Town and County play nice

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-The County heard the rabble. They felt the heat of the masses, tugged at their collar and checked up the Comp Plan process for a blow. Planning commissioners voted 3-1 last week to remand the Comp Plan back to staff for more tinkering that might better reflect the growing public outcry. The vote essentially forked the paths of Town and County as they both strive to shape future growth in the valley by building golf courses and four-star hotels and hoping the other guy houses some Mexicans to labor them.

Alex Norton, from the county planning staff, stepped up during the public hearing period and invited the town to another county workshop. “We remain committed to a joint planning process with the Comp Plan,” he said.

“It seems to me I keep hearing a request for more information and [a longer]commenting period during this process,” Mayor Mark Barron observed. The Council seemed unsure just where the County was now in the process of passing the Comprehensive Plan. Tyler Sinclair suggested the Council participate in more meetings with the County to figure things out together.

The mayor laid a proclamation on the Kemmerers – Jay and Connie – for their achievements in Wyo. The family legacy has experienced the highs and lows, from digging the world’s largest open coal pit outside of Kemmerer in the first half of the last century to stewarding the slopes at JHMR.

“It’s been a short 17 years here in the valley,” Jay Kemmerer said. “When we first got here there seemed to be Teton Village and Jackson, and there was a jealousy for years. Now, it’s great to be acknowledged by the town. It seems we are Jackson Hole in the winter and you are Jackson Hole more or less in the summer.”

Belt-tightening
Jackson officials voted to pass the 2010 budget which included deep cuts in several social services. Slashing at the police department received the most public flack, though Barron pointed out the department was cut only six percent while most were gashed 8 to12.

“You are jeopardizing my security by taking seven officers off the job,” said Gil Nethercott, who counted three officers reassigned to the airport and the chief of police who may be resigning soon. “I have to deal with the drunks from the rodeo and the drunks from the concerts at Snow King. Without the security I don’t know how you are going to deal with it. I know this won't be popular, but why not cut Pathways and START Bus and some of these social services?

“I can assure you, sir, we will have adequate police services,” the mayor answered.
The City of Jackson also saved $45,000 annually by recycling the Recycling Board into the transfer station. The new entity will be called Integrated Solid Waste Management Department. JHW
PERMALINK:
Town and County play nice | Planet JH News Article: Council Chronicles

Reader Comments

The figure quoted by the mayor and touted by the town for the budget cut is 6 %. The shell game that the mayor is playing is an accounting game. They moved two accounts from other departments into the police department budget that were not there last year. They are also not counting the three officers being re-assigned to the airport. When you tally apples to apples the police budget is cut 20% from last year. Do what you want, but tell the truth. Ethics are more important than sound bites.
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"Cerrejón, Colombia’s largest coal mine and probably the largest open pit coal mine in the world."..... At one time the old Kemmerer mine may have been the largest. At 5 million tons/yr it doesn't hold a candle to 30 million tons/yr at Cerrejón. .....Figures from Wikipedia.
eyeson jackson