The Mayor’s Minute from Mayor Patrick Collins – July 26, 2024
Published on July 26, 2024
I hope you are all having a great Cheyenne Frontier Days. I love this week. It allows Cheyenne to put its best foot forward. I have met so many visitors to our city who are raving about the way you all have treated them. Thank you for being the most amazing ambassadors. I can tell you it is really making a difference with our visitors.
This week started with a labor and management meeting with the Fire Union. We have worked collaboratively with each other for three years now, and because of our willingness to work together so many positive things have been able to happen. I was excited to hear how the three new fire stations are working out, and how the four new fire engines are making a difference. I asked our firefighters to keep me informed if there are any changes we need to make for our future stations. The team tells me things are very busy and going well.
The City and Monument Home Builders entered into a public private partnership to build a big new sewer main that would serve MHB’s development and open hundreds of acres of open land to future development. Building new infrastructure has been very expensive, especially in the past few years. Partnerships like this one maximize both your tax dollars and private capital. We met this week to review the project and to make sure the finalized project was fair to both parties. I look forward to exploring how we can make these partnerships more appealing in the future.
The Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual “Partners in Prosperity” luncheon to celebrate the business community and their support of Cheyenne Frontier Days. I spoke to the crowd at the Ice & Events Center about how the one-day Cowboy Roundup held in 1897 has morphed into a 128-year tradition now held for 10 days at the end of July each year. The truth is, CFD would not have survived without the support of the local business community. They nurtured the event until it broke free and became the great event we know today. Without the amazing sponsors, our 3,000 volunteers would not have a rodeo to put on each year. I also want to thank the military for their support. They were at the first Cowboy Roundup in 1897 and they have not missed a show in 128 years. Last, I want to thank all the governmental agencies that collaborated to support our rodeo, including law enforcement, first responders, and Homeland Security; as well as City Engineering, Sanitation, Public Works, the City Clerk’s office, and Fire Rescue. Even folks like the National Weather Service pitch in every day. It really does take a village to put on the Daddy of ‘em All!
A special treat again this year was that a few crew members from both the USS Cheyenne and USS Wyoming were able to make it to CFD. It is so awesome to host the sailors from our namesake boats. Again, I want to thank you all. The crew members raved about how they were treated during their visit. They flipped pancakes, marched in the parade, visited the VA, did the rodeo and night show, and got a good opportunity to get to know Cheyenne. They are so proud to wear Steamboat inside an arrowhead as their logo. I always look forward to their visit to the office and learning more about the boat and crew.
There are four parades each year during Frontier Days, and Judy and I get to ride in each of them. People come from all over the country, bringing their horses to drive our historic carriages. So far this year we have had folks from Oklahoma, Missouri, and Louisiana. What a gift that they are willing to share their teams and time to make the carriages come alive. I am so impressed with the work of the Parade Committee, and we appreciate how much fun they make the experience.
Judy and I also participate in the Grand Entry for the rodeo each day. After the Grand Entry, we spend time thanking the sponsors for helping make the rodeo possible. It is so much fun meeting people from all around the country and the world seeing the rodeo for the first time. As mayor, I see how hard the volunteers work to put on the rodeo every day. I have met three and four generations from the same family working tirelessly on their committee – we’re talking 40-plus years of serving CFD and Cheyenne. Wow!
One of the highlights each year is the Commander’s Social on F.E. Warren AFB. As I said earlier, the military has been a huge part of CFD, and it is fun to see the folks dressed in boots and hats instead of their military uniforms. Our city and base have lived and worked side by side for 157 years now. I appreciate the partnership.
Wings over Warren Air Show happened again Wednesday. I don’t care how many times I see the Thunderbirds – it never gets old. The very first civilian show for the Thunderbirds was in Cheyenne in 1953. For an hour, they dazzled us with precision flying. One of the highlights was a group of young people who took the oath and joined the United States Air Force. The parents had their cameras out and looked so proud. As for the Thunderbirds, you could not ask for better ambassadors for our country and Air Force.
Tough Enough to Wear Pink is the theme every Thursday during CFD. It is designed to highlight our fight against breast cancer. I was honored to speak at the Give Cancer the Boot reception. This one hit home for me and I’m sure for many of you, too. My mom was a breast cancer survivor, my sister Kathleen had it twice, and my little sister Colleen lost her battle two years ago. We must continue the work to find a cure for this terrible disease. It was humbling to be in the company of so many who have survived or are currently battling cancer.
The last event for me this week was to emcee the Old-Fashioned Melodrama at the historic Atlas Theater. Being part of this theater event made me so nervous. Making it even harder was that three past mayors attended: Mayors Erickson, Schaffer, and Kaysen were guests of honor. I want to say thank you to Miss Ashley, the Card Girl, for helping make it fun. You would be so impressed to see Sheriff Kozak playing the sheriff, and our District Attorney, Sylvia Hackl, acting and singing. They killed it!
I met the Navy Leap Frogs who parachuted into the CFD arena before each rodeo. They joined the chorus of folks telling me how much they have enjoyed Cheyenne and how great the people are here.
I want to again thank you, Cheyenne, for making our visitors feel special. You guys rock!