Pinedale local news summary

Council moves to create business license requirement

Town proactively restricts locations for gaming businesses

Town rejects subpar concrete work on Shanley Street project

Airport apron project cost increases by $43,000

Commission rejects helicopter contract renewal, opts for competitive bids

New hospital grapples with construction flaws, flooding incidents

Hospital reports significant revenue shortfall in first months

Local providers to staff ER, saving hospital over $1 million

Hospital details three-phase plan for vacant Sublette Center

Hospital seeks workaround for federal no-smoking rules

Commission approves new state-funded magistrate

Council moves to create business license requirement

PINEDALE, Wyo. - The Pinedale Town Council on Monday directed staff to draft an ordinance that would require businesses operating within town limits to obtain a license. The move aims to provide better administrative oversight, protect local contractors from uninsured out-of-town competition and ensure compliance with public health regulations, such as backflow prevention for water systems and grease trap maintenance for restaurants. Mayor Matt Murdock acknowledged a similar proposal failed in 2008 due to concerns over government overreach but stated the current council sees it as a tool for local control and citizen protection. A draft of the ordinance is expected to be presented for a first reading at the next council meeting.

Town proactively restricts locations for gaming businesses

PINEDALE, Wyo. - Seeking to maintain local control ahead of potential state legislative action, the Town Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to regulate the location of skill-based amusement games. Ordinance 735 would restrict new gaming establishments, such as those featuring historical horse racing or simulcasting machines, to the town's light industrial (I-1) zoning district. The measure is designed to prevent such businesses from opening in the downtown C-1 or general commercial C-2 districts, which officials said would protect the character of the town's primary retail areas. The ordinance will require two more successful readings to become law.

Town rejects subpar concrete work on Shanley Street project

PINEDALE, Wyo. - Recent concrete and grading work completed as part of the shallow water main project on Shanley Street has been rejected by the town due to poor quality. During Monday’s meeting, town staff reported that an inspection revealed multiple issues with manhole rings, curb stops and overall finish work. The owner of the contracting firm, Westwood Curtis Construction, was reportedly apologetic and has committed to correcting all deficiencies at the company's expense until the project meets town standards. Crews have already begun digging up and replacing the faulty sections.

Airport apron project cost increases by $43,000

PINEDALE, Wyo. - The final cost for the South General Aviation Apron project at the Ralph Wenz Field Airport will be $43,021 higher than originally contracted. The Town Council on Monday approved a reconciliation change order with H-K Contractors, Inc., bringing the final project total to $2,481,261. According to the project engineer, the cost overrun was primarily due to the discovery of poor soil conditions that required additional excavation. The majority of the extra cost is federally eligible, with the town’s share of the increase expected to be approximately $1,000.

Commission rejects helicopter contract renewal, opts for competitive bids

PINEDALE, Wyo. - The Sublette County Commission on Tuesday voted to seek competitive bids for its vital search and rescue helicopter services, declining an immediate five-year contract renewal with current provider Rugged Mountain Aviation. The decision to issue a 30-day request for proposal followed a contentious debate about the financial burden on Sublette County taxpayers. Commissioners questioned the fairness of the county bearing the entire standby cost, estimated at up to $500,000 annually, while neighboring counties use the helicopter and only pay for operational flight time. Officials argued that seeking new bids was a matter of due diligence, though search and rescue representatives warned a change in providers could disrupt services and require extensive retraining.

New hospital grapples with construction flaws, flooding incidents

PINEDALE, Wyo. - The new Sublette County Health hospital is addressing significant infrastructure problems, including a “blackwater flood” caused by sewer drains backing up, a hospital administrator reported to the commission Tuesday. The sewer issues were attributed to construction debris left in the pipes by subcontractors. In a separate incident, a faulty compression fitting in the dry fire-suppression system failed, releasing thousands of gallons of water onto a patio area and forcing a brief evacuation of staff. The administrator noted that while the system worked as designed by sounding an alarm, contractors are now inspecting all similar fittings to prevent future failures.

Hospital reports significant revenue shortfall in first months

PINEDALE, Wyo. - Sublette County Health’s new hospital is facing early financial challenges, reporting revenues approximately $1.2 million below budget for the month of September, resulting in a monthly loss of about $550,000. An administrator told the commission the shortfall is largely due to patient referral patterns, with many residents still accustomed to seeking care in Jackson or Rock Springs. To address the issue, the hospital is launching a targeted marketing campaign to raise awareness of new local services like mammography and MRI and is meeting with medical staff to find ways to increase clinic capacity and accept new patients more quickly.

Local providers to staff ER, saving hospital over $1 million

PINEDALE, Wyo. - In a major cost-saving move, Sublette County Health will transition its emergency department staffing from an external agency to a team of local providers, saving over $1 million annually. Beginning Jan. 4, the ER will be staffed primarily by local physician assistants, supported by a new physician who will serve as the medical director. The hospital administrator stated the change was approved by the medical staff and hospital board and will ensure that patients are treated by familiar, local healthcare professionals while significantly reducing operational expenses.

Hospital details three-phase plan for vacant Sublette Center

PINEDALE, Wyo. - Sublette County Health officials have unveiled an ambitious multi-phase plan to utilize the vacant north end of the old Sublette Center. In the immediate future, administrative offices will relocate from the main hospital to the center to free up critical clinic space for patient care. The second phase involves converting former nursing home rooms into short-term dormitory-style housing for traveling medical staff, addressing a persistent local housing shortage. The long-term vision, projected three to five years out, is to completely renovate the space into a full-service assisted living facility, a service currently unavailable in the community. That project will require significant construction and a major fundraising campaign involving grants and private donations.

Hospital seeks workaround for federal no-smoking rules

PINEDALE, Wyo. - Faced with strict federal regulations, the Sublette County Health hospital is exploring solutions for long-term care residents who are smokers. An administrator explained that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services mandates a smoke-free campus for any facility receiving its payments, putting the hospital’s certification at risk. To avoid forcing elderly residents to cross a dangerous road to smoke, the hospital has offered to provide free vaping products, which are permitted by CMS in designated areas on campus. If that option is unsuccessful, the hospital may seek to build a small shelter for smokers on adjacent city-owned land.

Commission approves new state-funded magistrate

PINEDALE, Wyo. - The Sublette County Commission approved the appointment of a new magistrate for the Circuit Court to handle cases and reduce potential conflicts of interest. Circuit Court Judge John LaBuda explained that the new magistrate, a local attorney with a civil legal aid background, would not face the same professional conflicts as the current magistrate, who is a private-practice criminal defense attorney. The appointment represents a financial benefit to the county, as the position is authorized by the commission but fully funded by the state of Wyoming.

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