Study finds Teton Co. courthouse can’t withstand earthquake

JACKSON (WNE) — A recent study determined that the Teton County courthouse is not earthquake sound and no amount of renovations can save it. The building, built in 1968, will need to be completely torn down.
The unsafe building puts the Teton County Sheriff’s office, located on the bottom floor, at risk. That office also is home to the county’s 911 emergency dispatch center.
The issue of remodeling the courthouse has been in conversation before, but thus far hasn’t gained traction. A Specific Purpose Excise Tax, or SPET, initiative for $2 million to plan and design a new building was shot down by voters in 2019.
“It’s easy to imagine we’re getting along fine without it, because we don’t see it as a direct thing related to health and welfare,” County Commissioner Mark Newcomb said. “But I think the public hasn’t fully digested the fact that the whole building could collapse and it would collapse on our 911 dispatch center and sheriff’s office.”
A Tier Two seismic study was completed three months ago on the building, according to Paul Cote, the Facilities Maintenance Manager for Teton County.
The study was prompted by concerns over courthouse security, space issues and whether it’s seismically sound. The findings were dire on each.
“We delivered the information [from the survey] to the commissioners a few months ago and it was a lot to deliver to them,” Cote said.
The Teton County Courthouse hasn’t had any major renovations since 1997. Previous 2019 estimates found building a new courthouse could cost $60 million.
 
This story was published on June 4.