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Historic‑preservation groups urge Teton County to pursue easement for Hough Memorial Library; commissioners ask staff for feasibility report
Summary
Representatives of the Teton Trust for Historic Places and the Teton County Historic Preservation Board asked commissioners to explore listing the Hough Memorial Library on the town register and pursue a preservation easement; commissioners asked staff to report back on feasibility and coordination with ongoing renovation plans.
Representatives of the Teton Trust for Historic Places and the Teton County Historic Preservation Board presented public comment Feb. 24 asking the Board of County Commissioners to pursue protections for the Hough Memorial Library, and commissioners asked staff to prepare a feasibility report.
Why it matters: The Hough Memorial Library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places but is not on the Town of Jackson historic register. The library is part of an active renovation plan; a preservation easement would be the tool that can legally limit demolition or incompatible alteration, while listing on registers is generally honorific.
What speakers said
Sarah Adamson, representing the Teton Trust for Historic Places, told commissioners the trust “would be very happy to hold an easement on this important building.” Michael Stern, president of the Teton County Historic Preservation Board, said the old library “was added to the National Register of Historic Places in about 02/2003,” and noted that being on the National Register or a town register does not, by itself, prevent demolition — only a historic preservation easement can.
Adamson said the trust already holds six easements in the town of Jackson and offered to submit the materials needed to the town planning department to start the town‑register process; the trust also said it would advise the town on whether the building should be added.
Board response and direction
Commissioner Probst asked staff to report on the feasibility of listing the property on the town register and securing a historic preservation easement, and other commissioners indicated support. Chair Newcomb and staff noted the trust has a scheduled meeting with county project managers and the selected construction management firm to coordinate the upcoming renovation work.
Quotes
“We would be very happy to hold an easement on this important building,” — Sarah Adamson, Teton Trust for Historic Places.
“The old library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in about 02/2003,” — Michael Stern, president, Teton County Historic Preservation Board.
What the county will do next
Commissioners asked county staff to review the steps and feasibility of: 1) initiating town‑register nomination and 2) securing a historic preservation easement and how that would interact with the county’s renovation plans. Staff and the historic‑preservation groups said they would coordinate meetings with the county’s selected construction management firm (Wimber/WEMBA) and general services staff. No formal vote was recorded on Feb. 24.
Ending
Staff will return with a feasibility report and recommended next steps for the board to consider at a future meeting.
