The Mayor’s Minute from Mayor Patrick Collins – Aug. 21, 2026

Published on August 21, 2026

I attended a groundbreaking for the 37th Helicopter Squadron’s new operations facility on a very cold and windy day in March of 2023. This week, the base cut the ribbon on that $140 million facility that will house the new MH-139A Gray Wolf helicopter, replacing the UH-1N Huey that has served for decades. I toured the new facility that was built not only to support the Gray Wolf but will also be home to the 90th Security Forces Tactical Response Force that will fly on the helicopter to respond in the 9,600 square mile area where the missiles of the 90th Missile Wing are on alert. Col. Bevans, Commander of the 582nd Helicopter Group, did an amazing job of explaining the importance of this new facility, helicopter, and the collaboration that will improve the effectiveness of the mission. So happy we had a perfect Wyoming day for the ribbon cutting.

With all the development Cheyenne is blessed to be experiencing, housing our workforce is a challenge that many have recently tried to address. Finding a compatible way to blend workforce housing into our community has proven to be a challenge. Senator Lummis’ office set up a meeting with Artanis Capital, a company that is working in Kemmerer to develop the housing they need with the nuclear power plant being constructed there. I do appreciate the connection and the discussion on the ways workforce housing can be addressed.

Laramie County Community College held a “Help Shape the Next 50 Years” event at the school. Dr. Schaffer shared the challenges of secondary education in America and Wyoming. In 2041, Wyoming will graduate 22% fewer high school graduates. In fact, projections are that the state will only graduate 1,885 seniors, not enough to fill the freshman classes at our university and community colleges. For LCCC to survive, it must recruit from a broader region. They have made it a goal to be the best education value in a 350-mile radius. The good news is LCCC is killing it with fall enrollment up 28% and students earning record numbers of credentials. I loved learning that 62% of LCCC graduates choose to stay in Wyoming, helping our employers find quality people to fill their jobs, and that many graduates are earning above average wages. The truth is the college has outgrown their name and has chosen Wyoming State College to take them into the future. I love the leadership and vision the administration and trustees have shown in this endeavor. I like the name as well.

Via West & Skybox are data center developers who are looking to purchase part of the Cox Ranch. The ranch is located just north of the business park where the Walmart Distribution Center and Microsoft’s first data center were built. We met this week to talk about their proposed development and the City’s expectations regarding water use, power consumption, noise, lighting, landscaping, and housing. City Council has a work session on Aug. 28 to learn more about their proposal and how they plan to address questions raised by the community over the past few months. I appreciate their interest in Cheyenne and all the companies looking to invest in our community. Making sure the development is good for Cheyenne is the Governing Body’s responsibility.

The Air Force recently agreed to the request from the City and Frontier Days to allow a parking lot on the base. The goal is to get the parking lot ready for next year’s rodeo and build the connecting bridge the following year. I met with our city engineer to go over the timelines and steps necessary to meet the goals. We know with all the players involved these projects will take a lot of coordination but solving the parking challenges for CFD is worth it.

The Police Protective Association advocates for the officers in our department. We have been talking for a couple of years now about how to reward the officers who have spent years going to school and training – above the mandatory training – that makes our department so successful. Creating a Master Police Officer position is one way the PPA has suggested recognizing highly trained officers. Officers who have spent at least 300 hours on specialized training and have been with the department for seven years would qualify for the new position. I love those who choose leadership and bring their hard-earned skills to the job every day. They are making a difference in the safety of our community.

I want to congratulate all the candidates that put their name on the ballot for this year’s election and campaigned for office. It takes courage and hard work to run for office. Congratulations to those who won and will move on to the general election.

I was especially pleased to see the results from the 6th Penny sales tax ballot. Voters have chosen to invest $148 million in the additional penny sales tax out of a total $170 million requested. This vote will make a huge difference in the smaller communities in Laramie County. It will also fund our city’s road maintenance program; Greenway; purchase three new fire trucks; update police equipment and training; and help continue the improvements downtown. The voters also approved the replacement of the Johnson Pool that we had to close after over 70 years of service, and to build a new fire station to continue to improve our community risk response. Both will be big investments in South Cheyenne. The only disappointment is the Municipal Building was not approved for a remodel, as the current building no longer meets the needs of our employees or serves the public well. Thank you, Laramie County!