Teton commissioners start MOU talks for volunteer Gros Ventre fire station

Teton County commissioners on March 9 heard a feasibility proposal for a new fire station in the North Gros Ventre area — “Station 8,” proposed at 947 Sand Cherry Way — and indicated staff should proceed with negotiating a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Friends of the Gros Ventre Fire Station nonprofit, even though the board ultimately didn’t take a formal vote.

A county staff report said the nonprofit is proposing to raise and donate $8 million for planning, design, permitting, construction, furnishing and equipment, with Teton County owning and operating the facility and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS running it as a volunteer station once built. The site identified in the materials is on county-owned land, and the concept also includes Fire/EMS volunteer/employee housing units restricted to Fire/EMS occupants to help with response capability. Estimated startup costs beyond construction were listed at $1.74 million, with ongoing volunteer-station expenses estimated at about $104,846 per year. (Gros Ventre Fire Station Feasibility Staff Report)

In the meeting minutes, commissioners discussed the proposal, and Chief Deputy County Attorney Keith Gingery said staff direction was “clear” and a motion wasn’t necessary — prompting the motion’s sponsor to withdraw it. The next decision point will be the return of a negotiated MOU (and any associated budget impacts) for commissioners to consider. (Board of Commissioners Meeting Packet)