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Town, County approve one-year extension of Fire/EMS joint powers agreement while strategic review continues
Summary
Jackson Town Council and Teton County Commission approved a one-year extension of their joint powers agreement for fire and emergency medical services and directed staff to continue a broader review tied to an ongoing strategic planning process.
Jackson Town Council and the Teton County Commission approved a one-year extension of the joint powers agreement (JPA) covering fire and emergency medical services on May 5, 2025, while staff and a consultant continue a broader review of the region’s intergovernmental arrangements.
Officials said the extension is a temporary measure to avoid letting the current agreement expire while the county and town complete a strategic planning review of Fire/EMS services. The extension must be submitted to the attorney general’s office for final processing.
Ryan Hostinger, joint principal long-range planner, explained that staff began a coordinated review of JPAs and MOUs in January and that Fire/EMS required extra time because the existing agreement is set to expire in August. Staff said they are working with ESCI, the consultant conducting the Fire/EMS strategic planning process, and expect an outline/report in late spring or early summer to guide subsequent negotiations and a more comprehensive replacement agreement.
Councilman Schechter moved to approve the extension “subject to minor change by staff,” and Councilwoman Feaman seconded the motion; the Town approved it unanimously. The County commissioners subsequently took the same action and approved the one-year extension unanimously.
Town and county officials said the one-year extension is intended to preserve continuity of emergency services while staff returns with a timeline and recommendations for negotiating replacements or longer-term JPAs for several intergovernmental partnerships.
The decision does not adopt a new long-term agreement; it extends the current JPA for one year and directs staff to pursue the consultant-led review’s recommendations. County and town staff said they will bring back a schedule for reviewing other JPAs, including parks and recreation, following completion of the Fire/EMS strategic review.
Town and county meeting records show staff will coordinate next steps and that the extension will be forwarded to the attorney general’s office for review and filing.
Votes at a glance: the town’s motion to approve the one-year extension passed unanimously; the county took the same motion and also approved it unanimously.
