Summer Employee Housing Needed

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

  

GARDEN CITY, October 8, 2015.  A discussion in the city council ensued concerning housing for summer workers.  The Chamber of Commerce would like to have something done and asked if the City had any ideas to help provide employee housing for workers coming in each summer.  It was noted that the Diamond D Ranch facility is located on Manhead Road, about a mile north from the Junction where you can go to Randolph, or to Kemmerer, or turn left onto Manhead Road. 

The Ranch no longer works with troubled teenagers.  That leaves this facility empty.  There is enough housing for up to 200 people.  There are separate cabins, dormitories, a lunch room and kitchen, several activity areas, and so forth.  It was noted that a shuttle could be driven from there over to Bear Lake bringing and taking workers back and forth. The drive would be about 30 minutes—not really an unreasonable distance.  Because it is not in Bear Lake, the cost would be much less than trying to create housing within Garden City itself. 

Several employers could go in together and perhaps lease or even buy the facility.  The Chamber of Commerce could perhaps help by finding funding and/or getting employers to work together to make something like this workable. Many employers have been bringing in trailers and such for their workers.  This facility would be much nicer than putting several individuals into a trailer.  It might even work out to be cheaper in the long run.  At least it would be a possibility for employee housing and something that employers may be interested in looking into.