Looking past Cheyenne streets

City Council action recognizes reality of local economy

By D. Reed Eckhardt

Kudos to the majority of the Cheyenne City Council, which in late December resisted the push to convert the Capital City's future into concrete and asphalt. By a 9-1 vote, members rebuffed a push by now-Mayor Marian Orr and now-Councilman Pete Laybourn to turn a sixth-penny sales tax proposition that contains a solid balance of amenities into money for streets. The council instead wisely chose to build for Cheyenne's future.

As Councilman Mark Rinne said, "The question is: Do we want to buy something for the future -- an asset for the community -- or do we want to pave a few more potholes people aren't going to notice in four or five years."

Amen. And well done!

Interestingly, a new report from Bloomberg, called the Economic Evaluation of the States, shows that Wyoming ranks dead last regarding its business potential. The main reason: the lack of workforce. And one reason for that is that Cheyenne fails to offer the sorts of amenities that encourage young people to stay home. As noted in a Casper Star-Tribune article about the report, nearly one-fifth of Cheyenne's workforce lives in northern Colorado. Why? Because that area offers the amenities that the Capital City does not.

Thus, the push to put money into streets rather than into, say, the Greater Cheyenne Greenway or trails at the Belvoir Ranch or a gym and fieldhouse, is both nonsensical and counterproductive. Not only is it one-time money -- Cheyenne's streets have an annual maintenance shortfall in the neighborhood of $3 million -- but without the amenities that the sixth penny could provide, there is little reason to think young people are going to stay, or return, home.

Orr said during the campaign that Wyoming's tax structure and business climate should be enough to grow the city. Afraid not. As Randy Bruns, head of the local economic development group, Cheyenne LEADS, said in the Star-Tribune article, all of that was not enough to attract a business suitor to the Capital City recently. The company went elsewhere. Without amenities to encourage young people to consider Cheyenne, the city will continue to lose out because it won't have the workers to fill the jobs. Bringing Cheyenne's children home -- or keeping them here rather than allowing them to flee -- should be Job One of city officials. At least the council majority recognizes that.

The City Council was wise to stand up to Orr and Laybourn and set a course toward progress. And it was ill-advised of Orr and Laybourn to argue that streets are the most important item on the city's agenda. It is true that the voters said, "Streets, streets, streets" in the fall campaign. This writer certainly heard that. But sound leadership looks beyond the present and into the future. Road surfacing won't bring young people home; amenities will.

Thank heavens the City Council did more than just take the voters' temperature and then overreact. Instead, it has provided, in the long term, a way to fund both streets -- economic growth can provide the capital to eventually pay for road surfaces -- and keep young people home. Such leadership has been rare here in recent years. It is worthy of celebration. Hurrah!

D. Reed Eckhardt is the former executive editor of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. He also made an unsuccessful bid to serve on the City Council this past fall