WHEATLAND – The closure of the town’s dog park at Derringer Park for safety reasons prompted public comment at Wheatland’s town council meeting last week.

David Luther and Cori Shirk, both local residents, shared their concern of the hardship to local residents a long-term closure of the dog park could make.

Luther said the dog park is part of his daily routine to allow his big dog to exercise and for him to socialize with other locals. “If I have to walk my big dog on a leash, I’d be the trailer to his tractor. We have a lot of use for the dog park…The human aspect is as important as the dog aspect.”

Shirk said she has a nine-month-old puppy which she has been taking to the dog park since she got him as a puppy. “It’s the highlight of his life. We go there every day and get to know people. People from all over Platte County use the dog park – so do people off the highway… When I saw the post on Facebook (about the dog park closure) it broke my heart because I can no longer spend the summer in the dog park… I understand there is a huge safety hazard, but is there an alternative?”

The closure of the dog park was prompted by an incident when a resident fell while trying to cross a 12-inch ditch near the park. The town website posted a notice the dog park is closed until further notice, and to contact town hall for more information.

“Are there any other options for a temporary dog park in town?” Shirk asked the council.

In the course of conversation, it was pointed out WYDOT is in charge of the 16th Street and Derringer park drainage construction, and their safety person will be in charge of deciding when it would be safe to open the park.

“My understanding of access being limited for the dog park is until they are done with the work in that immediate area, which should have been done today, but they came to the rationalization they didn’t have the right size pipe to start right there,” Mayor Brandon Graves explained. “So, I don’t know when that will be done by the dog park. The resident engineer at WYDOT said it’s looking like they’re barely started and they’re already two weeks behind.”

Platte County Chamber of Commerce CEO, Tresha Cancino offered the option for the council to consider putting in a temporary dog park at the Chamber grounds on the south end of 16th Street. Fencing could be installed there to facilitate a location for dog owners to exercise their dogs while construction is going on 16th Street. She did say there would need to be caution on the part of dog owners, since the interstate is nearby.

The mayor and council discussed logistics for setting up a temporary dog park at Lewis Park east of the Tennis courts where the tractor pulls used to be held.

No official decision was made by the council, however Mayor Graves said he wanted to publicly admit he was wrong when he strongly opposed the previous mayor who thought creating the dog park would be good for the town. “I was dead wrong, and he was spot on. It is a feature of our town that is very well used by locals and many travelers – we’ve received a lot of public comment on that.”

The mayor said a decision on where to locate a temporary dog park should be made sooner than later.

During public comments, Melissa Peasley presented the council with photos of painted artwork at the Walnut Street tunnel and on the cement wall near the basketball and tennis courts of Lewis Park. She proposed to the town, they consider designating the tunnel as a place for the public to paint their artwork without breaking town ordinance.

Mayor Graves reminded the council and public, the cement wall at Lewis Park was designated years ago as an authorized “graffiti wall.” He also said the tunnel under the interstate on Walnut Street would be under the jurisdiction of WYDOT, and by the next meeting, he can present Peasley with information on whom to contact to obtain permission for authorized graffiti space in the tunnel.

 In town business, the council approved a request from Wyoming Child and Family Development (Wheatland and Guernsey Early Childhood Centers) to provide funding to support the early intervention screenings, therapy, and assistance for families that the WCFD provides to each community in Platte County.

WCFD works closely with the state and with the schools to provide free assistance to families in need. “We try to catch every kid we can so they get help before Kindergarten. Our goal is to have kids on and off services and never remembers, - the earlier (intervention is provided) the better,” said Lori Milnes of WCFD.

She added, in response to a council inquiry about an approximated 40% increase in the number of children who qualified for enrollment in therapy or intervention services in Platte County, there are theories as to why but no firm answers at this time.

“Yeah, there is an increase,” Milnes confirmed. “One thing that helps out is the school district gets help from the Department of Education (BOCES grant) and they get reimbursed for every penny they spend. We do not. ..We only get a certain dollar amount per child – anything above that, we have to come up with the money. What they give us is pretty consistent, which is nice, but the cost of everything has gone up.”

The council held a public hearing during their meeting to consider two liquor license requests. There was no comments against either measure, and both were passed unanimously by the council. 

The transfer of a liquor license from Landmark Bar to Landmark Bar LLC was approved.

 A request for a restaurant liquor license for Spaghetti West was approved pending the state’s approval from the liquor commission.

Spaghetti West is a work-in-progress for local resident Oliver Ashenhurst, who plans to open an Italian cuisine and high-end steakhouse at the former Country Club Living building on 16th Street.

“I want to bring business into Platte County. That’s the big thing. I know there’s a local need here. I’m hgoing to have a pasta joint in town – I love cuisine and culinary arts and want to share that with people outside my family and friend circle,” Ashenhurst said. “There are 14,000 people leaving Cheyenne northbound every day. Most of those drive past Wheatland. I want to see folks stopping in. The location is great.”

