Transfer of U.S. Courthouse to Teton County is one step closer.
WASHINGTON, DC – Transfer of the Clifford P. Hansen Courthouse to Teton County is one step closer after the U.S. Senate unanimously endorsed a federal conveyance bill sponsored by U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., late Tuesday. The Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse Conveyance Bill (S. 1934) returns the courthouse back to the county and allows the federal court system to lease space to continue holding hearings in the building.
Barrasso introduced the legislation after the Teton County Commission requested the move in order to safeguard continuity of use for the county. After negotiations with the General Services Administration (GSA) and Commission members, the legislation moved forward.
“I’m really pleased we were able to team up with the Commission. We are one step closer to keeping the Clifford P. Hansen Courthouse open to the public and continuing to serve Wyoming as an important meeting place for federal and state hearings,” said Barrasso. “This bill will also help maintain the vital relationship that already exists between Teton County and the U.S. District Court in Wyoming. Chairman Phibbs and his colleagues did a heck of a job sticking with it and helping us reach an agreement.”
“This is exciting news for our community,” said Hank Phibbs, Chairman of the Teton County Commissioners. “Ensuring that this courtroom will be in public ownership and available to meet our current and ever expanding needs is important. We thank Senator Barrasso and his staff for their hard work.”
Background:
In 1986 the Board of County Commissioners of Teton County conveyed a parcel of land to the federal government as part of an agreement between Teton County and the Wyoming Federal Court for the construction of a United States District Court in Jackson. The conveyance was made without any payment for the land as the commissioners felt that the construction of the federal courtroom on the property was a major public benefit.
The high cost of full time staffing has caused the federal courts in Wyoming to terminate their lease of the property from the General Services Administration (GSA), and the GSA decided to dispose of the Courthouse property. Three GSA officials from Denver recently met with Teton County officials to discuss the disposition of the Courthouse. They acknowledged that the County had given the land for the Courthouse for at no cost to the federal government, but stated that they could not give the land back to the County absent legislation granting them such authority.
The Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse Conveyance Bill fixes this by explicitly conveying the land that was originally donated by Teton County to the Federal Government for the Courthouse and returning it to Teton County for nominal consideration ($1).
Teton County will have to purchase the building for fair market value and maintain the property for public use for the next 20 years. The County will be allowed to credit against the purchase price, costs related to maintenance and operations the County has already undertaken at the Courthouse and any income the County would otherwise receive for providing the Federal Courts access and use of the building.
###