Teton County commissioners direct staff to include fire-suppression water supply in Hoback Water District buildout

The Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to direct staff to include fire-suppression water supply with “no fewer than 2 hydrants and no less than 60,000 gallons of storage” in connection with the Hoback Water and Sewer District buildout.

County Fire Chief Mike Moyer framed the workshop by outlining current water-supply limits at Hoback Junction and the operational differences between using a nearby hydrant and running a tender shuttle to a distant fill site. “The situation…is there is 1 water supply, that is an underground cistern of 6,500 gallons that is on the property of the current Station 3,” Moyer said, noting the nearest reliable alternative supply is roughly a four-mile trip each way.

The recommendation the board voted to adopt followed a Nelson Engineering proposal discussed at the workshop. Nelson representative Tyler Ross summarized the engineering option the district submitted: two centrally located hydrants supported by approximately 60,000 gallons of dedicated storage. Ross said that volume “would give us 500 gallons a minute flow for 2 hours,” and that an early cost estimate for adding the fire-suppression element was roughly $800,000, while earlier, larger proposals (seven hydrants) had been estimated at about $1.8 million.

Why it matters: Commissioners and fire officials said a closer, reliable supply would reduce tender-shuttle travel time and improve firefighter safety and property protection. Retired Station 3 captain Mike Trevorrow, who has operated at Hoback for decades, described the operational limits of the existing cistern: “It then takes about 24 or more hours to refill,” he said, adding that having a nearer fill supply “would improve fire capabilities for structure and wildland fire immensely.”

Board discussion touched on funding, timing and tradeoffs. Rob Frodeman, chair of the Hoback Water and Sewer District, briefed the board on funding progress since the county’s earlier $3 million commitment to the district. Frodeman said the district had raised roughly a quarter-million from local conservation partners and $274,000 from the Wyoming Water Development Commission for design; he also described possible additional state funding and a state revolving fund option the district expects could supply further construction dollars.

Public works director Heather Obergholzer described the project timeline if the board authorized the fire-suppression element: design with the district would start in April 2025, bidding would occur next winter and construction would target mid-2026. She cautioned the board that final costs would not be known until the project is bid and that construction budgeting could span fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Several commissioners pressed for options that might reduce costs, including building a single large cistern at Station 3. Commissioner Gardner asked whether a single 60,000-gallon cistern at the station could provide much of the needed capability; Nelson’s Ross said a standalone 60,000-gallon cistern would likely cost in the “$450,000 to $500,000” range but would involve operational tradeoffs such as the need to draft from the cistern or install additional pumping. Commissioners also discussed the possibility of philanthropic or foundation support; Chief Moyer said the FireEMS Foundation’s current mission is focused on recruitment and retention and that staff would need to consult the foundation before relying on it to fund infrastructure.

The board’s formal motion, offered by Commissioner Prost and seconded by Commissioner MacKer, directed staff to include the fire-suppression elements as described. The clerk recorded the motion as carrying unanimously. Commissioners and staff said they will continue pursuing grant opportunities and confirm final costs at the design and bid stages.

Ending: Staff and district representatives said they would proceed with design discussions immediately and return budget and contract details to the board as bids and additional funding information become available.