Six of the nine people who are tasked with seeing the Wyoming State Shooting Complex south of Cody to fruition and success beyond are in place. 

On Tuesday the Park County commissioners approved its six appointed members to the nine member joint powers board. The City of Cody is set to appoint its three members at a future meeting. 

Members appointed range from former Forward Cody CEO James Klessens, who was a leader of the group pushing for the complex to come to Cody, to Jason Byer, who produces a podcast for Cody firearms manufacturer Gunwerks. 

While the county interviewed nine people (not counting Park County Sheriff Darrell Steward, who commissioners chose for the local county rep) two officially withdrew from consideration, including Rep. Paul Hoeft, R-Powell, as he felt it could be a conflict of interest as he is part of the Legislature’s shooting complex oversight committee. A third, Glenn Ross, who like Klessens was a big driver in convincing the Legislature to choose the location south of Cody for a state complex, said  he’ll be out of the area all summer and he didn’t feel like he would be a great fit. 

With those candidates withdrawn or nearly so, and Steward already chosen (brother Scott Steward abstained), it wound up being six candidates for five spots. 

Cody Firearms Museum Curator Danny Michael was chosen for the Buffalo Bill Center of the West rep, Klessens for economic development and business and Bryan Mick, a lawyer who works in real estate deals and expressed interest in being involved in the deal-making, financial and logistical aspects of the complex, for travel and tourism.

Cindi Thomas, a renowned shooting competitor and instructor who also spent time as a U.S. Navy procurement officer, was a pick many were excited to make as the at-large choice. 

“She would bring a lot of credibility to the joint powers board,” commissioner Scott Mangold said. 

She was chosen provisionally as she needs to become a registered voter as soon as she officially moves to Park County later this month. She already owns two properties in the county. 

The firearms industry rep was the toughest choice between Byer and Kerry Pae, owner of the Cody Mercantile, a pawn shop in Cody that sells firearms as well as other supplies. 

Commissioner Kelly Simone said she needed more information before voting in favor of Byer, to ensure his working at Gunwerks, which also holds shooting events, would not present a conflict of interest. 

Commissioner Lloyd Thiel had expressed support for Byer as someone who could provide both youth and promotional expertise.

The other board members were comfortable with the arrangement and Byer was chosen by a 3-1 vote.