New executive director Simonton has Park County roots  

Wyoming Association of Municipalities Executive Director Shelley Simonton has 99 bosses but she has no problem with that.

Simonton guides WAM, an association that includes all 99 incorporated cities and towns in the state. It met in Powell Thursday through Saturday, hearing from four speakers on Thursday and holding a two-day strategic retreat on the final two days.

Simonton replaced George Parks, who retired after 15 years as executive director.

Simonton started the job on Jan. 14 and one of her first assignments was handling the legislative session.

“It was scary and intense,” Simonton said. “It was very intense. I did not understand the legislative process.”

But she said WAM did well during the session, and the fact that Gov. Matt Mead successfully pushed for counties, cities and towns to get $175 million in this biennium was good news for local communities. During the last two-year period, they received $135 million in the first year and $20 million the second.

The $175 million dispersal from the State Loan Investment Board and consensus funding is supposedly for the next two years, but Simonton said if Mead, if he is re-elected, seeks to provide more money next year, that would be welcomed.

“If the governor offers it ...” she said with a smile.

WAM is governed by a 23-member board selected by voting delegates from the communities, including Powell Councilman Myron Heny. This is the first time the WAM board has met in Powell, Heny said.

On April 21, the Powell City Council named Councilman Jim Hillberry as its voting delegate to the convention this year, which is set for June 14 in Casper.

On Thursday, more than 30 WAM representatives heard talks on a wide array of topics.

James Klessens of Forward Cody spoke on community economic development, discussing the proposed expansion of Cody Labs and the state government’s agreement to launch a $25-million loan program to assist business growth in the state. Cody Labs is expected to be the first recipient of the loan.

Cody lawyer Colin Simpson talked about Yellowstone National Park’s winter-use plan and how Park County residents and groups came together to push to keep access to the park open during the winter.

Simonton said Simpson, the son of former Sen. Al Simpson, said the federal government was reluctant to keep the park open year-round, but Park County’s efforts produced results. It was a good message to WAM members about the potential and power of a community working together, she said.

Shad Bates of Torrington talked about the state’s juvenile justice system. Bates is the chairman of the State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice.

Teton County Administrator Steve Foster discussed how the county dealt with cellular companies that wanted to erect cell towers. No rules were in place, so the county placed a hold on applications and worked with the firms.

The towers were planed on tall public buildings, attached to chimneys and, in some cases, made to look like trees. At the same time, regulations and codes were established to deal with the matter in the future, Simonton said.

The four speakers then held a round-table discussion, taking questions and offering their views on several topics.

“It’s a really educational process,” she said. “It’s great interaction, it’s great learning.”

Such presentations are especially useful for officials in small towns who don’t have a large staff of trained government workers, Simonton said.

“Some of them plow streets and pick up garbage,” she said. “This is a chance for them to learn and discuss things with others.”

In addition to the meetings, WAM members toured the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center on Thursday. Simonton said Heny led that tour and in general served as a host for the event.

“Myron is just great,” she said. “I love his enthusiasm.”

Heny is also a fan of Simonton and what she has done for WAM in her first three months on the job.

“She’s put more energy into it,” he said. “She has name recognition across the state, she worked well with the Legislature and has a good attitude. She is firm but approachable.”

He said Simonton improved relations with between WAM and counties in the state and also worked well with legislators.

WAM President Brian Dixon, a Lovell councilman, said he is impressed by Simonton.

“She’s outstanding. She’s a ball of fire,” Dixon said. “And she’s fun to work with.”

He said the fact that she improved relations between the cities and the counties paid off at the session. The funding boost proves that, he said.

“Neither one of us could have done it alone,” Dixon said.

“We got what we wanted because we supported Gov. Mead,” Heny said. “That’s a good thing.”

On Friday, the WAM board did strategic planning. Simonton said she felt that is a positive move with a new executive director.

“I thought it was a good chance for the board to reset itself,” she said. “They could look at their goals and mission.”

During the bus ride to the interpretative center, the city officials were able to “exchange ideas and meet people,” Simonton said. “So that’s beneficial as well.”

She helped set a light mood, laughing easily and chatting with the officials during the hours of meeting. Simonton said she and her four-person staff try to serve the needs of all the communities in the association as lobbyist, advocates and through educational efforts.

Their goal, according to the WAM website, includes “providing aggressive advocacy of state and federal legislation beneficial to Wyoming municipalities, active opposition to legislation detrimental to municipal interests, to build effective leadership in municipalities through education and services, and to facilitate and/or manage cooperative programs and specialized services to municipalities.”

“The needs of the big cities and small towns may be technically different,” she said. “But all communities in Wyoming share the same values and goals. They have the same care for their communities.”

Before taking the post with WAM, she was the executive director position for the Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project. From 1999 to 2007 she was the public affairs manager for the town of Jackson.

A Cody native, Simonton, 46, is the daughter of Steve and Kaye Simonton. She is a 1986 Cody High School graduate who earned a degree in English from the University of Wyoming and worked for a year as a newspaper reporter.

“She has crisscrossed the state too many times to remember, in all kinds of western weather, and is passionate about ensuring Wyoming's hometowns remain vibrant and strong,” according to the WAM website.

Simonton said she enjoyed the opportunity to come home to Park County and spent time with her father over the weekend.

“I love it. I love being here,” she said. “It felt like putting on your favorite sweater.”

For more on WAM, go to http://www.wyomuni.org