Laramie County Commissioner Chair Brian Lovett believes that future population growth in Cheyenne is inevitable, and that the county government will have to grow with it. The county recently purchased the Wyoming Financial Center in downtown Cheyenne for $5.5 million, citing the need for more space for its departments and courtrooms. Despite this, Laramie County GOP Chair Dallas Tyrrell is skeptical of the purchase, questioning the necessity of buying a nine-story building and the reasons behind it.
The building was purchased after negotiations with the seller, Voss Family Limited Partnership, and will require significant repairs to bring it up to standard. The county used reserve funds to pay for the building, a decision that was approved unanimously by the commissioners. The building is currently leased to businesses like U.S. Bank and Holland & Hart law office, with no immediate plans to house county operations.
Lovett envisions the building as a possible expansion site for the county government in the future, potentially accommodating services like the clerk’s and treasurer’s office to free up space for courtrooms in the main building. He also suggested the possibility of demolishing the building and building anew on the vacant lot to create a campus-type setup for the county government. Overall, the purchase of the Wyoming Financial Center represents a strategic move by the county to prepare for future growth and the needs of its expanding population.
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