Pinedale local news summary

New Airport Hangar Project Moves Forward

Pinedale Council Cuts Non-Profit Funding Amidst Tight Budget

Town Establishes Formal Housing Commission

Pinedale Approves First Affordable Housing Deed Restriction

County, City Appoint New Official Newspaper

1. New Airport Hangar Project Moves Forward

PINEDALE - Plans for a new, large-scale hangar at the Pinedale Airport are advancing, with the Town Council approving the procurement process for a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contract. The project, for a 120-by-120-foot hangar, involves a complex mix of federal, state, and local funds. Bringing a CMAR contractor on board early in the design phase is intended to manage risk and control costs on the major infrastructure project. With this approval, the project could potentially be constructed by November of next year.

2. Pinedale Council Cuts Non-Profit Funding Amidst Tight Budget

PINEDALE - The Pinedale Town Council made difficult decisions regarding financial support for local non-profits, approving a budget that included significant cuts for several organizations. During a lengthy debate, the council decided to provide no funding to Happy Endings Animal Rescue (HEAR), citing the existing services the town already provides. Other key community organizations also saw their funding reduced from original requests, with Rendezvous Pointe receiving $18,000, the Pinedale Aquatic Center $11,000, and the Children’s Discovery Center $8,369.70. The cuts were made to stay within the council’s policy of dedicating 3% of its revenue to these external service contracts.

3. Town Establishes Formal Housing Commission

PINEDALE - In a move to address ongoing local housing challenges, the Pinedale Town Council gave its final approval to an ordinance officially creating the Town of Pinedale Housing Commission. The unanimous vote on the ordinance’s third reading establishes a formal body tasked with overseeing and developing solutions for housing issues within the town. Following the vote, the council acknowledged its next step will be to seek out and appoint members to the newly formed commission.

4. Pinedale Approves First Affordable Housing Deed Restriction

PINEDALE - The Pinedale Town Council took a concrete step toward creating more affordable housing by unanimously approving a new deed-restriction template and immediately applying it to a project by NC Construction LLC. This legal framework will permanently place affordability requirements on the designated property, restricting who can occupy the units based on income qualifications to be set by the town. The new restriction will allow the developer to move forward with obtaining a variance for the project, which is expected to create at least two new deed-restricted affordable housing units.

5. County, City Appoint New Official Newspaper

SUBLETTE COUNTY - In a special meeting following the abrupt closure of the Pinedale Roundup, the Sublette County Commission voted 3–1 (with one commissioner excused) to designate the Rock Springs Rocket-Miner as the new official county newspaper for publishing legal notices. Commissioner Doug Vickrey cast the dissenting vote. The decision came after a heated debate over the selection process. Vickrey strongly objected, stating the process was unfair after the board solicited a price from the Rocket-Miner’s representative during the meeting, allowing them to undercut a previous quote from the Star Valley Independent. The Rocket-Miner offered $6.50 per column inch after its initial quote was $11, while the Star Valley Independent had offered $7. The vote proceeded despite the concerns. Commissioners cited the paper’s online presence; county staff had earlier referenced 404 digital subscribers in Sublette County, but that figure has been disputed by Wyoming Press Association data indicating 40 total Rocket-Miner digital subscribers (the publisher disputes the WPA figure).

Following the county’s lead, the Pinedale Town Council voted unanimously to name the Rock Springs Rocket-Miner as its interim newspaper of record. Mayor Matt Murdock recommended selecting the same paper as the county to create a single, consistent location for residents to find public notices from all local government entities. The designation was framed as a temporary measure, with council members expressing a strong desire to reinstate the Pinedale Roundup as the official paper should it successfully resume operations. Councilwoman Judi Boyce stated she would be in “full support of bringing our cows back home, so to speak,” once the local paper is able to meet the necessary legal criteria again.

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