Dead and Company festival approved on condition

Officials have cleared the way for a “Dead and Company Concert and Festival” in Jackson Hole this summer. The band consists of original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kruetzmann, and occasional players John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti.

By policy, the county administrator denied the permit request after finding it could constitute a nuisance. The applicant, identified as Highline, appealed the denial.

In a hearing Friday, commissioners determined the applicant worked closely with the county administrator through the application process to mitigate the county’s concerns. Among those, was the proximity of the event site to several area schools.

The two-day concert is planned August 18-19 on Gill family property in South Park.

The permit was approved under certain conditions. The conditions include that all music ends at 9 p.m. It requires that security and traffic plans be submitted by April 1st, and that subsequent mitigation plans submitted by May 1st.

The permit also requires a local release of tickets and that Highline would ensure day-to-day county resources and personnel leading up to the event would be used at a minimal level.

The event will also have to comply with special event permitting from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

According to Teton County Commissioners, there are larger policy issues as well.

The board pointed out that the fiscal impact on local governmental resources could be significant. County staff has recommended that there be compensation for time and resources spent in association with the concert as a condition of approval.

In the long term, commissioners may review changes in policy to create a better process to accommodate large scale events. Specifically, staff recommended amendment of Land Development Regulations to provide more governing guidance.