Mayor criticizes county commissioners over 'fifth-penny' tax

Town seeks state funds for Safe Streets match

Emergency funding approved to challenge FEMA maps

Main Street construction slated for 2028

Council approves bank remodel with traffic conditions

Sheriff reports high usage of virtual crisis care

Airport to bid for refurbished fuel truck

Senior services see 15% increase in demand

Lack of snow forces cancellation of winter events

Commissioners pause public health facility project over high cost estimates

Fairgrounds renovation bids to open in March

County supports FEMA update to 1970s flood plain maps

Moratorium on cell tower applications discussed pending new regulations

Fire warden, sheriff seek standardized evacuation authority

Hospital district reports lower volumes, seeks $1.5 million budget adjustment

Commissioner and administrator debate hospital salary transparency

Aquatic center reports high usage, warns of legislative threat to funding

Mayor criticizes county commissioners over 'fifth-penny' tax

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Pinedale Mayor Matt Murdock criticized the Sublette County commissioners' decision to exclude a "fifth-penny" tax initiative from the upcoming ballot, announcing that a citizen petition backed by the Chamber of Commerce is underway to force the measure to a vote. Although Murdock acknowledged the initiative will likely miss the May election deadline, he emphasized that the additional revenue is necessary to restore the town's buying power to 2019 levels amid inflation and declining sales tax returns.

Town seeks state funds for Safe Streets match

PINEDALE, Wyo. — The Pinedale Town Council voted unanimously to apply for a governor's matching grant of $827,800 to fulfill the local funding requirement for a recently awarded $3.3 million federal "Safe Streets and Roads for All" grant. Town Engineer Abram Pearce said leveraging the town's previous investment in planning and engineering strengthens the application, which targets major improvements to Pine Street and other infrastructure.

Emergency funding approved to challenge FEMA maps

PINEDALE, Wyo. — The council ratified a $10,000 emergency professional services agreement with Old Glory Engineering to review and challenge new Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain maps. Public Works Director Abram Pearce said the draft maps contained significant errors, such as missing bridges, which allegedly placed properties and parts of the highway into flood zones incorrectly, necessitating a technical review to prevent unnecessary insurance requirements and development restrictions.

Main Street construction slated for 2028

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Public Works Director Abram Pearce outlined the schedule for the Pine Street reconstruction project, projecting that utility work will begin in 2027 and primary paving will wrap up by October 2028. The project, funded by a federal grant and coordinated with the Wyoming Department of Transportation, will require synchronized efforts to manage water and sewer upgrades alongside surface improvements.

Council approves bank remodel with traffic conditions

PINEDALE, Wyo. — The council approved a commercial building permit for the First Bank of Wyoming's remodel at 221 E. Pine St., imposing conditions to address traffic safety concerns on U.S. Highway 191. The approval requires the bank to close one access point, install a "No Left Turn" sign for exiting vehicles and relocate a handicap parking space to improve van access and prevent vehicles from backing into highway traffic.

Sheriff reports high usage of virtual crisis care

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Sublette County Sheriff K.C. Lehr reported that the department's pilot project for virtual crisis care tablets is seeing high utilization, with the county accounting for a significant portion of the state's usage. Lehr said the tablets allow deputies to connect individuals in mental health crises directly with psychologists, reducing the need for out-of-county hospital transport, and indicated he is seeking legislative support to continue the service when grant funding expires.

Airport to bid for refurbished fuel truck

PINEDALE, Wyo. — The council authorized staff to issue a Request for Proposals for a refurbished jet fuel truck after determining the current 1,500-gallon vehicle requires a full system replacement. Airport Manager Riley Wilson recommended acquiring a rebuilt early-2000s model, estimated at $65,000, to ensure the airport has a reliable, higher-capacity fueling option.

Senior services see 15% increase in demand

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Rendezvous Pointe Executive Director Tina Robinson reported a 15% increase in the local senior population, leading to a corresponding rise in demand for meals and services. Robinson said the organization is implementing a computerized tracking system and has hired additional staff to support the Wyoming Home Services and Caretaker Support Program, which currently serves 25 households.

Lack of snow forces cancellation of winter events

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Unseasonably mild winter weather has forced the cancellation of the annual Ski Joring competition and the Cardboard Classic, though the Chamber of Commerce will proceed with the Winter Carnival's hot dog eating contest and snow machine show. Organizers noted that while the Chamber's gala will continue, the lack of snow has severely impacted traditional outdoor recreation festivities.

