City of Driggs seeks easement with Teton School District for canal pathway; officials flag safety and planning issues

Jay Masilewski, public works director and engineer for the City of Driggs, asked the Teton School District board to consider a revocable non‑motorized easement to create a gravel pathway along the Grand Teton Canal that would eventually connect Bush Way to 5th Street and provide safer pedestrian access near school sites.

Masilewski said the city and the Grand Teton Canal Company have preliminary agreements and that the proposed easement language includes a revocation clause to preserve future district flexibility for construction or canal realignment. He described a working buffer approach — roughly a 25‑foot easement from the high‑water mark to allow for a 10‑foot pathway with additional setback for maintenance and safety — and noted the city will seek grant funding for construction when development activity in the area advances.

Board members asked about safety and liability, interactions with students, ATV/motorized access mitigation, and whether construction work on the corridor would restrict district operations. Staff said the district’s attorney has reviewed draft easement language and recommended protections that preserve the district’s option to revoke or relocate the easement if necessary. City and district staff discussed short‑term fixes for school‑area congestion, potential crossing structures, and the value of completing a campus master plan to guide future transportation and land‑use planning.

No final action was taken; board and city staff agreed to continue coordination, pursue necessary legal review, and bring detailed easement language and any grant funding requests back to the board for formal consideration.