During the recent Afton Town Council meeting on December 9, 2025, all members were in attendance in person, with Scott Griffeth joining via phone. Several significant updates and discussions took place. Public Works announced the completion of fencing between the two pickleball courts at Canyon View Park to prevent balls from crossing over, although it has already closed for the winter. Additionally, renovations at Canyon View Park have included a step-free bathroom, now compliant with ADA standards, and a shade structure near the playground, which will be adjusted after winter due to shifting poles caused by the wet ground.
Further improvements include a new concrete pad at Canyon View Park to provide seating for onlookers, with picnic benches scheduled for installation in the spring. Residents are eagerly awaiting the opening of a skating rink at Star View Park, which measures 50 by 100 feet and features side rails and protective nets. It was noted that it is currently wet and not available until it freezes. The mayor humorously stated, “So what you are technically saying is Afton has a pool right now.”
Snow plowing activities are currently in progress, accompanied by active parking regulations to ensure public safety during the winter months. Snow banks will also be pushed back to provide more space and efficient cleanup efforts.
In a report from the Main Street Alliance, Julie Adams, owner of Rustic Rose and member of the board, announced the completion of phase one in becoming part of the Wyoming Main Street Program, which included establishing a board. She highlighted successful community events like the revival of the Fourth of July parade and the second year of Oktoberfest.
Adams also mentioned the participation of 17 businesses in a store decorating contest and discussed potential changes to the timing of Oktoberfest in the future, to avoid conflicts with religious events, considering the last Saturday in September as a possible new date.
Lisa Grimsley from the Tourism Board shared updates from the fall summit in Riverton, which provided vital networking opportunities. The board is soon to launch a new Afton tourism website and was excited to report that the Parade of Lights went well, featuring over 30 float entries, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Civic Center earlier in the day. A significant highlight coming up includes the “Vietnam Wall That Heals,” set to arrive in Afton from July 9-12, 2026 with more details to come.
The chair of the Heritage Board reported a successful Hall of Fame ceremony, noting the largest crowd yet. They inquired about room for additional pictures when the space on the wall runs out and announced that applications for next year’s Hall of Fame submissions would be available at Town Hall until the deadline on January 15, 2026.
Exciting community events are on the horizon, as the Star Valley Snow Skippers are organizing another cornhole tournament on January 2 and have received approval for a malt beverage liquor license.
Financial insights from Jason Sleight of Jones Simkins, who conducted the town’s audit, revealed that total revenue has been just over $4 million, reflecting a less than 1% decline, indicating a stable economic situation. Town Administrator, Violet Sanderson, expressed gratitude, stating, “We love working with Jones and Simkins.”
An update on the council’s initiative to take sole ownership of the West Alley for repaving and maintenance revealed that Wyoming Title & Escrow is conducting a thorough title search to ensure the accuracy of all documentation moving forward. While they had secured signed agreements from all businesses and property owners, a recent discovery that one signatory was not the actual owner prompted the council to implement additional precautions to ensure everything is handled correctly.
The next Afton Town Council meeting is scheduled for January 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Afton Town Hall. For additional details on public notices, please refer to the back of the paper.
