PDR case on hold

by Cat Urbigkit

Sublette County entered into an agreement last week that puts the lawsuit contesting the county's new purchase of development rights program on hold until after the first of the year.

The agreement stipulates that the county will not take any further action toward funding or closing any deal involving PDRs or conservation easements until Jan. 5. Earlier this year, the county commission had voted to provide funding for a PDR on the Murdock ranch near Pinedale, but the county's participation in that deal is now on hold.

On Jan. 4, John Linn will be sworn in as a county commissioner. With Gordon Johnston leaving office, one of the major supporters of the PDR program leaves. Linn has been vocal in criticism of the program, so there is doubt cast upon whether the program will survive after Linn takes office. If the program is ended, the lawsuit could be dismissed, and the issue becomes moot.

The lawsuit was filed by Bob Harrower of Pinedale, and is being handled by Mountain States Legal Foundation. A hearing before District Court Judge Norman Young was slated for last Friday to hear arguments on Harrower's motion for a temporary restraining order, motion for preliminary injunction and summary judgment motion, but with the agreement putting the case on hold, the hearing was cancelled.