Town Square traffic, in various forms

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

By Jake Nichols

Kicking the tires
Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Police Chief Todd Smith petitioned the town for a new cop car. Knowing Mayor Mark Barron’s penchant for energy-saving, Smith didn’t even consider another Chevy Tahoe. They get about 10 miles per gallon, according to the top cop, and the Dodge Charger wasn’t much better. Smith settled on a Ford Taurus sedan from Greiner Ford in Casper for $29,292.

“Have you considered the energy efficiency of the vehicle? What about a hybrid?” Greg Miles asked.

Smith said he talked that over with the mayor, who owns a hybrid, and decided that the lack of power might mean a speeder in downtown Jackson would eventually be pulled over in Ryrie, Idaho by the time a hybrid police cruiser could overtake the scofflaw, thereby wasting more fuel than it saved. A Taurus can also be tricked out better with cop stuff like the high-speed chase camera, prisoner cage, and nifty shotgun rack; all for a mere $18,700 more.

“Chief Smith and I spoke about this and he knows my feelings about a hybrid vehicle, but I was convinced, for the money and the incremental increase in gas efficiency, that this was a step in the right direction,” Barron said.

But with the Council ready to send Smith car shopping, the mayor pulled an about-face.

“I’m not going to support this motion because I would like to see a local dealership get the bid,” Barron said.

Miles retracted his motion and the Council decided to rebid the police cruiser to allow for local participation in the bid process.

Tour de Jackson
After objection last meeting over the proposed route for Tour de Jackson on July 11, applicant Brian Smith offered the Council two other options that would not take cyclists through the precious Town Square business district and run over a shopper.
 
Smith kind of preferred Route No. 2, which would take bikers over the hill on Simpson but the other Smith, Police Chief Todd, thought option No. 1 would be easier to police in their new Taurus. Route No. 1 also took the race right past Snake River Brew Pub and Fitzgerald’s Bicycles.

Mark Obringer wondered whether business would be disrupted by the race traffic. Miles said that was the whole point; “to try to get some activity downtown and help merchants like the Pub and Fitzy’s.”

Everyone agreed to the new route for the United Cyclists of Jackson Hole with the recommendation that they urge participants to park in the parking garage.
“But make sure they take their bikes off the top of their car,” city administrator Bob McLaurin advised. “That parking structure will rip a bike off a car. You only need to do it once.”

Other business
The Wort Hotel wants to sling burgers and beer so badly on the sidewalk out in front of their place that they started doing so last year without the proper permit. Then there is that sticky problem about WYDOT owning a couple feet of right-of-way curbside. The Wort got it all sorted out, and just needed approval from the Council to open their outdoor café, which they received obligingly from Miles who announced he would be the first customer in line.

“Please make sure that Councilman Miles pays for his burger and a beer,” the mayor asked of The Wort GM Jim Waldrop.

Planning commissioner Lisa daCosta had been waiting for her seat to be filled so she could step down from the board. She’s done waiting. DaCosta told planning head Tyler Sinclair she would no longer be attending the meeting marathons so Sinclair suggested to the Council they simply leave the seat open, leaving six acting members.

“With the Comp Plan almost done, it’s probably not the best time to add a new commissioner,” Sinclair admitted. JHW


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Town Square traffic, in various forms | Planet JH News Article: Council Chronicles

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