Jay Varley hour

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

By Jake Nichols

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Jay Varley, landowner and Jackson resident, used the public comment period to forewarn the Town Council about the Town’s impending trash removal fee scheme – a pay-as-you-throw plan that he said has the capability of causing unwanted dumping. “I've experienced quite a bit of poaching of my dumpsters as the price of trash pickup is going steadily up,” Varley told the council. “That is a crime, by the way. It’s called ‘theft of services.’ And if you do this provision you are considering, there could be a serious consequence of it. Even ‘fly dumping.’ I’ve had tires thrown on my land.”

A variable rate system was recommended by the county’s waste and recycling department as the best way to encourage recycling and mitigate the increase in fees the county must pay to haul trash away. Under the proposed program, the amount of trash residents set out for pick-up would dictate the bill. Critics of the idea cite illegal dumping as the biggest downside.

Varley also asked the council why he hasn’t heard anything back about his application he turned in for the planning board. “I have never heard a word from anyone in the Town as to what its status is,” Varley said. I would like to do public service and I would like to have an answer. I think I deserve an answer of some kind. Frankly, I think it’s been a little rude. I don’t think a citizen should be treated that way.”

The mayor promised Varley would get a phone call later that night.

Hot shots! Part deux
Calico manager Betsy Campbell petitioned the council to reopen the process for issuing the last remaining retail liquor license. Campbell, with Samantha Danahy, hopes to open a watering hole in downtown Jackson that will cater to locals.
During the June 28 special meeting the council shot down every proposal for a retail liquor license including Scott Barrie and Jeremy Tofte (What Jackson Needs), Center for the Arts and Vom Fass of Jackson Hole. The Town Council eventually decided to hold the remaining license and directed staff not to accept any retail liquor license applications until further notice.

Councilman Greg Miles, who opposed that decision, asked the mayor to consider opening the discussion again.

“I would like to talk about opening the retail liquor license up again,” Miles said. “We have an applicant who wants to open it up; I’m just throwing it out there.”
Mayor Mark Barron said he was fine with reopening the process, but said it was a busy time of the year to be thinking about it.

“I suggest that if we start down this road we ought to grant a license,” Bob McLaurin said, referring to the Town’s iron grip toward the previous failed applicants.

The Town agreed to set a date to discuss the matter of possibly reopening the process of issuing the last retail liquor license with Bob Lenz the sole dissenter.

In other business
Giovanni’s received approval for its plan to push four or five tables outside and serve alcohol out there as long as they fence in the proposed cement patio behind the building.

Chad Strand was granted a one-year extension on his promise to build an affordable unit at Daisy Bush since it is “highly unlikely,” according to Shawn Hill, associate planner, that the free market homes for the Housing Trust project gone bust will be built anytime before 2012.

Public Works director Larry Pardee said some lady is pissed the top deck of the parking garage is always closed. “She might write a letter to the editor,” he warned. The Town says they are simply saving energy since no one uses it. JHW


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Jay Varley hour | Planet JH News Article: Council Chronicles

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