JACKSON, Wyo. — Three town council members met for a special town council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 28 to discuss what to include in a letter to the Office of State Land and Investment Board (OSLI) regarding the proposed disposal of the Kelly state trust land parcel.
“The Jackson Town Council urges the State Lands and Investments Board to deny the proposed auction of the Kelly Parcel and work to have it sold directly to the National Park Service,” states the letter.
Grand Teton National Park Chief of Staff Jeremey Barnum was present at the meeting and made public comment before the council discussed the letter.
“The acquisition of the Kelly Parcel has been and is a longstanding priority for the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service,” Barnum said. “We have an excellent relationship, working with the state and a good track record of acquiring those other state inholdings in the park and there is every reason to have optimism that we can continue that coordination and cooperation in the future.”
Tension ran high between Vice Mayor Arne Jorgensen and Councilmember Jessica Sell Chambers as the two, along with Councilmember Jim Rooks, attempted to make live edits to the letter before the Dec. 1 deadline for public comment.
“I don’t know if there is something wrong with my ability to participate in this, but I’m starting to feel overwhelmed…There are three of us up here and a third of us is vocally saying this is very difficult,” Sell Chambers said.
“None of us are particularly comfortable with how this is playing out,” Jorgensen said.
With input from Rooks, suggesting “there is no better way,” the three continued to wordsmith the letter during the nearly hour-and-a-half meeting.
The letter touched on the highly valued wildlife habitat the parcel contains, its impact on the local economy and the notion that a sale to the National Park Service will still fund public schools. For the National Park Service to acquire the land, the Wyoming legislature would need to authorize the sale; previous attempts have all failed.
“Jackson’s Town Council strongly encourages the Board to reject the proposal to auction the Kelly Parcel,” the letter states. “We request you acquire any required legislative authority to enable a direct sale to the National Park Service, a willing buyer that will maintain and prioritize our shared conservation values.”
The OSLI is accepting public comment on their proposal to auction off the 640-acre state trust parcel, which is used to fund Wyoming’s public schools, prior to a decision by the State Board of Land Commissioners, at their Dec. 7 meeting. Public comment ends at 5 p.m. Dec. 1.
Since the announcement of the proposal for disposal on Oct. 2, Teton County residents have spoken out, largely against the auction.
The Teton County Board of County Commissioners also sent a letter urging the board to not auction the land. The Chamber of Commerce released a survey to its members, asking if they supported the auction or not. A rally was held on the Town Square on Nov. 6, protesting the auction, and a public meeting was hosted at the Teton County Library on Nov. 9.
The State Board of Land Commissioners is comprised of Governor Mark Gordon, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Auditor Kristi Racines, Treasurer Curt Meier and Superintendant of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. For disposal, at least three members of the board will need to vote in favor of the auction.
Jonathan Schechter and Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson were absent from the special meeting.
