PINEDALE – Pinedale Town Council members had the opportunity to discuss the future of health care in the community with a representative from Star Valley Health, the Sublette County Hospital District's new management partner, on Monday.

Mike Hunsaker, chief operating officer at Star Valley Health, told the council that he and the management team were excited by the opportunity to guide Sublette County down the road to a functional critical access hospital.

Star Valley Health constructed an independent, self-sufficient critical access hospital in Afton similar to the proposed facility in Sublette County 20 years ago, Hunsaker said. The management team at Star Valley intended to pass along the wisdom it gained from this process, he added.

"Rather than have Sublette County reinvent the wheel, we want to offer our experience so the county does not make the same mistakes we made," Hunsaker explained.

Hunsaker described Star Valley Health as an "economic engine" in northern Lincoln County. He predicted that a critical access hospital would pump revenue into Sublette County and serve as a "cornerstone as the community grows."

Hunsaker recognized the significant work that government and health-care entities in Sublette County put into forming the hospital district and assured the council that Star Valley Health's role was not to step in as a "savior." He stressed that Star Valley's job was to offer advice to solidify health care in the region, providing opportunity for community members to receive quality care close to home.

Star Valley resembled Sublette County in demographics, the number of uninsured people and those on Medicare and Medicaid, Hunsaker added, allowing the two communities to collaborate with ease.

Councilman Tyler Swafford asked about a "best-case scenario" timeline to complete the critical access hospital.

The first goal was to finalize the merger between the Sublette Center and Sublette County Rural Health Care District (SCRHCD) and Hospital District, Hunsaker said. Star Valley Health was communicating with Dave Doorn, the SCRHCD's administrative director, Dawn Walker, administrator at the Sublette Center, and attorneys to wade through the legalities behind uniting a nonprofit with a government entity, Hunsaker explained.

Hunsaker was optimistic that the merger will be finalized by the end of summer. The application paperwork to submit to the U.S. Department of Agriculture was nearly complete, he added.

Once these steps are completed, construction could begin. Hunsaker raised his own personal concerns about the hospital district's goal to get shovels in the ground this August.

Starting a building project at the end of the construction season could lead to higher costs for work done over the winter, he said. The rising cost of raw materials was also a concern, Hunsaker added.

Tough decisions lay ahead for the hospital district to keep the project within budget, Hunsaker said. He stressed that Star Valley Health's management team would continue to analyze the situation and communicate with the district.

Hunsaker placed a two-year timeframe on the construction process from breaking ground to full completion.

In the meantime, Hunsaker stated that Star Valley Health was working with the SCRHCD and hospital district to offer a wider range of specialists. The Pinedale and Big Piney clinics were good facilities to host these services, he added.

Ball field grand opening

The council unanimously approved an official grand opening celebration for the Dudley Key Sports Complex on July 24. The time will be announced (along with the opening pitcher) at a later time. The motion included funding not to exceed $2,000 for the festivities.

The council voted to authorize town staff to purchase signs for the new ball fields as advertising contracts with local businesses are received. Town clerk-treasurer Maureen Rudnick announced that her office had already received several contracts from advertising partners and expected more in the coming month.

Following a site visit at the new sports complex, councilwoman Judi Boyce reported that the window at the concession building was too small and high off the ground, posing logistical problems for the concessionaires operating inside and people unable to reach the window.

Abram Pearce, director of public works, proposed three options to enlarge the window or purchase a new window. Following discussion, the council opted to look into purchasing a larger window not to exceed $5,000. In case the new window went over budget, the motion allowed the town to keep the existing window, lower it, and purchase a second matching window.

Other town news

• Councilmembers approved a special joint meeting between the town and airport board to interview companies interested in operating the fuel farm under construction at the airport. The meeting is planned for early next week with time and location to be announced on the town website.
• The council unanimously approved appointing Bob Jones to the Airport Board and Scott Kosiba to the Travel and Tourism Commission. The town also introduced Michelle Smith, the new animal control municipal officer.
• Gearing up for the summer, the council approved the purchase of fireworks for July 4 not to exceed $15,000 from Fireworks West.
• In anticipation of budget season, the council passed Ordinance 685, on annual appropriations for the next fiscal year, on first reading. The council hoped to hold at least one budget workshop before passing the ordinance on its next reading.
• The council approved the purchase of new water meter pits from Dana Kepner not to exceed $8,663.52. Due to a rise in building permits, Pearce reported that the town's inventory in water meter pits was low. He added that the new water meter pits were designed to thaw easily during the winter.
• The council awarded a contract to Straight Striping for the airport pavement maintenance project in the amount of $114,763. Mayor Matt Murdock told the Roundup that funds from the Wyoming Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division and the Federal Aviation Administration covered over 90 percent of the project costs with the town's contribution minimal.