Lick it and stick it at new Ketchum post office
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
Ketchum
Mayor Guy Coles and Ketchum Postmaster John McDonald shake hands in front of renderings of
the new downtown Ketchum Post Office. (Express photo by Willy Cook)
It’s been 10 years in the making, but Ketchum is finally getting
its new post office.
On Monday, Ketchum postmaster John McDonald told the Ketchum City
Council that a new post office will be built on the corner of Fourth Street and Second
Avenue, behind Perry’s restaurant, according to a plan presented to the council on
Aug. 16.
Land acquisition is being finalized, McDonald said, and demolition of
the buildings behind Perry’s will begin almost immediately. Part of the real estate
deal is that the property is cleared before the sale is finalized, he said.
The project received approval from Clarence Lewis, U.S. Postal Service
chief operating officer, on Sept. 7, Postal Service real estate manager Ed Bavouset wrote
to Ketchum Mayor Guy Coles.
Construction is scheduled to begin this spring, Bavouset wrote, and is
expected to last about 12 months.
"The Postal Service looks forward to the successful completion of
this project and the opening of a new post office to serve the community of Ketchum,"
Bavouset wrote.
In an interview, Bavouset said the entire project will cost the Postal
Service approximately $7 million, about $1 million higher than the Postal Service wanted
to spend.
"This project, once we were able to meet the desires of the local
city officials—that was only the first obstacle for us," Bavouset said. "We
had to get through the postal service approval and it was a challenge to do so. It was a
challenge because of the cost."
Since land acquisition has not been finalized, Bavouset said, details
of the deal cannot be revealed. He said when the deal is completed, he will disclose the
lot’s owner and the purchase price.
The new post office structure will consume most of the western half of
the block and use a rugged, yet government-like, architectural style. Across Fourth
Street, the Postal Service will construct a 30-car parking lot adjacent to the Ski Tek
building.
The council had requested minor changes to the plans presented during
its Aug. 16 meeting to eliminate intrusions into the city’s right of way along
sidewalks and the alley.
"For the year I have been involved, we weren’t sure it was
going to happen," said Postal Service project manager Russell Rainey told a reporter.
"It’s been a long, hard road for the city and for us."
