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Moulton Loop residents press Teton County to restore paving plan, cite safety and accessibility concerns
Summary
Residents of Moulton Loop urged the Teton County commissioners to reinstate a previously planned paving project, saying the unpaved road causes spring-time impassability, slows emergency response and that roughly $70,000 already has been spent on engineering.
Residents of the Moulton Loop subdivision urged the Teton County Board of County Commissioners on May 19 to restore a postponed plan to pave Moulton Loop Road, saying the unpaved route creates safety and access problems and that some preparatory engineering work has already been paid for.
At the start of the meeting, Jamie Monroe, representing Moulton Loop Ranch Estates homeowners, told commissioners the road is "in desperate need of paving," saying winters and spring thaw regularly produce potholes, deep mud and periods when residents are difficult to reach. Monroe said officials spent about $70,000 on engineering work in preparation for paving and that homeowners recently learned the paving has been postponed indefinitely.
The plea drew support from other residents. Eula Monroe, who identified herself as an elder in the neighborhood, described a recent call for emergency services where medics were unable to provide certain care on the road and had to wait until they reached Spring Gulch Road to administer an IV. "It seems reasonable to expect access to our homes on a regular basis without any difficulty," she said.
Engineer and resident Carol Shoner urged the commission to consider the long-term cost of repeated repairs, noting that annual spring maintenance is increasingly time-consuming and expensive. "We've already spent $70,000 on the preliminary work to do the paving, and I hate to see that wasted," she said.
Commissioners and staff told speakers the county budget is still being finalized and that Moulton Loop paving is not currently included in the draft. Chair Newcomb said the budget is not 100% final and the capital improvement plan remains under consideration.
Residents said a neighborhood poll found more than 80% support for paving. They asked that commissioners reconsider allocating funds in the county's capital improvement budget or otherwise prioritize the project to address the safety concerns and recurring maintenance costs.
The public comment was recorded during the meeting's general public comment period; commissioners did not take immediate action on the request during the May 19 session.
Ending: Commissioners moved on to scheduled business after public comment. The budget process will continue; any request to add Moulton Loop paving to the capital plan would need to be considered during remaining budget sessions and documented in future agenda materials.
