What has Cindy done so far?
Cindy is currently serving as Chair of the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) which involves organizing and running meetings, public hearings, and departmental work sessions as well as serving on the Council of Governments with the mayors of Victor, Driggs, and Tetonia. Here are some highlights from her current term:
- Declared a pandemic emergency and led the effort to establish a coordinated response to COVID-19 that has successfully slowed the spread of the virus in our community.
- Initiated an annual progress report for the community on implementation of the 2012 Teton County Comprehensive Plan to provide updates on what has and has not been accomplished.
- Obtained 20 million dollars in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve mobility and public safety along the congested ID-33/WY-22 corridor through collaboration with partners on both sides of the Tetons.
- Established and funded the community’s Joint Housing Authority and approved the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan that is currently being implemented.
- Hired Logan Simpson to conduct public outreach and update the County’s Land Use Code based on the 2012 Comprehensive Plan after this effort was put on hold by the previous Board of County Commissioners.
- Completed the Bates Boat Ramp/Buxton River Park parking lot, trail, and interpretive signs which are getting tremendous use by the public.
- Worked with citizens, Idaho Fish and Game, and the Bureau of Land Management to acquire land and funding for a public shooting range in Teton County.
- Prevented development of a county-owned parcel adjacent to Teton Creek and supported construction of a new pathway for improved public access.
- Leveraged funds from Teton Valley Hospital to assist nonprofits that serve community members in need (Food Bank, Senior Center, Community Resource Center, Mental Health Coalition).
- Initiated a financial and operational audit of Teton County's transfer station and waste management/recycle systems to better plan for capital expenses and expansion, if needed.
What still needs to be done?
Land Use Code Adoption and Code Enforcement - In addition to modernizing the county’s land use code (in progress), we must create a better system for communicating to the public what the regulations and are and why they exist. Additionally, without fair and consistent enforcement of our local ordinances, we will make little progress in our efforts to protect what is unique and special about Teton Valley. Currently there are illegal junkyards, un-permitted campgrounds, non-compliant dark sky lighting, and Condition Use Permit (CUP) violations in Teton County that are not being property addressed. Aside from clear and consistent regulations that meet the goals of the 2012 Comprehensive Plan, we need a Sheriff and Prosecuting Attorney who are committed to working with the Planning Administrator and Board of County Commissioners on enforcing local laws established to promote human health and safety, organized growth, predictability for residents, and natural resource protection.
Economic Development for Locals and Small businesses - Good, family wage, year round jobs in Teton Valley are still hard to come by. So many of our residents continue to commute over Teton Pass to work and would love a job closer to home. We need to shift our focus and actions away from a tourist and real estate based economy towards a more sustainable economic future for everyone in our community. This effort must be driven by local priorities rather than corporate interests. In addition, some businesses are suffering from the impacts of COVID-19. Our community must leverage all of our resources to support small businesses through these difficult times. “Buy Local" marketing campaigns, innovative funding opportunities, and technical assistance with COVID-19 adaptations are a start. Teton Regional Economic Coalition (TREC) is doing this work on behalf of the county and cities, and I plan to continue to support TREC's mission to implement Teton County's Economic Development Plan.
Wildlife Protections - Honoring the ecosystem we live in is a top priority for me. It is too easy to forget that we live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Teton Valley provides habitat for the same suite of species that occupy Yellowstone National Park. Some of these species depend on habitat in Teton County for survival including sandhill cranes, cutthroat trout, moose, and grizzly bears. As we continue to grow and develop, the county needs to work more closely with Idaho Fish and Game, local non-profits, and our public land managers to ensure that we adequately protect critical wildlife habitat. This includes evaluating the impacts of recreational use on the Teton River and mitigating roadkill hotspots.
Local Government that Works for You - Solving big, cross-departmental and inter-jurisdictional problems like code enforcement, traffic on Highway 31, and managing COVID-19 requires leaders who are willing to work collaboratively on behalf of the entire community. While I have served as Board Chair, the BoCC has built strong cooperative relationships with the cities, fire/EMS, hospital, federal land managers, non-profits and the business community. However, some of our county offices are run by elected officials who chose to operate in isolation and have no interest in being team players. It’s holding us back from being as efficient with our services and responsive to our community as we can be. I believe in transparency and accountability to the people I am working for and know Teton County's leaders can do a better job communicating and solving problems across all departmental, political, and jurisdictional divides. We need leaders who are committed to working as a team in order to get more done on behalf of everyone in Teton County.
That is why I am supporting:
Mike Whitfield for County Commissioner (http://www.mikefortetoncounty.com)
Alex Sosa for Prosecuting Attorney (https://sosafortetoncounty.com)
Jeremiah Jones for Sheriff (https://jonesforsheriff2020.com)
Economic Development for Locals and Small businesses - Good, family wage, year round jobs in Teton Valley are still hard to come by. So many of our residents continue to commute over Teton Pass to work and would love a job closer to home. We need to shift our focus and actions away from a tourist and real estate based economy towards a more sustainable economic future for everyone in our community. This effort must be driven by local priorities rather than corporate interests. In addition, some businesses are suffering from the impacts of COVID-19. Our community must leverage all of our resources to support small businesses through these difficult times. “Buy Local" marketing campaigns, innovative funding opportunities, and technical assistance with COVID-19 adaptations are a start. Teton Regional Economic Coalition (TREC) is doing this work on behalf of the county and cities, and I plan to continue to support TREC's mission to implement Teton County's Economic Development Plan.
Wildlife Protections - Honoring the ecosystem we live in is a top priority for me. It is too easy to forget that we live in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Teton Valley provides habitat for the same suite of species that occupy Yellowstone National Park. Some of these species depend on habitat in Teton County for survival including sandhill cranes, cutthroat trout, moose, and grizzly bears. As we continue to grow and develop, the county needs to work more closely with Idaho Fish and Game, local non-profits, and our public land managers to ensure that we adequately protect critical wildlife habitat. This includes evaluating the impacts of recreational use on the Teton River and mitigating roadkill hotspots.
Local Government that Works for You - Solving big, cross-departmental and inter-jurisdictional problems like code enforcement, traffic on Highway 31, and managing COVID-19 requires leaders who are willing to work collaboratively on behalf of the entire community. While I have served as Board Chair, the BoCC has built strong cooperative relationships with the cities, fire/EMS, hospital, federal land managers, non-profits and the business community. However, some of our county offices are run by elected officials who chose to operate in isolation and have no interest in being team players. It’s holding us back from being as efficient with our services and responsive to our community as we can be. I believe in transparency and accountability to the people I am working for and know Teton County's leaders can do a better job communicating and solving problems across all departmental, political, and jurisdictional divides. We need leaders who are committed to working as a team in order to get more done on behalf of everyone in Teton County.
That is why I am supporting:
Mike Whitfield for County Commissioner (http://www.mikefortetoncounty.com)
Alex Sosa for Prosecuting Attorney (https://sosafortetoncounty.com)
Jeremiah Jones for Sheriff (https://jonesforsheriff2020.com)
Help Re-Elect Cindy Riegel and support her efforts to preserve the character
of Teton Valley and provide opportunities for our community.
of Teton Valley and provide opportunities for our community.
