JACKSON, Wyo. — Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson delivered the annual “State of the Town” address on the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 14, using the opportunity to commend the town’s staff for the past year of service.
This was Morton Levinson’s fourth address as mayor. She was sworn in in 2021.
Her speech, delivered from Town Hall and livestreamed, ran for about 20 minutes. Her remarks primarily focused on praising the Town of Jackson’s staff for the way it humbly supports the local community.
“Our staff does not seek accolades or even want to be celebrated, but day-in and day-out, they are making sure the rest of us can live our lives with ease,” Morton Levinson said.
The mayor applauded the work done by Town staff in 2023, citing middle-of-the-night responses to flooding on Flat Creek, extra careful snow plowing and weekend garbage removal. She said she was “impressed” by their “thoughtful and kind service.”
Morton Levinson also reflected on some of the staff’s achievements, including progress made on the Flat Creek Apartments, newly funded mental health support for the Jackson Police Department, updated short-term rental regulations and the implementation of the START airport shuttle pilot program.
“It’s exciting to see the progress we’ve made,” she said.
Regarding plans for 2024, the mayor emphasized that Town Council would “utilize significant time to understand and work through solutions for town’s budget.”
“As our community has evolved, so have its needs and infrastructure,” she said. “We have seen exponential growth … in the demand for our services. Our community’s needs have grown and our budget is being challenged to keep up.”
Morton Levinson hinted at some of the action that might be taken this year, including possible long-term leases at the fairgrounds and changes to the municipal code’s “Title 7,” which covers animals in town. She said she was looking forward to the opening of the new SPET-funded core maintenance facility, expected to open on budget and provide major improvements for public works, and noted that she and her family were excited to visit the new rec center, set to open this summer.
The mayor closed the speech on a personal note.
“I choose to raise my family here because of the care our citizens show each other, the love we have for this place and the amazing community we create together,” she said.
