City may revisit lodging tax

GILLETTE - City leaders are trying to bring back a lodging tax, saying it would help promote Gillette with billboards, brochures and advertisements in national magazines.

A proposal to either increase the tax on motel rooms and campsites from 2 to 3 percent or do away with the tax ended with the demise of the tax after the November 2004 election.

But backers of the tax aren't giving up. They want to put it back on the ballot.

The Gillette Chamber of Commerce plans to form a committee to work on educating voters about the tax and to plan the campaign, chamber President Julie Simon said.

It remains undecided when the issue might go back before voters.

City Councilman Steve Hughes said he didn't want it on the general election ballot, when voters will consider an optional 1 percent sales tax. Hughes said he didn't want to lessen the chances that the 1 percent sales tax will pass.

Simon said lodging tax supporters had been eyeing the August primary ballot.

Towns maintain fire district hopes

POWELL - A bill that would allow communities to form their own fire districts went nowhere in the state Legislature, but the towns of Frannie and Deaver aren't giving up.

A fundraising dinner and auction planned in Deaver on March 18 will attempt to raise money to help cover legal fees to establish a new fire district, according to a news release.

Last fall, the Park County Fire Protection District 1 closed the Frannie-Deaver station, irking many of the 500 or so people in the surrounding area near the Montana line.

Reps. Elaine Harvey, R-Lovell, and Colin Simpson, R-Cody, voted last month to introduce a bill to allow new fire districts to be split off from existing ones. But the bill failed to get the two-thirds majority required for introduction.

Bryan Lee, a former Frannie mayor and firefighter, said another attempt could be made with the legislation next year. Lee has also suggested trying to negotiate with the fire district.

Energy project seeks comments

A geophysical project in southwest Wyoming is open for public comment through March Wednesday. The project is eight miles northeast of Woodruff Narrows Reservoir in Uinta County, and is just more than 25 square miles.

The Bureau of Land Management is in charge of the 17.11 square miles of federal land, and is seeking public comment on the operation that would use trucks, vans, a helicopter, ATVs and support equipment tractor trailers and fuel trucks. Two energy companies are looking to determine what resources exist in the area, and plan to use the shot-hole method to map the area.

Written comments should be mailed to: James Roberts, Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Highway 189 N., Kemmerer, 83101. Comments may be e-mailed to Kemmerer_wymail@blm.gov, with the "Tear 3D Project" in the subject field.

To receive a copy of the environmental document or if you have any questions regarding this project, contact James Roberts at (307) 828-4506.