| CODY, Wyo. The Cody City Council allocated $4,500 on
Tuesday to help Bighorn Basin beet growers conduct a feasibility study on
the purchase of Western Sugar's six factories, including one in Lovell.
In its first meeting under new Mayor Ken Stockwell, the council voted
6-1 to approve the funding from its lodging tax account. Stockwell was the
only person to vote against the proposal, saying the council should leave
the lodging tax account intact and look at other funding prospects.
We've got to stand together, said returning councilman Gary
Jensen, arguing that Cody has a responsibility to help the basin's
agriculture industry.
Stockwell said he empathizes with the beet growers but said lodging tax
funds are for efforts that bring business into Cody.
I'm not sure in my own mind that this is the best use of those
funds, he said. And because the account has only $5,200 for the
remaining six months of the city's fiscal year, he questioned draining the
account when other requests might come up.
But Jensen and others said the industry needed a commitment
immediately, while the city can address future requests out of its general
fund if needed.
Rocky Mountain Sugar Co-op board member Ric Rodriguez, of Powell, said
the organization has received an equal amount for the study from the Big
Horn County Commission, the Lovell City Council and the Park County
Commission. He said the Powell City Council was considering a similar
proposal Tuesday.
Rodriguez said the beet growers have a deadline of March 31 to close
the deal, in which the growers would purchase the factories and eliminate
the middle man.
Western Sugar is making money at the factories but not enough to
justify the properties to stockholders. He said the factories might shut
down if Western Sugar doesn't sell them.
Beet growers initially asked the Wyoming Business Council for $50,000
to fund the study, but the council and the state of Wyoming turned them
down, Rodriguez said. They later received a grant from the U.S. Department
of Agriculture for $25,000 and decided to approach local governments for
the rest of the money.
Downtown Cody stands to lose as much as downtown Lovell, he said,
citing the business that flows between communities.
Councilwoman Karen Ballinger agreed with Rodriguez's request.
I guess what disturbs me is that the Wyoming Business Council would
turn you down, she said, questioning the purpose of the Business
Council if it wont help a local industry in its efforts to stabilize
its future. |