ROCK SPRINGS – It is getting that time again when city and county governments are starting to look at budgets and are starting to take requests from departments. On Wednesday, the Rock Springs Historical Museum discussed its budget request plan.

Of all the departments in Rock Springs, the museum has the smallest budget but is actually one of the only departments that puts money back into the city’s general fund. Historically, each year the museum board picks one major project to focus on over the year and that is what drives their budget request.

Two year’s ago, the museum’s project was the Chinese Massacre monument. Since they wanted to continue on that project, the museum did not make a request during the last budget session.

At the Wednesday board meeting, Museum Coordinator Bob Nelson proposed to ask for $10,000 this year to print the Cemetery Walking Tour brochures. Nelson explained to the board he did not think it would cost that much to make the brochure but was basing the amount on how much it cost to do the  current Walking Tour brochures. Nelson said he would rather have more money than to be short.

Nelson said another reason he proposed this was because of the work of the Cemetery Walking Tour Committee.

“They has really gotten pretty far,” Nelson said as the planned launch for the tour is still on track for October.

Nelson and the board also discussed a possible reception to unveil the tour but nothing was officially decided. However, the board did unanimously approve to send the request to the city.

As for the Chinese Monument, the museum has received the required permits from the Wyoming Department of Transportation to place the monument. It will be placed where Pilot Butte and Bridger Avenue meet.

He added they are starting to put the final pieces together and said it should be finished this year.