Teton County commissioners unanimously authorized a resolution asking the Wyoming Department of Transportation to relinquish a parcel for a proposed Hoback-area fire station and approved a Wember Inc. work order to procure a meets-and-bounds survey and assist in identifying the project site.

The action formalizes the county’s next step in seeking WYDOT’s transfer of fee title for the site, and commits the county to pay for the technical survey and legal description WYDOT requires before the state’s Transportation Commission considers relinquishment.

Wyoming statutes require WYDOT to receive a written request and supporting materials before it will release right-of-way or fee-simple land to another government entity. Deputy County Attorney Gingreg briefed commissioners on Wyoming Statute 24-3-126 and said WYDOT’s process also expects schematic drawings and a formal survey before the highway commission will act. Fire Chief Mike Moyer told the board WYDOT “needs, in order for them to move forward... a resolution from you, formally requesting the relinquishment of the site, schematic drawings, and a formal survey.”

Commissioners and staff noted the county’s request does not commit the county to building on any specific alternative site. When Commissioner Probst asked whether asking WYDOT to relinquish the Horse Creek site would bind the county to build there, Gingreg replied that “once they relinquish it... you’re agreeing that you’re going to build on this site,” and clarified the county must understand the county’s obligation before proceeding. Chief Moyer and Gingreg said the resolution and the Wember Inc. work order are intended to allow the county to obtain the legal and technical work WYDOT requires before the Transportation Commission acts.

Board members also discussed exploring housing on the fire station parcel. Chief Moyer said the county plans to explore on-site housing for volunteer firefighters during the design phase if WYDOT approves relinquishment; Gingreg noted the resolution describes county use as “public purpose,” which can include a fire station and “possibly includes housing for public employees,” language the deputy attorney added to make WYDOT’s expectations clear.

Commissioners also asked about funding and accounting. Staff said SPET (Special Purpose Excise Tax) accruals would cover initial survey and technical fees and that the county will work with Wember Inc. to track costs and attribute them properly to SPET or other accounts.

Action: Commissioner Probst moved to approve and sign the resolution requesting relinquishment of the site for the Hoback fire station and to express the county’s intent to assume the cost of a technical survey and legal description; the motion also approved Wember Inc. work order 10 for management of the procurement of a surveyor. Commissioner Gardner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Looking ahead, staff and Gingreg advised commissioners that the Transportation Commission meeting that considers relinquishment is a public, procedural hearing; they suggested that one or two commissioners attend that WYDOT meeting to represent county interests during the agency’s decision-making process.

Ending: Commissioners instructed staff to proceed with the Wember procurement and to return with further reports as WYDOT’s relinquishment process advances. No design decisions were made at the meeting; commissioners limited action to the formal request and survey procurement.