Teton County commissioners approved a package of infrastructure and service measures at their June 23 meeting, voting to proceed with several public-works contracts and rate changes while also approving a compressor replacement at the county’s LAC building.

The board moved quickly through a mix of routine business and several items that commissioners described as time-sensitive. Key approvals included: authorization to replace a failed HVAC compressor at the LAC at a cost of about $9,000 to be paid from remaining cash; acceptance of a curbside waste-rate adjustment requested by contractor RAD; authorization of $50,000 to begin design work on a new crew building at the county transfer station; approval of a $76,610 change order for removal of unsuitable material on West 4000 North; and approval of $12,004.75 in 2023 SHSP grant funds to purchase radios for the sheriff’s office.

Why this matters: commissioners said many of the items address immediate operational needs (a failed compressor at a county facility, roadwork already under contract) while others set up projects that will take months to complete (transfer-station upgrades, design work and future construction). RAD’s rate request was raised as a cost-of-service pass-through reflecting higher operating costs; the board approved that request after staff review.

What the board approved and directed (select votes and next steps)
- LAC HVAC compressor replacement: Motion approved to purchase and install a replacement compressor immediately (cost ~ $9,000) to restore HVAC capacity at the LAC; staff said the county will continue to evaluate full-system replacement options in the budget process (estimated replacement cost discussed at $235,000–$330,000). This is a stopgap to prevent overheating until a long-term decision is made.
- Waste and recycling curbside collection rate card (RAD): Approved. Staff noted the requested adjustment is roughly in line with recent CPI measures and with the contractor’s explanation that disposal and fuel costs have risen since the last change. No vote tally was recorded.
- Solid-waste transfer-station design (Scale and crew building): The board authorized $50,000 for Task 1 (work sessions and initial design work) to refine needs and produce bid documents; commissioners asked staff to negotiate scope and bring updated cost estimates before committing to later phases.
- West 4000 North change order (subbase remediation): Approved a change order to remove unexpected unsuitable material from the road subbase at a cost of $76,610; staff said the extra work is necessary to keep the federal/state-funded asphalt project stable.
- 2023 SHSP grant funds reallocation: Approved use of $12,004.75 for additional radios to improve encryption/interoperability in sheriff vehicles (staff said this contributes toward a larger radio upgrade effort budgeted elsewhere).
- Domain consolidation project completion: Commissioners accepted staff certification that the county’s IT domain consolidation work is complete and signed the project completion documents.
- Payroll forms and hires: The board approved multiple payroll forms for sheriff’s and other hires (one hire and one personnel action were approved; a separate personnel pay request was left for further review in the coming budget process).
- Planning/subdivision items: The board approved final plats and minor subdivision changes for several parcels that had cleared planning review, including Black Horse Ranch (final plat approval) and a two-lot split for a Gavin lot; the board also took actions on Morgan Pines and other land-use items later in the agenda.

What commissioners said and staff context
- Public works staff reported on a range of road and parks matters — from the TVTAP/Grooming District maintenance garage (grant-funded project moving to bid) to persistent parking and plowing problems on West 12000 North that staff said will require either a dedicated rotary plow or the creation of a permanent parking area on private ground. Road & Bridge described recurring right-of-way problems (mailboxes and vegetation) that slow maintenance; commissioners asked staff to prepare outreach and notice to affected property owners.
- Facilities staff and commissioners described the LAC HVAC problem as urgent: two compressors failed over the winter and a second replacement would be a near-term need if the full mechanical system is not replaced in a scheduled capital project.
- On RAD’s rate request, staff noted the company provided a CPI-based adjustment request and background showing prior adjustments and pass-throughs; commissioners approved the rate change after discussion of cost drivers.

Decisions vs. direction (what the board actually voted)
- Formal approvals (actions that change county commitments or budgets): HVAC compressor purchase, RAD curbside rate card, $50,000 for crew-building design work, West 4000 North change order, $12,004.75 SHSP reallocation, domain consolidation completion, several planning/subdivision final plats and payroll actions.
- Direction or follow-up: staff was asked to continue negotiating design fees for transfer-station work, to return with updated capital/budget proposals on larger HVAC replacement if pursued, and to prepare outreach/education for right-of-way issues such as mailbox relocation and dust-control policy.

Votes at a glance (selected items approved at the June 23 meeting)
- LAC compressor replacement (emergency purchase): approved (motion carried; no roll-call tally recorded in minutes)
- RAD curbside collection rate card (2025): approved
- Transfer station design Task 1 (initial design, $50,000): approved (motion included authorization to negotiate scope/fees and return with refined estimates)
- West 4000 North change order (unsuitable material removal, $76,610): approved
- 2023 SHSP grant funds reallocation ($12,004.75 for police radios): approved
- Domain consolidation completion: approved
- Final plats/minor plat amendments (Black Horse Ranch; Gavin Lot split; others): approved
- Payroll forms/hiring actions as recorded: approved (some pay decisions deferred to budget process)

What’s next and what to watch
- Staff will present refined cost estimates for the transfer-station design and the larger HVAC replacement options during the budget process; commissioners signaled a willingness to consider full-system replacement if remaining cash and priorities allow.
- Right-of-way policy and public outreach: Road & Bridge will prepare notices about mailboxes, driveway and vegetation clearances and bring back a proposed policy and outreach plan.
- Planning milestones: several subdivision plats now approved move to final survey and security steps before recordation. For one subdivision with disputed access, commissioners discussed conditioning approval on resolution of the access issue in court or by agreement—a topic that emerged repeatedly during land-use deliberations.

Meeting context and participation
- Key staff presenters included Darryl Johnson, Public Works Director, and Blaine Ball, Road & Bridge Supervisor. County staff described multiple ongoing construction and maintenance projects and budgeting implications.
- The on-record public comments included a presentation by John Belter of Teton Valley BearWise during open-mic and several residents raising concerns about water and access related to subdivision applications.

Bottom line: The board balanced urgent operational repairs and near-term contract approvals with steps that initiate longer design and planning efforts. Several votes make immediate repairs possible and keep multi-year projects moving toward design and procurement, while commissioners asked staff to return with sharper cost estimates and outreach plans when those fit the upcoming budget calendar.