FOR THOSE FOLLOWING ALONG, I HAVE CLOSED THE PETITION AS OF 10/4/16. SHORTLY AFTER RENDEZVOUS THIS YEAR, I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE REGARDING THE MATTER. AFTER THAT DISCUSSION, THE LORD PUT IT ON MY HEART TO JUST LET IT BE. THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT HAS FOUND ENOUGH IN THE BUDGET TO KEEP THE CURRENT HIRE THROUGH THE WINTER WITH DECREASED HOURS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.

WHEN YOU SIGN THIS PETITION PLEASE WRITE WITH YOUR NAME ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

BRIDGER VALLEY/UINTA COUNTY RESIDENT, WYOMING RESIDENT, FORMER WYOMING RESIDENT, AND/OR RENDEZVOUS PARTICIPANT/VISITOR

COPY OF THE LETTER THAT WILL BE SENT TO STATE OFFICIALS

I am a lifetime Wyoming and Bridger Valley resident. I am concerned about a local job that has a big impact on our community and state. The Fort Bridger State Historical Site “The Fort”, has been around for almost 175 years since it was first established by Jim Bridger. It requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep in order to keep it well preserved for the many, many, tourists that visit yearly and the 10’s of thousands of people who visit during the Mountain Man Rendezvous each year.

Just as interviews were to take place to fill the maintenance position, which had been vacant for over 1 ½ years, a hiring freeze was placed across the state. Shortly after that, the position was deemed unnecessary and removed. As you can see by the enclosed signed petition, many residents of the town, county, and state, along with many of the regular visitors/participants of The Rendezvous, feel, in order to keep Fort Bridger looking its best, a full time maintenance position is required.

The temporary hire is not only required to maintain the grounds, but also the equipment necessary to keep up the grounds, make necessary repairs to buildings while maintaining the integrity of the original structure, repair walk ways, restroom maintenance, plow snow in the winter, sandbagging in the summer, and the list goes on. This position also requires maintenance on nearby Fort Supply, The Piedmont Kilns, the Pony Express Stage Stop in Granger, and Names Hill by LaBarge. Just this past year the current temporary hire actually kept the maintenance budget lower in one month than all of the previous year on the equipment alone by being able to maintain the equipment himself. Having a well qualified person in this position is not only an asset to Fort Bridger, but also the State of Wyoming, as they are able to save costs by doing a lot of work themselves and keeping repairs on equipment, grounds and structures under budget.

Sincerely,

Heather Ayres