JACKSON, Wyoming – Water quality was the hot topic at the recent meeting of the Teton County Board of County Commissioners. The panel unanimously approved a request to create the Elk Refuge Water District and voted to allocate up to $3 million to build a water system in Hoback.

The Board met several times over the summer to discuss the future water supply system for the Hoback Water and Sewer District, most recently meeting with several stakeholders for a workshop to learn details and the current Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) Stage III grant application.

At the July meeting, Bob Frodeman, chairman of the Hoback Water and Sewer District board, explained that the $3 million request was calculated based on a $100 monthly base rate for the district’s roughly 50 residential properties. Frodeman reiterated at Tuesday’s meeting that he is pursuing other funding options to avoid dipping into the county’s pledged funds.

The money for the county will come from the $10 million water quality special excise tax (SPET) approved by voters in 2022, with the caveat that collections are not yet complete so no lump sum is available, and that the county’s pledge will be used last, if at all.

According to the staff report, construction could begin as early as May or June 2026 if funds are secured through WWDC Stage II funding. That gives Frodeman and project stakeholders like the Teton Conservation District and Protect Our Waters Jackson Hole (POWJH) about nine months to raise the funds.

Commission Chairman Luther Propst said at an Aug. 21 meeting that the Teton Conservation District is considering donating $250,000 to the project. Carlin Girard, executive director of the Teton Conservation District, has been instrumental in the effort to build a water system in Hoback.

Dan Heilig, interim executive director of POWJH, said his organization is currently seeking funding for the project at the private, state and federal levels.

According to Frodeman, the project cost is estimated at $5.3 million, taking inflation into account.

“This is just the beginning. We are learning a lot and will continue to learn how to engage in these processes as we continue to develop the water quality infrastructure in the county,” Commissioner Natalia Macker said before making the motion.