To really appreciate the fact that Gillette is preparing to spend millions of dollars to host an international camping event for 55,000 kids aged 4-12 (along with their caretakers), you must know that it is being moved to Gillette, Wyoming, population 33,403 from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, population 66,816 due to the size of the event... which "has grown exponentially" so they needed to find a new home to "grow the International Camporee."

Oshkosh could no longer manage the size of the Camporee, so it makes sense to move it to a city half that size?

Despite the claims that the community could profit 20 million dollars, and the claims (made by the Oshkosh Visitors' Bureau) that, "These people come to town and they spend their money for the events.  They’re buying gas and shopping downtown, so it just really projects a lot of when the events come here," Oshkosh decided it wasn't worth it.

The International Camporee's salesman assures potential venues that their massive population is "fully self-contained" and won't cause any problems for the town that accepts them.  Local politicians follow up with claims that the International Camporee will boost our economy, through buying gas and shopping in local stores, and improve our community with unspecified "projects."

So, which is it?  Are they fully self-contained behind the safety fence our tax money builds for them, and the security personnel our tax money provides for them, or are these 55,000 kids aged 4-12 out there boosting the economy by buying gas and shopping?  In the worst recession since Jimmy Carter, with food and gas prices already through the roof, with food and gas and energy shortages already forecast, we are being told to stock up in advance because the International Camporee is expected to consume all of the available resources for the 7-day duration of their stay.

Also, which is it?  Are they occupied with events every hour of the day and night or they are out and about in our town "improving the community" doing unnamed community projects?  One person's "art" is another's eyesore, as many Gillette residents have said about the drive down 4-J Road.

After hearing the concerns from citizens regarding infrastructure, Campbell County citizens being pushed aside in order to provide this venue, and concerns for the safety of the underage children including the inability to provide medical care in a catastrophic situation (there are at least 24 hospitals in and around Oshkosh, Wisconsin, with just the 1 in all of Campbell County) -- the City Council voted to pony up the funds for this international camping event out of taxpayer money.  There was only one NO vote.

Gillette has 1/24th of the hospitals provided by the Camporee's previous venue.

Oshkosh has public transportation services.  Gillette and Campbell County do not.

At the City Council Meeting a Gillette resident reported that there were widespread cellular telephone disruptions during the National High School Finals Rodeo at Cam-Plex, which consumed 7 days in July of 2022.  Best estimates for the population growth from the Rodeo were just around 12,000, which is a fraction of the expected 55,000.

Since at least 2010 the City of Gillette has been rationing water to its citizens.

Multiple citizens have observed that not even the most basic parts of this city's infrastructure can withstand the proposed population spike... which is exactly the realization Oshkosh, Wisconsin came to when they decided this event was too large for their city.

One of the Gillette City Officials, supporting the International Camporee, went so far as to say this was not an issue that needed to go before the public for a vote -- it is the Council's decision to make.  No concern for the safety of 55,000 children aged 4-12 and their caregivers, no concern for the safety of local residents and their own children, no concern for overburdening local utilities, no concern for taxpayers' opinion about how taxpayer dollars should be spent.  This is the mentality of both of the mayoral candidates chosen on August 16th, 2022.  Both voted YES to bringing the International Camporee to Gillette, Wyoming, in spite of the many problems they know it will cause.

Pastor Ron Whitehead is a veritable Pied Piper -- leading our elected officials to ignore the wishes of the voting public and even public safety.  How do you feel about that?