Ashenhurst told the council he has always had a passion for cuisine, and last year he studied for three months at a culinary school in Italy.  “An Italian Steakhouse is the model – and we’ll have a wine list and some lodging…for people who are passing through who can have a nice meal and a place to stay.”

Tracy deRyk, Platte County Economic Development director, voiced her support for the Spaghetti West restaurant liquor license before giving a report to the council. She said there was not much change in utilities or school enrollment on the month’s economic wellness report, but there are 22 houses for sale on Zillow compared to eight last month, but “quite a bit more” than last year at the same time.

Home construction has increased since last month, unemployment is higher in Platte County as well as across the state – but so was unemployment hirings.

“Maybe you guys saw the sales and tax use collections from the March report…. I emailed the [county clerk] and he [contacted the state.] The department of Revenue told him they were auditing the specific use tax and were not completed with the audit by the end of the month, so the full amount was not distributed...They will remit the remainder of the March collection so the April report will be inflated,” deRyk explained.

deRyk also reported she has been in touch with the project manager for NextEra Energy’s Chugwater Wind Project, is moving along. The project will include solar, wind, and battery storage several miles east of Chugwater and crossing over into Goshen County.

deRyk also added, she couldn’t help but compare the difference between NextEra’s approach to an industrial project with another company, Mission Energy, who recently inquired into setting up the same type of renewable energy project. “It may be just me, but Mission Energy began the conversation inquiring into the types of rebates, tax abatements and incentives they could get; NextEra said they’re not taking government money. They’re just doing it on their own. We asked them specifically and they said, ‘No.’ They are not looking for rebates whether from state, federal, or local.”

“I think that says a lot there,” deRyk said. 

Cancino, the Chamber CEO agreed with deRyk. “They are not asking for privileges, and they are donating to our community. They donated $2,000 to Shop with a Cop last Christmas, they have contributed to both our organizations (Chamber and PCED). They are community geared.”

Cancino gave a report on the Chamber to the council. The Chamber has been doing strategic planning, and announced there will be new membership tiers announced soon. There have been more business memberships added, including some from out-of-state for companies who regularly do business in Platte County.

She wants to work more closely together with PCED and would like to jointly put together a taskforce to determine what growth looks like in Platte County, and to help give tools to deRyk as PCED director to bring people and businesses to the county.

“So that our communities thrive – not just Wheatland, but Guernsey, Hartville, Glendo and Chugwater. That would be super helpful for our jobs … we [just] have to decide what that looks like,” Cancino said, adding, communication is an important part of that collaboration.

The State of Wyoming has made available a grant to each county to come up with a localized way to celebrate the nation’s 250th Semiquincentennial in 2026. Cancino said the Chamber is working with the county to do a resolution to form a committee to plan next year’s celebration which will include every town in the county.

“Tour de Platte. Have you heard about it yet?” Cancino asked. She explained, the Tour de Platte will celebrate the Semiquincentennial with a county-wide bike race beginning with a Ceremonial kickoff in Chugwater, an overnight stay in Wheatland followed by a day-two official start. “We are working with Chris Bookout (county road and bridge supervisor) to have a really good path to take us past Register Cliff, through the Oregon Trail Ruts, then through Glendo and Guernsey state parks…followed by a big finish in Hartville. It is a Chamber-sponsored event and will include each community. We are forming a committee to plan [the event.].”

Councilman Willie Allison said he attended a PCED meeting when Wyoming Rare president Joe Evers discussed the rare earth project near the Platte County line in Albany county. 

He said he asked Evers directly, how many dwelling houses the company would be looking at in Wheatland when the project gets underway. “He said over 100. We need to keep in mind about where to put them,” Allison said.

Mayor Graves added he has observed the timeline has changed in the past year. Originally the he understood the timeline was from 12 to 15 years; “Now it is five to eight years,” he said.

The demonstration plant is almost finished, which could give a better idea of what the mining process will look like, Allison and deRyk agreed.

In other business, the town approved an agreement to compensate Ardurra, an engineering firm in Cheyenne, for the Wheatland airport apron design and construction.

Mayor Graves said the agreement does not change the scope of work anticipated by the council, but the timeframe appears to have been has been moved forward a year. The dollar amount unanimously approved by the council is  a 4% local match from the town, which would be $11,120 of the total project estimate of $278,000. After the council’s approval, the project will begin the bid process.

After brief discussion, the council unanimously approved a change in the lease agreement with AmeriGas located at the Garret Industrial Park north of town. The new terms will reflect a fee of $500 per month for a five-year lease.

The mayor also read proclamations declaring the town’s alignment with supporting the quality of life for children by bringing awareness to Child Abuse Prevention Month. He also read a proclamation supporting Arbor Day on April 25.