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Here is your Ranch news update for the week of February 9th, 2025:
Tuesday, February 11th was a busy day at Star Valley Ranch Town Hall. The morning got started at 9am with Coffee with the Mayor followed by a Town Council work session at 10am. Here’s a link to the agenda along with a few notes:
Robert King, Lincoln County Economic Development Director, presented an overview of the county’s Tourism Strategic Plan. The takeaway being the Town Council will need to decide if the Town of Star Valley Ranch (TSVR) will become a participant in the county’s Travel & Tourism Committee.
The Town Administrator is working with Lincoln County to improve safety and maintenance at the intersection of Vista Drive and Muddy String Road.
Note that Muddy String Road is the county’s responsibility to maintain, however, enhanced cooperation between the town and county is needed in order to keep Ranch intersections onto that road in better condition (especially during the winter months).
In the wake of the recently closed theft case, the town will undertake a fraud-risk assessment to review current town processes and policies. The purpose of this type of assessment is to identify and evaluate potential fraud risks in order to prevent them from occurring in future.
The Town Council discussed the tabled animal ordinance from January that would have required bear-proof trash containers in some areas of town.
Before reconsidering the ordinance the Council will opt for a town educational campaign to be conducted over the next year. The campaign will provide information on preventing wildlife conflicts and will encourage residents to make appropriate changes with respect to food attractants that may be an issue on their respective properties.
Also on Tuesday, at 2pm the TSVR Municipal Court was in session with new Judge Larry Lawton presiding. It was a pretty quick session with only one citation on the docket for pushing snow across the roadway.
Tuesday evening at 7pm the TSVR regular Town Council meeting was held upstairs at Town Hall. Here’s a link to the agenda and meeting packet. Unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties with the video recording of this meeting and while I know everyone is really disappointed, there’s no video available for you to watch this time around. There are, however, draft minutes you can peruse instead. Here are a few notes from the meeting:
Eric Heap from Silverstar Communications provided an update on the installation schedule for the fiber-optic network project. This spring work will resume at the Star Valley Ranch Resort RV Park and then move into the town with installation progressing from south the north. Work will continue through 2026. A map depicting the four installation-segments planned for TSVR is available at Town Hall (and will be posted to the town website once received).
Public comments focused on concerns regarding the Mountain Estates development and access from that subdivision onto Vista West Drive.
In case you missed it, this week the Star Valley Independent published this front-page story about the Mountain Estates development.
The Town Council approved a Lodging Tax Grant Application from the Star Valley Ranch Association (SVRA). The grant will procure ice skates for use at the ice rink. The proposal also outlines a process for patrons to check-out and return the skates.
The Town Council approved a lot combination for Plat 8.
On Wednesday, February 12th at 5pm, the TSVR Planning Commission met at Town Hall. While there were no regular business items on the agenda, the Planning Commission did briefly discuss the Mountain Estates development along with the status of the commercial lots next to Town Hall.
Regarding the commercial lots, the Planning Commission noted after further review that use of the commercial property for a bitcoin mining operation does not appear to be in accordance with town code.
Other news and notes for the week:
With the recent deluge of new snow avalanche conditions are once again a bit dicey out there folks so please check the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center’s warning status before venturing onto trails or into the backcountry.
The Star Valley Ranch Trail Crew opened the Cedar Creek Trail #3078 for about two-thirds of a mile from the trailhead parking area yesterday afternoon. They noted there is between 16 and 24 inches of fresh powder in the canyon. And, we know there is more on the way!
Photos courtesy of the SVR Trail Crew Facebook page. On Friday, the SVRA published a very thorough explanation in their weekly email as to why the SVRA Board of Director (BoD) workshops (usually held the Tuesday before regular BoD meetings) will no longer be open to the public. [Note, I had mentioned and pondered this change in SVRA meeting procedures during last week’s SVR News Roundup post.] Bottom line, the rationale for discontinuing the Tuesday workshops is an administrative necessity with respect to record keeping and is also described as “an effort to engage our membership and increase participation within the documented Thursday meetings”. If you missed Friday’s SVRA weekly email you can read it here. Thank you for the update SVRA!
The SVRA’s new winter recreation club, Fresh Tracks, will sponsor their first club event next weekend. The First Annual Poker Run invites snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and walkers to participate on Saturday, February 22nd from 1pm to 3pm. See additional details in the flyer below.
Here are calendar items for next week:
Monday, February 17th the TSVR Town Hall and SVRA business office will be closed in observance of Washington’s Birthday.
Wednesday, February 19th starting at 8:30am the Town Council will hold a day-long Special Meeting to train on team building, budgeting, and planning.
This meeting will be held in the Thayne Community Center, Room 101.
Thursday, February 20th at 2pm the TSVR Natural Resources Board will meet at Town Hall.
Also on Thursday at 7pm, the SVRA BoD will meet at Cedar Creek Center.
Saturday, February 22nd from 1pm to 3pm the Fresh Tracks Club will hold the First Annual Poker Run on the front 9-holes of Cedar Creek Golf Course.
Participants should meet at the Cedar Creek Pool parking area.
Final thoughts—Winter has returned, with a vengeance. How much snow have you seen at your place over the past couple of days? As of the writing of this post, I believe we are at about 16 inches at my house. Once again, the greenhouse is disappearing! And, yet, I’m okay with it. More snow means more water and once that snow melts, the water will fill our streams, rivers, and reservoirs. A dearth of snow in winter is not a good thing for us here in the mountain west when balanced against our typically dry summer and fall conditions. Thus, despite the shoveling, I say, bring it on February! I’m ready for more snow! Have a great week y’all!
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