of care) will meet October 15.  The group will meet as a whole again on October 14 to review the detention plan so that it may be forwarded to the grant writer, Tim Thorsen.

Editor’s Note: This is the second in an ongoing series of articles about the recent collaboration of the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County to create a Laramie County Community Juvenile Services Joint Powers Board (JPB).

Ronn Jeffrey, Municipal Court Judge, summarized the concept of the JPB as a multi-disciplinary group of people working together to plan a system for handling kids in the system. He added, “The Board is saying juveniles are an important part of our community and they deserve safe treatment. The JPB will look at what is already here in our community to provide this treatment, what needs to be here, and what should be done to meet these needs.”

The JPB is a joint effort in our community by our mayor, city council, and commissioners to look at the best interest of our youth. As of yet, the entire board has not been filled but is expected to be sometime in August. The board will consist of representatives from both the Laramie County Commissioners and the Cheyenne City Council, as well as members from several entities within Laramie County that are currently involved in providing services related to the juvenile system.

In 2008, Senate File 0066, Enrolled Act #30, the purpose of this Community Juvenile Services legislation was to meet four primary goals regarding juvenile services/justice: provide a central intake and assessment; develop criteria for juvenile diversion and detention standards; develop a continuum of non-secure services; and aid in the identification of other funding sources for local juvenile services.

According to a memorandum published by the State of Wyoming Department of Family Services from Tony Lewis, the Director, on April 3, 2008, “The legislation appropriates $2 million from the current DFS Court-Ordered Placement budget to fund community juvenile services boards and planning. This appropriation is not intended to fund all community juvenile services. However, it is the intent of the legislation to identify other local and state resources that already fund these services and allow communities to make recommendations to state agencies that are appropriate to local needs.”

Jeffreys stated, “The JPB will work toward meeting the goals [set forth in Senate File 0066] to better serve our youth.”

Providing appropriate juvenile services does come with a price tag. As of June 2009, the State of Wyoming applied for federal economic stimulus funding. According to the July 18, 2009 Associated Press article, Wyo. seeks stimulus funds for education, detention, after amendments to the original application, the state is seeking “$14 million to fund construction and improvement of juvenile detention centers around the state.”

“The federal funding would go a long way toward solving the state’s juvenile detention problems,” said Gary Hartman, Gov. Dave Freudenthal’s juvenile justice advisor. Hartman added that the plans call for building or improving centers in Natrona County, Cheyenne, Rock Springs, and elsewhere.

Ronn Jeffrey said, “Laramie County submitted a very preliminary overview of what is being looked at in our Juvenile System to the Governor for consideration in the use of these funds. The board will later put it in a formal plan.”

Jeffreys also stated that he anticipates that the local boards will be participants in the decisions made allocating any funds that the state receives in economic stimulus funding. The JPB will create a united presence for our community in the allocation of such funds.

Natrona County Board of Commissioners is currently in the planning stages to build a long overdue new juvenile detention center to replace the current facility. The dire need for a new facility to provide safe placement of juveniles is plagued by many decisions, funding, operating entity, costs to run a new facility, and deficiencies in current programs.

Many of these same decisions, whether it be upgrading or building current facilities or programs, are similar to that which Laramie County will face as well. As the newly formed Laramie County Community Juvenile Services JPB addresses the needs of our current juvenile system it will be a great responsibility to be fiscally responsible in using what exists and works in addition to collaborative efforts to improve what needs to be improved.

In the next installment of this series, we will further investigate how Natrona County is addressing the funding of their new facility, whether local taxes will be used to operate the facility in the long-term, what entity is anticipated to operate the facility, along with other impending decisions facing their commissioners. In addition, a follow-up on the state’s economic stimulus application and the progress and actions of our JPB will be reported.