Mead: State Money Not an Option to Help Plow Yellowstone, Local Money OK

(Cheyenne) Gov. Matt Mead says he's open to having the Wyoming Department of Transportation plow roads inside Yellowstone National Park this spring.

Mead spokesman Renny MacKay said Monday the governor's office is conferring with city officials in Jackson and Cody to see how that could be arranged.

Details remain to be worked out. The governor says using state money for a spring plowing operation in Yellowstone is not an option, but local funding could be used.

Federal budget cuts have postponed the start of spring plowing in Yellowstone. Plowing was supposed to begin March 4 and has been delayed until March 18.

Park entrances will open one to two weeks later than originally planned in May. The delay worries business owners near Yellowstone who expect to see fewer tourists this spring.