Laramie County commissioners will consider a proposal Tuesday that could reshape land use and traffic patterns near Cheyenne for decades: a plan to expand a small rock quarry into a 600-acre operation with an estimated 62-year life span. The decision touches on infrastructure spending, public safety grants and routine permits — and it will be made in a public meeting open to comments both in person and online.
The Board of County Commissioners meets at 3:30 p.m. at the Historic Courthouse, 310 W. 19th St. Residents who cannot attend in person may watch and comment through the county’s official website.
The most prominent item is a public hearing on a Class C conditional use permit for the Horse Creek Rock Quarry. L.G. Everist Inc. is asking to convert its existing 15-acre limited mining site at 3380 Horse Creek Road into a 600-acre large mining operation. County planning staff say the proposal carries a projected operational life of roughly 62 years; the Laramie County Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval in late March.
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How that expansion might affect local roads and services is part of the debate. Related to those concerns, commissioners will consider awarding a $10,488,440.70 contract to Connell Resources Inc. for upgrades to Chalk Bluff Road (County Road 203), a route likely to see increased heavy-vehicle use if the quarry grows.
- Quarry expansion: Class C conditional use permit for a 600-acre mining operation (Horse Creek Road)
- Road contract: $10,488,440.70 to Connell Resources Inc. for Chalk Bluff Road improvements
- Justice grant (Edward Byrne Memorial JAG): $64,810 — proposed split between Cheyenne Police and the sheriff’s office, with sheriff’s funds earmarked for overtime and training to address human trafficking
- Detention center safety grant: $96,950 applied for via the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police to purchase 15 vital-monitor sensors for adult and juvenile facilities
- Cheyenne Regional Medical Center requests: $5,127.55 for D.A.R.E. curriculum and deputy training; $2,490 for 1,000 drink-test strips to detect suspected date-rape drugs
- Land use and events: public hearings on the 2026 Laramie County Fair Rules and a Class C permit for Bit-O-Wyo Ranch and Events
- Permits: liquor and fireworks applications, including a malt-beverage permit transfer for Harrington’s Pub and annual fireworks permits for Phantom Fireworks
- Forestry cost-share: $5,000 agreement with the Wyoming State Forestry Division to plant 38 trees at the Laramie County Events RV Park
- Proclamations: April 2026 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month; April 21 as National Service Recognition Day
County officials frame the road contract and grants as measures to mitigate impacts and boost public safety if the quarry expansion proceeds. The sheriff’s office has emphasized the need for both training and equipment to address human trafficking and to detect medical emergencies such as opioid withdrawal in custody.
Two smaller but notable requests involve public outreach and prevention: one application would fund D.A.R.E. materials and certification training for deputies assigned to Laramie County School District 2, while another would supply 1,000 drink-test strips for distribution at community events to help reduce the risk of drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Agenda documents and supporting materials are available on the county’s website for residents who want to review filings, maps and grant applications before the meeting. Public comment will be accepted at the hearing; officials encourage participants to review the agenda in advance to prepare questions or testimony.
The meeting is expected to move through several routine permits and recognitions after the high-profile quarry and infrastructure items, but the long-term nature of the mining proposal — and the scale of the accompanying road work — make Tuesday’s decisions consequential for local planning, budgets and neighboring communities.
