Lincoln County approves MOU to fund Kemmerer-area economic diversification liaison

Chairman King and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 1 approved a Memorandum of Understanding to fund a consultant who will serve as a liaison for economic development in south Lincoln County.

County Commissioner Michael Hansen (first referenced here as Commissioner Hansen) moved to accept the MOU and authorized the chairman to sign. The MOU is structured to pool contributions from Lincoln County, the City of Kemmerer and the South Lincoln Economic Development Corporation, with possible participation by the towns of Diamondville and Cokeville, according to the discussion in the meeting.

Why it matters: commissioners said the consultant will coordinate economic-development efforts for the Kemmerer area and serve as a central point of contact among municipal and regional partners. During discussion Chairman King described the MOU as an agreement “for funding a consultant as a liaison for Economic Development for South Lincoln County,” and staff said the consultant would report to South Lincoln Economic Development.

Background and next steps: the motion to accept the MOU passed as part of the consent actions Nov. 1. The board did not set specific funding levels or a contract in the meeting transcript; implementing details and the consultant’s scope were discussed as part of the MOU overview and will be managed under the approval authority given to the chairman. No formal vote tallies were recorded in the minutes; the transcript records the motion as "adopted." The county will work with participating jurisdictions on contribution amounts and any subsequent contract(s).