Hi neighbors. This week we moved several community projects from planning into action.
The Town was awarded $882,000 in federal FY2026 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding, matched by $92,000 in local funds (9.5%), for Phase 1 of the Pathway Connectivity Project (total cost $975,000). The new pathway will extend from the Library through Boyd Skinner Park, over Harmony Bridge, and into American Legion Park. Construction is scheduled for 2026, and the design will be ADA-compliant. Together with WYDOT’s Highway 191 (Pine Street) improvements planned for 2028, these projects will improve both connectivity and pedestrian safety throughout the community.
The remaining five of the seven deed-restricted lots were formally committed, completing the full set that two developers agreed to provide. These homes are tied to a proportion of Sublette County’s Area Median Income (AMI) because the countywide figure is much higher than Pinedale’s actual median income — roughly the equivalent of $24 per hour countywide versus about $14 per hour locally. This approach keeps the homes attainable for local working families, and the Pinedale Housing Commission will oversee fair access and long-term affordability.
In housing discussions, it helps to distinguish between affordable, attainable, and market-priced homes:
Using the unadjusted county AMI would make “affordable” housing far out of reach for most Pinedale residents. That’s why the Town ties deed-restricted homes to a proportion of the County AMI, ensuring they remain realistically attainable for Pinedale’s workforce while maintaining long-term affordability under the oversight of the Pinedale Housing Commission.
On the water-system front, the Town’s mandatory inventory under the EPA’s Lead & Copper Rule continues. No lead service lines have been found in Pinedale, and the number of “unknown” lines has dropped from 131 to 82 — now about 7% of all connections. Public Works crews are continuing to verify and document materials, keeping the Town ahead of federal requirements and eligible for future infrastructure funding.
Council also adopted a resolution joining Big Piney and Marbleton in formally requesting that the County Commissioners consider placing a 1% general-purpose sales-and-use tax — commonly called the 5th penny — on a future countywide ballot. Under Wyoming law, only the County Commissioners can decide whether the question appears on the ballot, and only county voters can decide whether to approve it. The proposal does not automatically create or raise any tax; it simply begins the legal process for public consideration. If it were ever adopted by voters, the tax would be limited to four years and could be used for any local government need. About 31% of the first four sales-tax pennies currently returns to local governments, while roughly 99% of a 5th penny would stay within the County and its towns. Groceries, prescriptions, fuel, and 54 other items remain exempt under Wyoming law. Based on Wyoming Department of Revenue data, a 1% sales-and-use tax generally equates to about $150–$200 per year for the average Sublette County resident, though the actual amount may vary. For additional context on the regional industrial landscape, you may refer to Joy Ufford’s article in the Oct. 16 Roundup about the Dry Piney helium and carbon-sequestration proposal.
The Town is also working to digitalize and simplify its permitting process through the Economic Mobility Grant from the National League of Cities, which will make local government services more accessible for residents, contractors, and businesses.
Thank you for caring about this town and for the steady ways you serve one another. Please join us for our next Council meeting on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. — your voice is always welcome at the table.
