Opinion

Plenty of work ahead for officials, public
By Bruce McCormack

This document was published online on Friday, January 02, 2009

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City and county governments face various challenges in 2009 �“ all in the face of an economy that will hopefully start to recover instead of diving to greater depths in the next few months.

The county commissioners will continue their involvement in two complex federal issues �“ wolf management and Yellowstone Park winter use. Both have dragged on for years.

Wolves are likely to become an even greater problem in this area if their designation as a “predator” is removed. This appears to be the likely course of events. Game and Fish and federal wildlife officials will have their hands full for years controlling this rogue population.

Public access through the east gate has been a hard-fought victory for Cody and Park County people this year. But much more work will be necessary to maintain that position and begin to rebuild our winter recreation economy.

The city, with a new mayor and three new council members, will face issues closer to home, including light pollution and other growth and zoning issues.

The council also will have an opportunity to facilitate more study of a possible events center in Cody. That will test council members’ commitment to economic development because no other current project has so much potential to boost the economy in all of Park County.

Some say times are too tough to press ahead with such a project, while others believe those same economic challenges make it all the more important that community leaders be proactive about our future.

Either way, there’s plenty of hard work ahead for our elected officials and community leaders �“ and thoughtful input from the public will make that effort all the more effective.

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