County to weigh $1.25M for Elk Refuge wastewater line

Teton County commissioners are set to vote June 22 on committing $1.25 million from the 2022 Water Quality Special Purpose Excise Tax (SPET) to the Elk Refuge Sewer District for a wastewater service line connecting the district to Jackson's sewer system. The draft Water Quality SPET Funding Resolution would limit the money to sales and use tax revenue as it is collected, require the district to pursue outside funding, and add a county condition that the district waive fees and guarantee connection for a possible future recreational vehicle dump station within its boundaries.

The ecological test is not the pipe alone. It is whether this removes wastewater risk near the refuge and whether the county can show groundwater and surface-water gains. A June 16 staff report says selection criteria included consistency with the Water Quality Management Plan, water-quality benefits, readiness and outside funding; the resolution would require a Teton County Engineering monitoring plan, separate accounting, and annual reports for three years after construction begins.