Green River local news summary

Lifeguards Honored for Preventing Pool Tragedy

Airbnb Rentals Currently Illegal in Green River, Council Considers Future

Councilman Flags Growing Problem of Illegal Mattress Dumping

Sweetwater County Joins Purdue Opioid Settlement

Green River Approves $368,000 for IT Infrastructure Overhaul

1. Lifeguards Honored for Preventing Pool Tragedy

GREEN RIVER - During the Green River City Council meeting on August 19, 2025, two Green River Recreation Center staff members were publicly recognized for their life-saving actions. On August 3, a young boy began to struggle and went underwater in the facility’s pool. Thanks to the vigilance and quick response of the staff, a lifeguard was by his side in the water in about three seconds. The boy was brought to safety without injury and reunited with his parent. Katie Blood, a supervisor at the center, identified Shift Leader Anden Sassman and Lifeguard Caleb Herwaldt as the individuals who acted swiftly, stating their teamwork “ensured that what could have been a tragedy instead became a story of prevention and success.”

2. Airbnb Rentals Currently Illegal in Green River, Council Considers Future

GREEN RIVER - A discussion at the City Council meeting revealed that operating short-term rentals like Airbnb is not currently permitted under city ordinance. The issue was raised after a citizen inquired about the legality of such rentals. City officials explained that allowing Airbnbs would require a formal ordinance change following a workshop. The process would also involve addressing issues such as tax collection for stays under 30 days, potential inspection requirements for rental properties, and ensuring facilities meet certain codes. The topic will be included in a comprehensive review of the city’s zoning ordinances, which is reportedly 95% complete.

3. Councilman Flags Growing Problem of Illegal Mattress Dumping

GREEN RIVER - Concerns over improperly discarded mattresses in alleys and along highways were brought before the City Council by Councilman Ron Williams. Williams described the issue as a public safety hazard, particularly when mattresses are left near interstates where they can be blown into high-speed traffic. He noted that the city was recently billed for disposing of three improperly dumped mattresses and expressed frustration that the city is “rewarding bad behavior” by paying the disposal fees. The councilman urged the council to find a definitive solution to the problem, whether through a workshop or a new city program to manage mattress disposal, to prevent a potential tragedy and close the issue.

4. Sweetwater County Joins Purdue Opioid Settlement

SWEETWATER COUNTY - The Board of County Commissioners formally approved the Purdue Opioid Settlement during its consent agenda vote. This action aligns Sweetwater County with other government entities participating in the national settlement with Purdue Pharma over its role in the opioid crisis. While details of the settlement were not discussed during the August 19 meeting, the approval is a key step for the county to receive its portion of funds designated to address the impacts of the opioid epidemic locally.

5. Green River Approves $368,000 for IT Infrastructure Overhaul

GREEN RIVER - The Green River City Council unanimously approved a bid of $368,680.99 from Advanced Network Management, Inc. (ANM) for a complete replacement of the city’s network server infrastructure. The current servers are approximately seven years old and will no longer be supported with security updates as of May 2026. The city received two bids for the project, with the approved bid being the lower of the two.

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