JACKSON, Wyo. — Housing was a hot-button issue at Tuesday’s meeting of the Teton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC).
The Board passed three items related to housing: implementation of workforce restrictions for two employee units at Astoria Park; the option to consider adding County units to the building plans for a new coroner’s facility; and an amendment to the County housing policy that will prioritize first responders in lotteries for County-owned units.
The amendment to the housing policy for first responders garnered the most discussion. The item passed 4-to-1, with Commissioner Wes Gardner opposed out of fear that first responders could potentially fill all of the county’s 45 staff units, leaving few or none for other departments. Teton County currently owns 26 housing units and has the first right of refusal for 19 units provided by the community housing program. County first responders include about 35 Jackson Hole Fire/EMS team members, 20 Teton County Sheriff’s Office patrol staff and 16 dispatchers.
County staff was awaiting a decision by the BCC before planning to open a lottery for a newly vacant unit. In response to a suggestion by Gardner to cap the number of units that can be filled by first responders, Commissioner Natalia Macker answered, “I don’t think it’s a challenge we’re going to face tomorrow if there’s one unit coming up available. … I think if we want to look at that, it’s something we can look at within our housing program. I don’t feel a sense of urgency to address that today, but I think it’s something that we should consider as [our housing] stock grows.”
Prior to the Board’s approval, full-time County employees who had served for at least 90 days were given priority for housing, and part-time staff with 90 days of employment were next in line. This amendment will not change those preferences; first responders will now be given the first opportunity and other County departments will shift accordingly. Emergency personnel would qualify for the housing priority immediately upon being hired, which Sheriff Matt Carr said would assist in recruitment efforts.
“We’re woefully short of what we need to respond to any sort of awful emergency that could occur anytime, night or day, especially in the schools,” Carr told the BCC. “Again, I remind people that we have a school over in Alta as well; those response times are critical. It’s critical that we build up that force.”
The BCC declined to vote on a proposed stipend for first responders who live within Teton County in market-rate housing. The stipend, which could come before the BCC at a later date, would offer up to $2,500 per month to first responders in market rentals, under the condition that they move into a subsidized unit when available. A pilot program was originally proposed for the stipend, but the Board wants to hash out logistics before voting on a motion.
The Board was unsure about including employee housing in the plans for a new coroner’s facility. County Coroner Brent Blue was opposed to the measure, citing the unattractive nature of living above a morgue. Ultimately the BCC passed the motion unanimously, which will simply allow them to consider housing options, including a possible bunkhouse or dorm-style living quarters for seasonal employees. The BCC also approved a deed-restricted designation for two newly constructed housing units at Astoria Park without any fanfare.
