The newly-formed task force for the state office building project will meet on Monday, May 7, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Meeting Room at City Hall.
In an email sent to Oil City, Rep. Steve Harshman (R-Casper) said all business owners impacted by the project are invited to the meeting. Invites are being handled by the state construction department in Cheyenne.
“More information about lease terminations, and building demolition schedule will be known by that meeting,” said Harshman.
Several tenants in the area along Collins have expressed concern about the uncertainty of their leases. Some, who have heavily invested in renovations in the buildings, are concerned about losing their investments when their leases are terminated.
“Local legislators have met with the current tenants. We have all pledged open communication,” said Harshman.
The project is in the early phase of level III design, according to Harshman. Local architecture firm State Line No. 7 is working on the building design. Construction is planned to start in early 2019.
The new three-story complex will replace an aging state office building on Midwest and Center and consolidate other agencies renting spaces around the city, according to an earlier interview with Rep. Tom Walters (R-Casper). It will ultimately contain about 400 state employees.
The project will take up most of the block along Midwest and Collins between Ash and Walnut, leaving The Office restaurant and lounge and Bloedorn Lumber among the lone survivors of the redevelopment.
Task force members are:
Carter Napier, City of Casper
Kevin Hawley, Casper Downtown Development Authority
John Ysebaert, Department of Workforce Services
Tom Forslund, Department of Family Service
Delbert McOmie, State Construction Department
Senator Drew Perkins
Senator Jim Anderson (alternate)
Speaker Steve Harshman
Representative Pat Sweeney
Representative Jerry Obermueller (alternate)
Representative Bunky Loucks (alternate)
Co-Chairman Senator Bill Landen
Co-Chairman Representative Tom Walters
Mel Muldrow, Jim Chaput, and Dennis Egge of the State Construction Department will staff the Advisory Task Force and Steve Harshman will assist and serve as LSO’s point of contact.
