Elected officials worry about housing, transportation impacts
WHITNEY ROYSTER Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 12:00 am
JACKSON - Teton County elected officials expressed gratitude Monday for an update on concepts for a proposed school of business here, but they raised questions of how that school would affect infrastructure in the fast-growing county.
Brent Hathaway, dean of the College of Business at the University of Wyoming, presented a sketch of ideas being discussed by a steering committee for the proposed business school to Town Council members and county commissioners. He said meetings in Jackson to be held through Thursday represented a "critical milestone" for formulation of a business school plan.
But Hathaway and consultants were short on details to answer elected officials' questions.
Councilman Scott Anderson asked if the steering committee - put together by legislation in March and chaired by Hathaway - determined if a school would use an existing facility or require a new building.
Arne Jorgensen, a consultant for the project, said that decision would have to be made after the steering committee developed a more concrete plan for the school, and a legislative oversight committee gave approval.
"It very well could be existing. It could also be new in the county or town," Jorgensen said. "We have no preconceived notions at all."
Commissioner Jim Darwiche asked if considerations for housing and transportation were "part of the package" being developed by the steering committee.
Jorgensen said once other issues are determined - such as how big the school will be - teams will "start exploring site criteria." Among those considerations will be issues such as housing and transportation, he said.
Some controversy has swirled around the idea of a graduate school of business in Jackson, particularly because a state school parcel of land sits in a valuable area near Teton Village. Sen. Grant Larson, R-Jackson, helped lead the charge for a possible business school and has said it was not related to the school parcel.
Hathaway told the group, along with about 50 members of the public, that hired consultants and steering committee members are "deeply engaged" in the research side of the possible school - namely, what a possible curriculum would be and whom the school would serve.
A focus on natural resource management and sustainable business practices has been discussed, Hathaway said.
"This could be just as germane for a coal company as well as a whitewater rafting company here locally," Hathaway said.
Business ethics, tourism and health care may also have a focus at the school, he said.
Another focus could be on entrepreneurship, he said, because the economy is "driven by the entrepreneur, not by corporate America."
"We think this is a great opportunity to provide a real world-class facility for important topics for the state," Hathaway said. "If there's one anchor on why we're doing this, that's it."
The school would focus on "quality, not quantity," Hathaway said.
"We believe that will end up being fewer people and longer stays," he said, noting that should not add much to traffic problems.
Hathaway also said it is "very clear" any business school in Teton County would have to "add value to the University of Wyoming."
This can "not undermine any of the existing resources in Laramie," he said. It's "another opportunity to garner additional national recognition."
Another focus might be on high school students to help them understand the opportunities available in Wyoming, to help the state's out-migration problem, Hathaway said.
Business leaders who have moved to Teton County could help teach at the new school, tapping into the human resource of that county, supporters have said.
Commissioner Andy Schwartz asked Hathaway about the format of the school. At first, commissioners believed it was going to be a campus setup, but Schwartz questioned whether the steering committee was moving away from that.
"That's still an option for us," Hathaway said. "We're still considering a graduate presence."
He said the demand for conferences, summits and other education opportunities has to be evaluated before deciding.
Councilman Steve Harrington asked about an Oct. 1 deadline for the steering committee to present a recommendation to the Legislature, saying it seemed tight to develop an idea for the "world-class" school.
"We are on a very aggressive timeline, there's no doubt about that," Hathaway said. "I feel like we are on track."
Reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@trib.com.