Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr is asking state lawmakers to support legislation that would allow cities and towns the ability to create a stormwater drainage utility to fund and manage flood control projects.

"This is a matter of public health and safety," said Orr.  "Taking care of what's underground is just as important as the streets we drive on.  It's critical."

Since the deadly flood of 1985, Cheyenne has completed more than 20 flood control projects -- most notably Leo A. Pando Park and Civic Center Commons.

But Orr says there's much more to be done, and work will continue with prioritization and funding to support these much-needed improvements.

"We have aging and insufficient infrastructure and our pipes underneath the ground can no longer support the demands placed on them," Orr said.  "We must address the needs of our current neighborhoods while carefully planning future neighborhood development."

"It's not an exciting investment because it's easy to ignore what we don't see, but we must protect our citizens from flooding," she added.

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