JACKSON, Wyo. — The new housing project for Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) employees on the South Park Wildlife Management Area cleared another hurdle on March 18.
The Jackson Town Council approved the request for sewer service, allowing the development to connect its sewer service to the Teton County School District’s wastewater conveyance system, which ultimately connects to the town’s system.
The WGFD’s community sewer system will connect to TCSD’s system via Munger Mountain Elementary School.
The new WGFD development is located about five miles south of Jackson. During phase one, which is currently underway, six three-bedroom homes and a four-bedroom multiple occupancy home for temporary employees will be built.
The location of the project was selected in 2021 and according to WGFD, “development on this particular portion of the WHMA will not impact high-value wildlife habitat or the Department’s management of wintering elk.”
Wyoming State Statute allows for the Game and Fish Commission to be exempt from formal land development regulations and after meetings with county staff, opted to use that exemption. The housing project is funded by the Game and Fish Commission, with phase one costing $12.2 million. The agency has reportedly been setting aside money for several years for high-priority projects like this. No State of Wyoming general funds will be used on the project.
Game and Fish broke ground on the first phase of the project in Aug. 2023. Jorgensen Associates, Inc. was contracted for the design and project oversight, and Dick Anderson Construction was selected for the construction.
Six more three-bedroom units will be constructed during a second phase, and the sewer connection agreement includes all 13 units. The timeline for phase two of the project has yet to be announced.
According to the Town Council staff report, the maximum wastewater production is 131,000 gallons per month and all wastewater conveyed to the Town from the WGFD shall be master metered, meaning all 13 units will be measured on a single meter rather than each unit individually. The sewer services will gravity drain to an on-site lift station, where sewage is then pumped by a new force main to the TCSD sewer on the north side of Highway 89.
The Town Council unanimously approved the request, which was listed under their consent agenda. No public comment was made and no further discussion was conducted by the Council.
On March 26, WGFD issued a press release sharing updates on phase one of the project. According to the release, the six modular homes are on foundations with the multi-occupant home set for delivery soon.
“We have worked closely with the Jackson community for several years on this plan and it is very gratifying to see the hard work of our collaboration finally coming to fruition,” Game and Fish Deputy Director Eric Wiltanger said. “This project further solidifies our commitment to our mission and serving the public in this community.”
