Lingle residents and officials gathered together on Wednesday for the second in a series of forums that the Goshen County Economic Development Corp. is hosting around the county.

According to GCEDC Executive Director Lisa Johnson, the purpose of these meetings is to gather input on economic priorities for the Goshen County. Johnson said that finding out the priorities of each municipality would help the GCEDC target its efforts into areas that would benefit the whole county.

“What is your vision for your community?” she asked. “How can we as the countywide economic development corporation help Lingle accomplish that vision? How do you want the GCEDC to promote your community?”

Johnson first spoke to the guests about some of the issue areas the National Economic Council and Wyoming Business Council have identified, including assistance to rural areas, climate change, job training, economic diversification and education.

The GCEDC has also come up with three areas itwill be focusing on in the coming year: retention and expansion of existing businesses, infrastructure and land use planning.

Johnson solicited ideas from the assembled Lingle residents on what improvements they would like to see in the town over the next 10 years. Most residents said they hoped to see more businesses and shops in downtown Lingle without losing the town’s quiet, family-friendly atmosphere. Many said they would like to see current businesses such as Lira’s restaurant and public fixtures such as the pool and park continue to thrive and improve while adding more opportunities for child care, housing and public events. Several residents said they hoped to see a reduction in noise from passing trains.

County Commissioner Ross Newman attended the forum to talk about land use planning. Newman said the county is currently looking at different ways for planning how to use land in Goshen County. Zoning, setting one and only one use for a particular area, is the traditional way that most governments conduct planning. Another technique that the commissioners are looking at is known as unmapped standards, meaning that any person can build anything anywhere as long as it conforms to county and city regulations. Newman used feedlots as an example where regulations are set up to determine how close to a town they can be built.

One of the challenges the county is going to be facing with regards to land use, he said, is how to regulate wind power.

“It will come to Goshen County,” Newman said. “It’s not a matter of whether or not, but when and how large.”

The southeast corner of the county would likely be the first to see a wind farm. Wind farms would have a huge impact on the county, especially the county roads, and the county will need to have regulations in place to make sure that taxpayers do not have the lion’s share of the burden. Newman said the commissioners have been coordinating with other county governments on this issue. Municipalities would also play a large part in putting regulations together.

Local resident Mark Schweitzer suggested setting up methane power plants using manure from local pastures and feedlots as both a way to reduce power costs for the city and to create jobs in the area. Methane plants, he said, are already in operation in other states. The town and county would need to establish regulations for zoning, distance required from the town and what licenses are needed, something that Schweitzer said would help with eventual wind farms. Schweitzer also suggested a potential site for a plant, on top of the nearby bluffs where lack of water limits agricultural use.

At the end of the forum, Johnson summarized the discussion, saying that Lingle needs to capitalize on its location on Highways 85 and 26 and provide more attractions for visitors such as restaurants and motels. Other priorities include more options for residents for businesses and clean energy. Johnson said the GCEDC will be coming up with a profile for each community in Goshen County to help them market each community to prospective businesses.

Newman, concluding the forum, said that Lingle is well placed to get an economic and population boost from the prison and needs to prepare accordingly.

“There’s really a good opportunity for Lingle in the next few years,” Newman said.

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