Jackson takes first step in landslide mitigation

The town of Jackson took the first step in the process of mitigating the West Broadway landslide by demolishing a house right above it.

Removing the house will reduce the weight that in on the top portion of the landslide which continues to move. Town officials say it moves anywhere from a quarter inch to a half inch each month.

Town officials said this is dangerous to infrastructure and public safety.

“It would take out the water main line, which supplies 2 million gallons to West Jackson,” public information officer Carl Pelletier said. “If the water main line went, it would destroy a portion of West Broadway, which is our artery to Jackson Hole, and also to Yellowstone, which would severely cripple the local economy…There are some pretty big implications if it went catastrophic.”

The town needs $6 million for the entire mitigation project. There is a proposal for a special purpose excise tax to raise that money. Sales tax would go up 1 percent for about six months.

Teton County residents will be able to vote on this proposal Aug. 16.