With the process of acquiring a $98 million bond well underway, for the Cheyenne Regional Medical center

The county commissioners kicked off their meeting with a two to one approval of their Sixth Penny list, which can be viewed in the accompanying graphic. The trio reunited to unanimously support the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center bond for new construction.

The disagreement on the Sixth Penny list had Troy Thompson voting against the list because of the three fair buildings to go up at the Archer Complex, which will cost $21.9 million. The exhibit hall, cattle building and event center, Thompson said he would be more comfortable with it if they moved forward in phases. He noted 75 percent of event centers in the country end each year in debt.

Commissioner Gay Woodhouse and chairperson Diane Humphrey both expressed support of moving the fairgrounds. Woodhouse described it as an opportunity to help local youth and build their leadership skills, while Humphrey noted the central location of Archer in the county and called the plan “a step forward in faith.”

Cheyenne Regional Medical Center took the floor next to present the commissioners their plans for construction at the hospital located in downtown Cheyenne. Hospital CEO, John Lucas, addressed the commissioners explaining the goal to build a two-story parking ramp, emergency care renovation, a lobby redo and the construction of a free-standing cancer center.

The cancer center will provide screening, preventative care and all the treatment care in one location. CRMC hopes to create a competing facility to prevent further egress of patients south, Lucas said. The patient experience is important, which is why the design calls for a patio for days when patients have treatments that last for hours.

Better emergency care with helicopter service, more room for trauma patients and rooms for criminal patients that must be detained are all improvements planned. The parking tower will provide an additional 260 spaces, with the potential to be expanded to a four-story garage in the future.

“Every health dollar in circulates seven times in the community,” Lucas said explaining economic benefits of the project, including new jobs in construction and healthcare. Lucas also noted, families moving into a community look at schools and hospitals there to decide whether or not to relocate.

CRMC is pursuing $97.8 million, Kim Webb said adding it will be tax exempt at a fixed rate. As the commissioners approved the bond, Woodhouse said the hospital has gone from zero to 60 and she was “impressed with their efforts.”

Next up, the commissioners had three options before them to run the new juvenile center at Archer. Cornerstone, Rite of Passage Inc. and the Laramie County Sheriff’s office submitted information on their plans and cost to run juvenile facilities. Based on comparison’s with similar size facilities, Cornerstone projected a $1.62 million price tag on the service, along with 33 staff necessary. Rite of Passage came in at about $1.479 million in operating costs. The sheriff’s office estimated using 18 personnel at a cost of $1,332,129.

“After some tough meetings, Danny (sheriff Glick) assured they want to do this and will stay in budget or help find a way to find funding to cover extra items,” Humphrey said.

Thompson explained the options were discussed with the Juvenile Joint Powers Board and experts and selecting the sheriff’s department was confirmed to be the right choice. The commissioners then unanimously approved the sheriff’s department for the contract.

The next meeting of the county commissioners is Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the historic courthouse in Cheyenne.

County 6th penny list