Sublette Examiner Volume 5, Number 4 - April 21, 2005 brought to you online by Pinedale Online PDR case to be dismissed Sublette County Commissioners met in Pinedale Tuesday and learned that County Attorney Van Graham is seeking to have the lawsuit over the county's purchase of development rights come to a conclusion. Pinedale's Bob Harrower, with the legal expertise of the Mountain States Legal Foundation, challenged the county's approval of a tax-funded PDR program in court. The county set aside $500,000 for the program, but has not actually funded the purchase of any conservation easements at this time, while the case is pending. Legislation approved during the recent Wyoming Legislative session appears to have made the issues in the lawsuit moot, according to Graham, but a final determination needs to be made. Graham told commission that Mountain State Legal Foundation attorneys have agreed to a dismissal of the case. In other business, Commissioner John Linn reported that the Bridger-Teton National Forest would soon begin the process of revising the forest plan. Linn said he has already spoken with federal officials to inform them that the county commission is very interested in obtaining cooperating agency status for the plan revision. Linn also noted that the commission needs to find another person to represent the county on the Pinedale Anticline Working Group. Bob Reese has resigned from the post, terminating his contract with the commission due to an illness in his family. The Sublette County clerk and treasurer offices have moved back into the courthouse in Pinedale, Sublette County Clerk Mary Lankford said Tuesday, so citizens can once again go to the courthouse for most county government functions. Continued growth in the county has resulted in a growth of county facilities, from the courthouse complex and libraries to senior center construction and renovations, along with plans being made for a new county shop. The trend continues, as evidenced by the requests made to the commissioners Tuesday. Tip Top Search and Rescue wants the county to provide the group with a building in the Pinedale area, to which the commission has agreed, although the specifics remain undecided. Tip Top's Tony Chambers proposed three options to the commission Tuesday: do nothing for now, awaiting a decision by the county health care district board on the future of the Pinedale ambulance barn; lease a building in Pinedale for about $1,700 per month; or purchase a commercial property in Pinedale for about $270,000. The commission declined to make a decision at this time, although Commissioner Bill Cramer said his preference would be to purchase the commercial property. Commission Chair Betty Fear expressed her concern about the county owning so much property. Robyn Clover of the county Sexual Assault and Family Violence Task Force office spoke to the commission about providing a new multi-family SAFV house and office in Pinedale, with the cost coming in at about $500,000. The commission agreed to take the matter into consideration and Clover said she would provide the commission with more information and options at future meetings. Pinedale Middle School students Amy David and Jayne Thompson gave their science fair presentation to the commission Tuesday, focusing on the effect of dust from roads and well pads on snow melt. The presentation was made as part of a process for a national science competition to which the girls have applied. See The Archives for past articles. Copyright © 2002-2005 Sublette Examiner All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means must have permission of the Publisher. Sublette Examiner, PO Box 1539, Pinedale, WY 82941 Phone 307-367-3203 examiner@wyoming.com |