Local news- Press Release
Teton County Wyoming - 2023 Highlights from Teton County Public Works 03 January 2024 ( news )
Teton County , state Wyoming ( By Press Release office)
Jan 03,2024
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Teton Couty Public Works is celebrating the end of another calendar year by highlighting some of the department’s accomplishments in 2023 , while also looking forward to another busy year planned for 2024 .
Bear Resistant Containers
Throughout 2023 , Teton County Public Works , in coordination with Teton County Planning and BearWise , has worked to educate the public on Land Development Regulations ( LDRs ) that require new areas of the County to use bear - resistant trash containers . Compliance in these areas went from 15% to 78% . In August 2023 , of the 835 residences surveyed countywide , 701 were using bear - resistant containers ( 83 . 9% compliance ) . Heading into 2024 , staff will continue to work on education , focusing on commercial businesses and other areas where compliance could increase .
Water Quality Management Plan
After nearly two years of analysis , public engagement and feedback
,
Public Works ,
in partnership with the Town of Jackson , Teton Conservation District , and Protect Our Water Jackson Hole , along with consultants Trihydro and Flitner Strategies , released a draft of the Water Quality Management Plan in November during an open house and presentation . The draft plan remains open for public comment until January 18 . The Teton County Board of County Commissioners will then review the recommendations for the plan in Spring 2024 . To review the plan and/or provide public comment , please visit the Water Quality Management Plan engagement page at:
https://engagetetoncountywy . com/M6824
.
Wildlife Crossings
With 2019 voter - approved Special Purpose Excise Tax ( SPET ) , Public Works has been working with a team of local and regional wildlife experts , engineers , and a landscape architect to go through a rigorous design process to site wildlife crossings and accompanying fence in the three locations that were identified in the Wildlife Crossings Master Plan ( adopted in 2018 ) as priorities: U . S . HWY 26/89/191 – Camp Creek area; North U . S . HWY 89/191 – between USFWS Fish Hatchery and the Town of Jackson; and Wyoming Highway 22 – on the west side of Teton Pass . In 2024 , staff will continue the draft plan process and seek additional funding opportunities .
Pathways
The Wilson School Underpass on Wyoming Highway 22 at Wenzel Lane was completed in mid - October , on time and on budget . School children and pathway users can now safely cross the busy highway during commuting hours . In connection , the Wilson to Stilson Pathway is near complete , with the Fish Creek Bridge being the only missing component and is expected to be installed in Spring 2024 . The Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation Department is plowing the pathway this winter so users can enjoy winter recreation on the new path .
Public Works has also developed 30% plans for the Downtown Wilson Active Transportation Improvements project , which aims to improve the connectivity , safety , and layout of the downtown area .
Road and Levee
In 2023 , Teton County teamed up with Jackson Hole Airport to apply asphalt concrete to the existing surface of North Spring Gulch Road to help prolong the life of the road and make it better for public use .
In October , Road and Levee worked with its federal contractor , the U . S . Army Crops of Engineers Walla Walla District , to rehabilitate the Evans Levee on the Snake River . The work included river toe - trench rock installation and revetment rip - rap placement to make it safer for river users during spring run - off .
Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling ( ISWR )
It was another big year for ISWR , which started off with the purchase and installation of the Revolution Sort System at the Recycling Center , and the Tiger Depackager for the Food Waste Compost Facility . Both of these tools were purchased using voter - approved SPET funds from 2019 and will be essential in helping Teton County reach a community goal of 60% waste diversion by 2030 .
In April , the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality ( DEQ ) approved closure activities for the Horsethief Canyon Landfill , concluding the final phase of the “Teton County’s Trash Taming the Wild Waste” project , which began in 2013 .
The landfill originally opened in the late 1950’s . In 1989 , landfilling ceased , and the Transfer Station was built to facilitate the removal of waste to a landfill outside of Teton County . In 2015 , ISWR began an extensive four - phased construction project: the first phase built a new scale house with both inbound and outbound scales; the second phase excavated 800 , 000 cubic yards of buried trash; the third phase expanded solid waste facilities; and the fourth and final phase was the permanent closure of the landfill .
The project has helped mitigate groundwater contamination; diminish long lines at the scale house; reduce waste; decrease carbon emissions; capture food and yard waste and make valuable compost; rustle up more recyclables; and enhance the customer experience at ISWR .
Last , but not least , Public Works was awarded with a Safe Streets and Roads for All ( SS4A ) Grant Program through the U . S . Department of Transportation to complete a Comprehensive Multi - Modal Safety Action Plan , which will build upon the existing Teton Mobility Project and Complete Streets initiative . Public Works will host a transportation expo on February 6 and 7 to highlight some of the many transportation initiatives in the works for 2024 and beyond .
Teton County Public Works recognizes that many of these projects have impacted the day - to - day life of residents , and not always in the most convenient way . Public Works would like to thank the public for their patience and support over the past year and is looking forward to continued progress on many more projects and public engagement opportunities in 2024 .
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