LINGLE – A new American Legion and Community Center on Main Street here took one step closer to becoming reality Wednesday when the Lingle Town Council issued the authority to city staff to apply for grant funding to help with the project.
The council voted unanimously to have city clerk Michele Sussex begin the application process for a Wyoming Business Ready Community Enhancement Grant Application To The State Loan And Investment Board. The application won’t include a firm dollar amount for the project at this point, Ms. Sussex said.
The application begins the process of seeking funding assistance from the state. The maximum allowable for this particular grant would be $500,000. Mayor George Siglin estimated the final tally on the project closer to the $900,000 range.
“What this is going to do is this authorized us to turn in (the application) and see what happens,” Siglin said. “Right now, it’s a waiting game.”
Earlier this month, the council approved a resolution moving the project at 237 Main Street forward. The resolution authorized the purchase of the property at 237 Main Street. As part of the project, the existing American Legion building next door will be demolished and a new building erected to eventually serve as the combined Legion Hall/Community Center for the community.
Ms. Sussex also told the council there may be additional funding sources out there for the project, including long-term, low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other entities and grants from public and private agencies or companies. The council asked her to gather information on what else might be available and report back.
The next step in the process is to have a structural engineer and asbestos inspector peruse the structure. Siglin guessed the cost of those two inspections, which would be paid for out of city coffers, at between $1,000 and $2,000 each. However, it might be possible to apply the cost of the inspections as part of the balance of any funding match the city may be required to pay.

In other business, the council:
n Received a petition from a group of Lingle residents who oppose construction of a sand volleyball court to replace existing horseshoe pits in the city park. The proposal was presented to the council by a group who desire to have the volleyball courts in place of the horseshoe pits, which it was noted aren’t getting used by the community.
“I’m all for trying it,” Siglin said. “In my opinion, if the sand volleyball thing doesn’t pan out in a couple of years, we’ll have a heck of a base to put in a basketball court.”
The council approved the request for city crews to build the courts, provided the group, which initially proposed them, pays for all supplies and equipment. The city would then provide maintenance on the courts as part of its regular services.
Council member Paula Newcomb was the lone dissenting voice in the 4-1 vote, saying she couldn’t in good conscious vote in favor of the project when a portion of her constituents were against it.
“I’m here to represent the people,” Ms. Newcomb said. “I’m going to vote for the people I represent.”
n Heard a request for funding assistance from Wyoming Child and Family Development, a Guernsey-based agency providing services to Early Head Start, preschool and developmentally disabled children in and around the Goshen County area. Among other facilities, the agency operates the Lincoln Infant Toddler Center and the Torrington Learning Center in Torrington, as well as providing visiting therapists to families and children in the Lingle area.
“We know you’ve done a great job of supporting our programs,” said Lauren Nordeen, executive director for WCFD. “As part of our state grants, we’re required to have a 3 percent match for those dollars. Because we serve children with a variety of disabilities, we ask our communities to support us to help provide services to the children of your communities.”
Last year, the council funded the agency to the tune of $600 – the same amount requested this year. Ms. Sussex noted the funds were disbursed in December, asking if the same time frame this year would be sufficient.
“Many communities do it that way,” Ms. Nordeen said. “Our smallest communities are often our biggest supporters.
“We’ve had some funding cuts ourselves from the state,” she said. “Every little bit you can provide helps.