SUBLETTE COUNTY – The possibility of the county buying Crossfire Arena as an equestrian center with 35 adjacent acres was brought up by Sublette County Commissioner Doug Vickrey at the board’s July 5 meeting, with an agreement to bring it before the public.

This week, county administrator Jeness Saxton reported to Vickrey and fellow commissioners Tom Noble, chair Sam White, Mack Bradley and Dave Stephens that the 2010 facility is in excellent condition.

Vickrey said the land and building could be a valuable asset for the county’s future. The property surrounds the Bomgaars store between Pinedale and Boulder on Highway 191.

Noble had expressed concerns about the Wyoming Fire Marshal’s requirements for a county-owned public facility; Stephens was adamant that the public review the proposal in light of its potential competition with the Sublette County Fairgrounds, indoor and outdoor arenas and event center near Marbleton.

Saxton said she toured the 38,760-square-foot riding arena with assistant state fire marshal Alan Adams last week and Adams “was very impressed” with the quality of construction. However, the sprinkler system only covers the spectator zone and Adams said that would need to be extended throughout the facility. He also wanted to ensure the facility’s well has adequate water supply and pressure for firefighting, she said.

Everything else “is good for the public,” she reported.

White asked if Adams wrote a formal report; Saxton said she would ask him for one. White said the formal report could be submitted to an engineer to estimate costs of an extended sprinkler system and other fixes.

Bradley noted, “There could be (another purchaser) interested in this. Should we get it under contract?
Saxton reminded commissioners they wanted to gather public input first and asked how to do that – an online survey or a public meeting?

“People are asking about it; it needs to be on (a regular meeting) agenda,” Noble said.

White asked county clerk Carrie Long to put the Crossfire Arena purchase discussion on the Aug. 1 agenda and “we’ll make a decision then if we’re going to pursue it or not.”

On July 5 he had suggested a $3-million line item in the upcoming fiscal year budget that was also passed Tuesday but Long preferred a future budget transfer. The county’s “due diligence” will include looking at ADA-access compliance, spectator stands and the expanded sprinkler system, he said.

“My question is are we trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? Should we try to pursue an equestrian need for Sublette County elsewhere,” White said.

Sublette County commissioners’ extensive agenda for their recent July 17 meeting included passing the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget and listening to local guides discuss booming out-of-county fisher-people on Sublette County’s rivers and stream.

These and other agenda items will be examined in the July 27 Pinedale Roundup.