Jackson Hole Underground

Facing a lawsuit over their partnership with Imagine Jackson, city officials are trying to change the deed for property owned by the economic development corporation in South Park.

Mayor Mark Barron says the city attorney is looking into modifying ownership of the nearly $1 million property. Imagine Jackson purchased the land and building last year after receiving a state grant with the city’s help. The nonprofit corporation has leased the facility to Square One Systems Design, a robotics manufacturing firm.

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A bus that stops atop Teton Pass could reduce traffic and conflicts over parking.

Public bus service is set to begin next month between Jackson and Teton Valley, Idaho. And while the route is designed mainly for commuters, transportation officials are open to the idea of shuttling skiers to and from Teton Pass.

“It’s something that could be considered,” says Michael Wackerly, director of the START bus system in Jackson. “We’ll probably wait to see what the ridership level will be in winter to make that decision.”

Teton Pass is the area’s most popular winter trailhead, and limited parking at the 8,400-foot summit has created headaches for skiers and snowboarders wishing to access the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

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Will this bucolic pasture be home to a major new development? Not likely.

The sale of the 78-acre Lloyd property at the mouth of Cache Creek Canyon has residents of east Jackson alarmed.

The prized parcel, much of which is marsh land bordering the creek, was bought by developer and Jackson Hole native Jamie Mackay late last year, with backing from others in the community.

Mackay has not revealed his plans for the land, which borders the Bridger-Teton National Forest and sits outside the city boundaries. But the prospect of 40 to 50 housing units — a figure floated by his attorney — has the resistance organizing.

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A citizen has filed suit against the Town of Jackson, claiming the government’s partnership with Imagine Jackson for a $1 million state grant violates the Wyoming Constitution.

Attorney Peter Moyer filed the suit this morning in 9th District Court in Jackson on behalf of Armond Acri, an engineer and town resident.

The Wyoming Constitution “contains a very broad and strict prohibition on donations by the state, towns and other public bodies to or in aid of private individuals and private entities,” the suit states.

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In his Council Chronicles column on Feb. 7, Planet Jackson Hole reporter Jake Nichols provided a few bits of keen insight on the Imagine Jackson vote before the city council.

Although the column had some tongue-in-cheek innuendo and the unfortunate title “Melissa Turley’s vote cannot be bought,” the real gem was Nichols’ observation that Meridian Group developer Mike Halpin stood to gain another contract for designing the building Imagine Jackson seeks public money to construct. Halpin is chairman of the group’s board.

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