Commissioners pause public health facility project over high cost estimates

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Sublette County commissioners voted to pause spending on the proposed public health office relocation after reviewing preliminary cost estimates that ranged from $2.3 million for a remodel to $4.4 million for new construction. Maintenance Superintendent Andre Irey presented the figures, which included a $14,800 request for further assessment of three potential locations. One commissioner described the costs as "staggering," particularly for a potential remodel of a temporary space. The board agreed to delay further action until a timeline is established regarding the potential sale of the Proactive Rehabilitation building, with a request for an update on that property within 30 days.

Fairgrounds renovation bids to open in March

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Maintenance Superintendent Andre Irey reported that bids for the fairgrounds renovation project will open the day before the next commission meeting. The project has been split into a "base bid" and an "Option A" to ensure the viewing area and stage can be completed even if costs run high. Irey also discussed a strategy to purchase shade structures directly from a manufacturer to avoid paying contractor markups, a move intended to keep the project under budget.

County supports FEMA update to 1970s flood plain maps

PINEDALE, Wyo. — The commission voted to sign a letter of support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue its update of the county's flood plain mapping. County Planning and Zoning Administrator Dennis Fornstrom and Rio Verde Engineering reported that the current maps date back to the late 1970s and rely on outdated data, often forcing landowners to pay for expensive individual studies to prove they are not in a flood zone. The new mapping, which utilizes modern lidar technology, is expected to be more accurate and less restrictive for property owners. The project is fully funded by FEMA at no cost to the county.

Moratorium on cell tower applications discussed pending new regulations

PINEDALE, Wyo. — County Planning and Zoning Administrator Dennis Fornstrom requested a moratorium on new telecommunication tower applications until updated regulations are adopted, tentatively scheduled for March 3. Fornstrom noted that the planning and zoning board is currently reviewing comprehensive changes to the regulations, which have expanded from nine to more than 20 pages to address federal requirements and fire mitigation. The board expressed general agreement that accepting applications under the old rules while drafting new ones would be counterproductive.

Fire warden, sheriff seek standardized evacuation authority

PINEDALE, Wyo. — County Fire Warden Shad Cooper and Sheriff K.C. Lehr presented a proposal to create a standardized "Ready, Set, Go" evacuation protocol, which would include delegating specific closure authority to emergency officials during active wildfires. While the officials argued that pre-authorized delegation allows for faster response times during emergencies, the commission expressed hesitation. Commissioner Doug Vickrey stated he would be hesitant to delegate such responsibility to one individual without board oversight, citing potential constituent concerns. The board permitted the department heads to continue drafting the plan for future review but made no immediate policy changes.

Hospital district reports lower volumes, seeks $1.5 million budget adjustment

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Sublette County Hospital District Administrator Bill Patten reported that patient volumes for the new facility have been lower than projected, with inpatient numbers averaging 2.5 per day rather than the anticipated 3.5. Consequently, the district is revising its budget to improve the bottom line by $1.5 million through a combination of expense reductions and revenue increases before the fiscal year ends. Patten noted that the facility is currently undergoing surveys for Critical Access Hospital designation, which is expected to generate approximately $4 million annually once approved.

Commissioner and administrator debate hospital salary transparency

PINEDALE, Wyo. — A discussion regarding financial transparency occurred between Commissioner Doug Vickrey and Sublette County Hospital District Administrator Bill Patten during the administrative update. Vickrey requested that the hospital district publish its payroll data similar to county listings, arguing that taxpayers have a right to know how public funds are spent. Patten stated that publishing individual salaries is uncommon in the healthcare sector and cited the need to compete nationally for medical staff. While Patten offered to potentially list wage ranges by category, Vickrey maintained that the current lack of disclosure was not proper for a taxpayer-supported entity.

Aquatic center reports high usage, warns of legislative threat to funding

PINEDALE, Wyo. — Pinedale Aquatic Center Director Amber Anderson reported near-record attendance over the holiday break, with Dec. 26 marking one of the busiest days in the facility's history. However, the report included a warning regarding House Bill 58, currently before the Wyoming Legislature. Anderson noted that the bill would require school recreation mill levies—which provide 65 to 75 percent of the facility's funding—to go before voters every four years. The director expressed concern that the legislation could threaten the financial stability of the facility if passed.

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