ROCK SPRINGS – Recently the Sweetwater Events Complex met with elected officials to discuss the future plans of the complex. On Tuesday, the Fair Board discussed the meeting.

The meeting was put together to get the cities, the county and other shareholders on the same page as the complex prepares to bid for several big events including the National High School Finals Rodeo.

“I thought the meeting went well and we accomplished what we set out to do,” Director Larry Lloyd said. “There was a lot of good interaction.”

Other board members who attended the informational meeting shared their feelings. Both Fair Board Chairman Kent McCann and board member Charlie Barnum said it was good to hear how much support the complex has. As he did in the first meeting, Barnum said he worries that the perception is the complex is always asking for money and nothing else. He told the board it was great to hear the support for the complex that was voiced by county and city officials at the meeting.

At Tuesday night’s meeting several officials who were at both meetings said they hope to have another one in a couple of months to get an update on the results.

Board member Paul Zancanella echoed McCann and Barnum as he agreed it was nice to hear the support for the complex and how everyone understood the importance of bringing these larger events to the county.

Commissioner John Kolb said he wished there would have been more input from the city of Green River. Fair Board Vice-Chairman Faith Harris said she recently talked to newly elected Green River Mayor Pete Rust and they discussed several things including the complex. Harris said after talking to Rust she believed there will be a better working relationship with Green River moving forward.

Board member and Rock Springs City Councilman Rob Zotti had a prior commitment and was unable to be at the informational meeting. On Tuesday, he told the board he has received a lot of positive feedback from Rock Springs officials who felt it was a positive and informative meeting.

Lloyd replied telling the board it is important to get everyone, including Green River, on board with these larger events.

“You can’t run a car down the road with three tires,” Lloyd said.

At the first meeting and again at Tuesday night’s meeting, there was discussion on how the average age of the community is dropping. Currently, the average family age in Rock Springs is 31-years-old. Board member Bill Valdez, who was also at the first meeting, said it was nice to hear how the events complex was working hard to get the younger community members involved with what is happening at the complex.

Lloyd did tell the board he felt there was a very important point which was made at the meeting. He said there were concerns voiced about having so many big events it would hurt sponsorships, volunteers and other user groups who rely on the complex. He said there will need to be a balance.

“It is something this board will have to look at closely,” Lloyd said. “The sponsors in the community have been great but it can come to a point.”

The complex is putting together two proposals at this time. On Dec. 7, the complex will make a proposal to the Little Britches Rodeo. The organizers of the rodeo recently contacted the complex about bidding for the rodeo. Lloyd said organizers of the rodeo are looking for a permanent home or a rotation of where the rodeos will take place.

The rodeo features competitors between 5-years-old and 18-years-old and usually brings around 900 to 1,000 competitors.

In January, the complex will then make a presentation to the NHSFR. The complex is bidding to host the rodeo again in 2018 through 2021.