District talks Dogie Dome use

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
During its May 11 meeting, the Weston County School District No. 1 Recreation Board approved on first reading a priority and authorized use protocol for the use of the Dogie Dome .
Dome use became a topic of conversation among board members some time ago, with recreation director Teresa Gross being instructed on April 28 to draft a protocol document for board consideration. The consensus of the board at that time was that Newcastle High School events would take priority over other events. 
“This would preserve the floor and give me guidelines, so when I say no, it protects us all,” Gross said in April. “That is my recommendation. That way it is still persevered for the high school kids.” 
At that time, maintenance manager Greg Gregory said he was opposed to a “free for all” in dome use because of the cost of items located in that gym. Board member John Riesland agreed, stating that the Dogie Dome used to be something students aspired to play in, a place that was sacred. 
On the other hand, board member Jason Jenkins said during the April meeting that he was against picking which groups can use the facility, while board member Billy Fitzwater said the district should be open to younger groups using the facility, as well as the high school. 
“I know high school takes precedence, but what if one of these programs gets big,” Fitzwater said, referencing youth basketball programs that have kicked off locally. 
According to Gross, in a statement at the May 11 meeting, youth activities would be able to request permission to use the facility under the protocol she had drafted. 
The protocol follows the guidelines set forth in the community use of district facilities policy and outlines the events, activities and organizations that are priorities and authorized to use the Dogie Dome and the requirements of use. 
In the protocol, activities sponsored by the Wyoming High School Athletic Association receive the highest priority, followed by Newcastle High School basketball and volleyball activities under direct supervision of a head coach and community events currently approved for dome use. 
According to the protocol, events currently approved for use include future Dogie Basketball Camp, Black Hills University volleyball skills camp, AAU volleyball tournaments, middle school WHSAA-sponsored tournaments, Fall Guy Wrestling tournaments and any new special event approved under the guidelines outlined in the protocol. 
“New events are included in the policy; it defines which kind of organizations. If there are fees to get in, then we can charge them a rental fee, which is in the existing policy (Community Use of District Facilities policy),” Gross told the board.  
“The usage policy has fees in it already, the rec board would be accepting the protocol in line with the policy,” Chairman Dana Mann-Tavegia added. 
Anyone wanting to have an event in the dome would be required to fill out a form requesting permission. The form asks for information on the event being proposed; the cost of the event for spectators and participants; the length of the event; whether the event is local, regional, state or national; and the potential economic impact for the community. 
According to Gross, when looking at the kind of event, the committee formed to approve the requests should consider whether other facilities could be used instead of the dome. 
Using the potential costs for the event, Gross said, the committee could then determine if the entity or event would be required to pay for use of the Dogie Dome, following the cost guidelines in the community use policy for the school district. 
The usage policy states that entities that are not associated with the school district or that do not qualify as nonprofit, civic, fraternal or political can be charged rent and potentially personnel costs incurred by
the district. 
As outlined in the policy, fees include $200 rent for a gymnasium, with personnel costs of $20 per hour on weekdays and $30 on weekends. The district can also charge $20 to open and close the facility, per the policy. 
The district encouraged those who have an opinion on the proposed protocol to attend a meeting on May 26 for the recreation district, directly following the school board meeting. At that time, the document will be up for approval on second reading with third reading to take place on June 23.