Dear Editor,
In the interest of providing information to the Upton Community on the efforts of the UEDB over the last few years and moving forward, we provide the following:
The UEDB board is a volunteer group. I have served on the UEDB for 15 years. The only personal benefit for board members is a dinner once a year at our yearly annual planning meeting.
“We lead as stewards to promote, develop, and support a Greater Upton community.” This project exemplifies promotion, development, and support! We strive to form partnerships with other non-profit entities in the community by both monetary support for worthy projects and advice.
In 2014 the UEDB provided funds for the following in Upton:
Food Baskets— $500.00, Mat Cats— $100.00, PTO— $1,000.00, Kids Baseball— $2,585.02, Girls BB— $1,088, Town Mower— $4,000.00, Fire Department Ambulance— $30,000.00, Chamber Books for Brains— $2,559.44, Gobbler Give Away— $50.00, Senior Citizens— $2,000.00, Food Bank— $500.00, Fairgrounds Horse Show— $50.00. Total Funds Provided— $44,338.76.
In 2015 the UEDB provided funds for the following in Upton:
Mat Cats— $700.00, Prom Party— $250.00, Senior Center— $2,000.00, PTO— $1000.00, Kids Baseball— $2,205.68, Volleyball— $500.00, Food Bank— $2,000.00, After School Program— $14,910.00, Soccer— $450.00, History & Heritage— $4,500.00, Helping Hands— $500.00, HS Football— $549.50, School District Reading Incentive— $250.00, Children’s Center— $1,648.00, Toth Medical Assistance— $5,000.00, Chamber, Tables— $5175.00, Chamber Equipment— $1,600.00, Park Playground Equipment— $30,000.00. Total Funds Provided— $73,338.64
In 2016 the UEDB provided funds for the following in Upton:
Children’s Center— $5,573.00, PTO— $ 1,000.00, Prom Party— $1,000.00, Senior Center— $2,000,00, School District— $2,000.00, Volleyball Camps— $1,000.00, Basketball Camps— $1,000.00, FBLA— $1,000.00, Chamber— $175.00, Gun Club— $500.00, History & Heritage— $5,000.00, Soccer— $615.00, Town Fire Truck— $30,000.00. Total Funds Provided— $50,863.00.
UEDB has committed to Town of Upton $385,000.00 to the Park Restrooms and Picnic Improvement. The UEDB, formerly WCDB, paid the Town of Upton $440,000.00 for the town property that was used as a match in the early grant process. The largest beneficiary over the last several years has been the Town of Upton at over $900,000.00.
The State of Wyoming, through the Wyoming Business Council and other state entities, has provided funds to help business in Wyoming get started and grow. They help fund many projects around the state. The funding comes from revenue that comes to state government for the operation of state government. This effort has and will continue to return to the state the funds expended in an improved, diversified economy which over time returns those funds and more to the state.
Upton is a prime example. The Town of Upton has received over $5 million for infrastructure at the Rail Park. The state has already recovered over half of that expenditure from taxes. Other use tax beneficiaries from efforts at the Rail Park are: Upton has received $280,677.70. Newcastle has received $736,559.00. Weston County has received $730,000.00.
The property west of town generated $81,700.00 in taxes in 2016. Upton receives $653 from those taxes. If the Rail Cleaning and Repair project becomes a reality, the total taxes from the property west of town is estimated to be over $167,000.00 per year. Upton’s share should be $1,336.00 per year.
The estimated $167,000.00 in taxes would fund the following when completed:
County Fair— $140.00, County General Fund— $1,681.00, County Library— $182.00 School Taxes— $7,432.00, Upton— $1,336.00, Hospital— $1,002.00, Museum— $167.00, Natural Resources— $167.00, Weed and Pest— $334.00.
UEDB has been a good neighbor and more than helpful to our citizens and the non-profit business they represent. When you hear someone complaining about the efforts of UEDB, tell them to attend UEDB meetings that are held the first Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the office in the Yellow Daisy Salon Building, and express their complaint.
The information in this missive can be verified at the Weston County website and/or by request to the towns and county.
This information was approved by the UEDB members, who are: John Marshall, Carmen Diehl, Clark Coberly, Justin Mills, Jim Martens, and Dylan Esquivel.
—Dick Claycomb