Pinedale local news summary
Week of January 21, 2026
Town secures $3.3 million grant for Highway 191 safety projects
Town acquires easements for new school pathway connection
Council grapples with soaring airport hangar costs
Town seeks $3.5 million FAA grant for terminal remodel
Mayor waives code to allow move-ins despite unpaved roads
RFPs issued to spur affordable housing development
First Bank of Wyoming drive-thru permit tabled over traffic concerns
Commission rejects motion to place 'fifth penny' tax on ballot
Information technology department head terminated effective immediately
WYDOT outlines major Pine Street project for 2028
Board backs speed limit reduction in Bondurant
Fire department reports 25 percent increase in incidents
Weed and Pest District warns of potential 23 percent budget cut
Planning and Zoning reports surge in permits, upcoming fee changes
Town secures $3.3 million grant for Highway 191 safety projects
PINEDALE, Wyo. — Pinedale officials announced the receipt of a $3.3 million "Safe Streets and Roads for All" federal grant to fund improvements along U.S. Highway 191. The funding will support a pedestrian underpass connecting American Legion Park, traffic calming measures and pedestrian safety upgrades. The grant requires a local match, which officials hope to partially fund through state aid, paving the way for a major overhaul of the town's main thoroughfare in coordination with upcoming Wyoming Department of Transportation projects.
Town acquires easements for new school pathway connection
PINEDALE, Wyo. — The council approved the purchase of four right-of-way easements totaling over $140,000 to finalize the route for a pathway connecting Pine Street to Pinedale Elementary School. The acquisitions from three different landowners are the result of an 18-month federal process and will allow the town to proceed with the "Pathway Connectivity Project." This infrastructure is designed to provide a safe, continuous route for students and pedestrians in the Bloomfield and North Sky subdivisions.
Council grapples with soaring airport hangar costs
PINEDALE, Wyo. — Construction estimates for a new hangar at Ralph Wenz Field initially skyrocketed to nearly $7 million, forcing T-O Engineers to aggressively value-engineer the plan down to a current estimate of $4.75 million. During a project update, Director of Public Works Abram Pearce explained that while the target budget remains around $3.8 million, rising material costs and necessary structural specifications for large aircraft doors are keeping prices high. Additionally, the council was informed that a necessary electrical transformer has a one-year lead time, prompting urgent discussions on procuring power infrastructure immediately to prevent future delays.
Town seeks $3.5 million FAA grant for terminal remodel
PINEDALE, Wyo. — The council approved a grant application to the Federal Aviation Administration for $3.5 million to fund a remodel of the airport terminal and the installation of a fire suppression system. The town increased the request from an initial $2 million to include safety upgrades, which officials believe will make the application more competitive in the national selection process. If awarded, the grant would require a 5 percent local match, estimated between $75,000 and $150,000, to modernize the pilot's lounge, welcome area and office space.
Mayor waives code to allow move-ins despite unpaved roads
PINEDALE, Wyo. — Mayor Matt Murdock utilized executive authority to waive a town code requirement, allowing water and sewer services for four newly constructed homes in the Pronghorn subdivision despite the lack of paved roads. While acknowledging the waiver was necessary to allow homeowners to occupy their properties, officials stipulated that no further building permits would be issued for the development until the subdivision's infrastructure is fully completed. Neighbors expressed concern during public comment that waiving road requirements is not in the long-term interest of the subdivision.
RFPs issued to spur affordable housing development
PINEDALE, Wyo. — To address the local housing shortage, the council authorized the release of two requests for proposals (RFPs) seeking public-private partnerships for affordable housing projects. The first RFP seeks developers interested in trading deed-restricted housing units in exchange for town assistance with infrastructure costs, while the second solicits proposals for developing a town-owned five-acre parcel on South Jackson Avenue. The initiative aims to support the local workforce, including Sublette County Hospital District staff and teachers, who struggle to find market-rate housing.
First Bank of Wyoming drive-thru permit tabled over traffic concerns
PINEDALE, Wyo. — The town council tabled a commercial building permit for the First Bank of Wyoming at 221 E. Pine St. due to safety concerns regarding a proposed drive-through at a busy nearby intersection. Officials noted that the new site plan, which eliminates an access point but tightens the parking area, could cause vehicles to back out into highway traffic or create congestion during school drop-off times. The council voted to delay the decision until bank representatives could attend a meeting to address questions about traffic flow and the feasibility of a one-way entrance.
Commission rejects motion to place 'fifth penny' tax on ballot
The Sublette County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to reject a motion placing a 1% general purpose excise tax, commonly known as the "fifth penny," on the upcoming ballot. While Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock and other municipal leaders urged the board to authorize the measure to offset infrastructure costs associated with a proposed industrial facility, the commission majority argued the initiative should originate from the public. One commissioner stated that voters should champion the cause themselves rather than the government driving the tax proposal.
Information technology department head terminated effectively immediately
Following an executive session regarding personnel matters, the commission voted unanimously to terminate the county's information technology department head, effective immediately. The board did not publicly disclose specific reasons for the dismissal after the closed-door discussion, though the motion was approved by all commissioners present.
WYDOT outlines major Pine Street project for 2028
WYDOT District 3 Engineer Tory Thomas presented the State Transportation Improvement Program, detailing a major rehabilitation of Pine Street (U.S. Highway 191) in Pinedale scheduled for 2028. The project will include milling and overlaying the roadway alongside significant upgrades to Americans with Disabilities Act ramps, sidewalks and pedestrian safety features. Department officials also confirmed that guardrails will be installed in Bondurant this summer to improve safety on curves near Hoback Canyon.
Board backs speed limit reduction in Bondurant
Commissioners agreed to send a letter of support to the Wyoming Department of Transportation requesting a speed limit reduction in Bondurant from the post office to the mouth of the canyon. The board endorsed lowering the limit to 55 mph after residents and county officials raised long-standing safety concerns regarding the speed of traffic through the populated corridor.
Fire department reports 25% increase in incidents
Sublette County Unified Fire Chief Shad Cooper presented the department's annual report, citing a 25% increase in emergency incidents for a total of 284 calls over the previous year. Cooper noted that while fire response remained a key duty, the majority of calls involved vehicle accidents and rescues, and he highlighted the department's fiscal management through grant acquisitions and the installation of 49 smoke detectors in local homes.
Weed and Pest District warns of potential 23% budget cut
Sublette County Weed and Pest District Supervisor Julie Kraft warned commissioners that proposed state legislation to eliminate property taxes could reduce the district's budget by approximately $350,000, or 23%. Kraft explained that losing this base funding would severely impact operations, potentially threatening large-scale efforts such as cheatgrass mitigation and cost-share programs for local landowners.
Planning and Zoning reports surge in permits, upcoming fee changes
County Planner Hayley Ruland reported a significant rise in departmental activity, with 303 permits issued last year compared to a historical average of fewer than 100. Ruland indicated the department is reviewing its fee schedule for potential April updates and drafting new tower regulations for presentation in March, while also coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on updated floodplain mapping.
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