Afton council adopts budget amendment, approves rezoning and a slate of appointments

The Afton Town Council on Jan. 13 approved a package of budget and personnel actions, including a fiscal-year budget amendment, the contingent rezoning of a property, purchase of three software systems, and multiple board and staff appointments.

The council adopted RESOLUTION NO. 2026-01 amending the Town of Afton’s 2025/2026 budget. The approved amendment also included funding for three software systems—CivicPlus, E-Citation and court software—which the council approved in a single motion. The minutes record all motions on these items as carried unanimously; the transcript does not list numerical vote tallies.

The council approved a Simple Subdivision application for the Ted Frome Addition that vacated Lot 2 and created Lot 3 (5.09 acres, remaining General Commercial) and Lot 4 (12.03 acres, remaining Agriculture Conservation and Recreation). Planning & Zoning recommended the division. The council also passed Ordinance 700 on third and final reading to rezone the described area to a mix of residential and commercial districts, with the ordinance to be effective upon the sale and closing of the property.

Council confirmed a slate of town employees to positions presented by the mayor (including the town administrator, public utilities and public works directors, police chief, municipal judge, clerk and treasurer) and appointed Mason Hillstead to the Airport Board and four members to the Golf Board. The minutes record these confirmations as motions carried unanimously.

Why it matters: the budget amendment funds near-term town priorities and the software purchases affect how the town will manage civic services and court operations. The rezoning and subdivision approvals change the permitted uses and parceling of land near the Star Valley Medical Center and could influence development patterns when the sale closes.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting minutes):
• Resolution 2026-01 (budget amendment): passed (motion recorded as unanimous).
• Ordinance 700 (rezoning, third reading, contingent on sale/closing): passed (unanimous).
• Ordinance 698 (bicycle/e-scooter regulations, second reading): passed (unanimous).
• Ted Frome Simple Subdivision (Lot 3 = 5.09 acres; Lot 4 = 12.03 acres): approved (unanimous).
• MOU with Lincoln County School District #2 (facility use; town liability capped at $250,000): approved (unanimous).
• CivicPlus, E-Citation and court software purchases: approved (unanimous).
• Employee and board appointments: approved (unanimous).

The council’s minutes list motions and seconders for each item; most motions were moved and seconded by council members Michael Butler, Dirk Hillyard, Will Wilkes or Scott Griffith. The transcript contains inconsistent year references (see audit); this article uses the date listed at the top of the meeting record (Jan. 13) and notes the transcript’s mixed-year entries.