The City of Victor has voted to secure a $1.7 million federal grant to build a key piece of a proposed trail system that would allow cyclists to bike through Yellowstone National Park.
To do so, the city council had to commit $100,000 in matching funds. Until just days before the meeting, the city had planned to use a state grant to pay for the match, but they learned on March 14 that the request was rejected.
Since the deadline to commit to the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant was at the end of the month, the city needed to make a decision even though a source for the $100,000 has not yet been identified.
The council took the possibility seriously that it may have to pay for a significant portion of that amount before making the decision.
Councilman A.J. Linnel said he acknowledged the situation in which the city found itself.
“It’s really intimidating that we have to make that decision tonight,” he said.
Despite that, Linnel said he thought the project was worth the city taking the risk. Councilman Jeff Potter agreed, as did Councilwoman Molly Absolon.
“I tend to agree with Jeff and feel like that we have to go for it and try. It’s scary, but it’s a really exciting opportunity,” she said.
Councilman Wayne Maness said he wanted to make sure the path was a wise investment before he voted to potentially put the city on the hook for up to around $100,000.
“I want to feel good with the worst case scenario. I’m a banker,” he said.
Linnel pointed out that even before the rest of the Yellowstone path system is built, the Victor section would be a unique tourist draw. The pathway would run from the state line to Moose Creek, and the project would include rebuilding the bridge over the creek.
“There aren’t that many places in the country that have that kind of traffic separated route in this scenery,” Linnel said.
Mayor Zach Smith emphasized that Teton County Wyo., has already agreed to pay $500,000 toward their part of the project, to match their own FLAP grant. Victor’s Planning and Zoning administrator Brittany Skelton pointed out that Wyoming was awarded their funds on the understanding that Teton County, Idaho, would go forward with its section of the trail.
“So if the City of Victor decides it is too big of a risk to commit ourselves to that $100,000 and we turn down the FLAP grant, Teton County, Wyo., will also lose its portion … and it basically scraps the project,” she said.
Smith said it would be unlikely for the federal government to consider offering a similar grant to the city again if it turned down the $1.7 million. Potter agreed and laid out his ideas for other funding sources.
“I think the community foundation would consider a grant of some level, I think the Teton Springs foundation would,” said Potter. The Mayor mentioned some private donors in Jackson, one of those is a contact that I have that is largely responsible for other match funding for path projects in Teton County, Wyoming.”
Skelton mentioned that the Idaho Local Highway Technical Assistance Council said it would help the city identify other funding sources. There were also several suggestions for non-traditional ways to raise the money, including Skelton’s idea of a Kickstarter campaign.
Mayor Smith also brought up an idea related to the Cycle Greater Yellowstone event coming through Victor this summer. Cycle Greater Yellowstone gives volunteers from communities along the event route a donation to the charity of their choice. Smith said the city could raise more than $10,000 by organizing large numbers of volunteers and having them all donate to Teton Valley Trails and Pathways (TVTAP), which has agreed to then give the money to the city.
Victor has until next March to raise the money. Several council members, including Potter, said they felt the city could raise at least most of the $100,000, but it may have to make up the last “gap” with city funds.
The council voted unanimously to authorize P&Z Administrator Brittany Skelton to commit to the grant.
This article appeared in the Teton Valley News on March 28, 2014.