Hoping the state will create a new shooting complex south of Cody, Park County commissioners and City of Cody leaders want to be ready if the Wyoming Legislature approves the plan in the upcoming legislative session.

On Tuesday, commissioners and council each approved the bylaws for a joint powers board to run the complex and agreed to begin advertising for the volunteer positions.

Forward Cody CEO James Klessens — one of the complex’s main proponents — said creating the board would strengthen Park County’s case.

"It would be valuable to the Legislature to be able to say there is a board in place," said Klessens.

The Legislature voted in 2023 to provide $10 million for the new complex and later sought proposals on where to build it. Nine Wyoming communities submitted proposals and in July, a state task force voted 8-4 to recommend that the facility be built on a piece of state land south of Cody; a site outside
Gillette was the runner-up.

However, the full Legislature will ultimately decide whether to approve Cody’s proposal.

Despite the more conservative shift in the Legislature in this year’s elections, Klessens told commissioners that he remains optimistic the state will move forward with the project.

Outgoing Cody Mayor Matt Hall seconded that opinion, though he expressed concern that there were no legislators at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

"Anything that we can do in advance of that legislative session to secure this joint powers board and start to move forward to populate that with some local citizens and do a few more of the things that we as a committee have been doing to keep life going into this project, is worthwhile,” said Hall.

In August, members of the local state shooting complex task force recommended a joint powers board run the complex and lease the land from the state.

The board will be made up of nine members: three appointed by the Cody City Council and six by the Park County Board of Commissioners. Most seats will be tied to an industry — such as the travel and tourism and firearms sectors — along with representatives of the local governments involved and at large positions.

If the Legislature declines to fund the project, the board can be dissolved by a two-thirds majority vote of its members. Boosters of Cody’s proposal have estimated that constructing the facility would cost $14.2 million, with a need to fundraise to get the facility up and running.

Board makeup County appointments

A representative of the county government.

A representative of the firearms and shooting industry.

A representative for education, conservation or the shooting industry from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

A representative of the travel and tourism industry.

A representative for business and economic development.

An at large member.

City appointments

A representative of the city government.

A representative of the travel and tourism industry.

An at large member.