JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County will soon transition to a recognizable geographic information system (GIS) platform, which could save the county over $200,000 annually, after county elected officials unanimously approved the change on Monday.

The Teton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted at its voucher meeting to support contracts with Terra GIS and Heintz Surveying and Engineering after Teton County Assessor Melissa Shinkle first brought up the issue in October. Shinkle said that the current GIS platform, Esri, lacks various assessor tools, and one crucial tool had been broken since the fall of 2024.

“Terra GIS is customizable to fit our needs, making it user-friendly for our public users, and will assist staff in performing their duties more efficiently,” Shinkle said in a Teton County press release sent Monday.

Teton County pays $283,000 per year for its current contract with Esri and Dewberry Engineers. While using that platform, the county also has needed to employ a full-time GIS administrator. The future of that position has not yet been determined, per the county’s statement. Staff notes state that a contract with Terra and Heintz would cost the county $106,900 the first year, which includes one-time setup fees of $27,400. After the initial year, the annual cost would drop to $79,500, which would save Teton County about $203,000 per year.

For 29 years, Teton County used Greenwood Mapping, which was created and maintained by Rich Greenwood and acquired by Terra GIS in 2024. The county changed to the Esri GIS software in 2023, before Greenwood Mapping was sold. Terra still contains all of the interactive maps that were previously supported by Greenwood, and the platform is used by 15 Wyoming counties and three in Idaho.

According to the county’s press release, it will not renew the Esri contract when it expires in June.

“Terra GIS continues to operate with the same methodology as Greenwood Mapping, offering a smooth and familiar transition for County staff, businesses, and residents,” the news release states. “Teton County will begin working with Terra GIS to prepare a rollout plan for the new GIS platform. Additional details will be shared closer to a launch date.”

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.