Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conveyance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners set Aug. 4 meeting to decide next steps on BLM Parcel 9/10; Walton Ranch signals readiness
Summary
The Teton County Board of Commissioners set Aug. 4 for a decision on whether to pursue federal conveyance options for BLM Parcel 9/10 after the Walton Ranch representative said the ranch is prepared to proceed and staff outlined next steps for either an R&PP application or a legislative package.
Teton County commissioners discussed BLM Parcel 9/10 and related federal-transfer options on July 7 and set follow-up for Aug. 4 so the board can consider a final path forward.
Senior Deputy County Attorney and staff outlined that prior attempts to convey BLM parcels had at times been treated as a single legislative package in Congress, and that Parcel 9/10 interacts with several adjacent parcels and easement needs tied to the bike-path alignment along Highway 22. Staff said a firm previously under contract to assist with congressional conveyance work (Western Land Group) is available to reengage if the board chooses a legislative route.
Walton Ranch representative Stefan Fodor told the board his clients "are prepared to move forward as soon as this board is prepared to move forward" and asked that the county consider legislative transfer with conservation easements, grazing rights, and an easement for the bike path. Fodor said he would provide an updated, consolidated proposal and noted the Jackson Hole Land Trust would be a necessary partner.
Commissioners directed staff to assemble outstanding information and scheduled Aug. 4 as the next meeting to decide whether to pursue an R&PP (Recreation and Public Purposes Act) application, a congressional (legislative) conveyance, or both in parallel. Staff said they will also provide background on other parcels and prior MOUs so the board can consider whether to include additional parcels in a legislative package and to identify timelines for reengaging landowners and Western Land Group if the legislative path is chosen.
Staff emphasized a practical timeline: if the board moves forward with legislative action it may fit a package that Western Land Group typically advances in the January-April congressional schedule; ARPA (and Build grant) schedules are separate and staff will return with a final MOU draft as requested.
