Answer needed on
church
The
Ketchum City Council needs to fish or cut bait on the issue of whether
it will save the historic church that once housed Louie’s Restaurant
by giving it a permanent home on city property.
To date,
the council has gambled that the Save the Church committee wouldn’t be
able to raise the money to move the building and to restore it. Or, that
a heavy winter would crush the whole matter.
The
council has gambled twice and lost, while continuing to fuel hopes that
the city eventually will give the old church a home.
The city
first provided temporary storage of the old church at the city-owned
park and ride lot on Saddle Road if the committee came up with the money
to move it. It did, and the church was moved.
The Save
the Church Committee suggested that city land at the end of East Avenue
would be a good site for the church. The city muddled and fuddled and
the idea went nowhere.
Then,
last month the city told the committee the building had overstayed its
welcome. Neighbors had complained about having to look at the mothballed
building. The City Council demanded that the committee show that it had
enough money to restore the church.
It did.
It also suggested that the city allow placement of the old building
among the other old buildings at Forest Service Park.
On
Monday, the City Council dithered and spun over the matter. The mayor
and council seem paralyzed at the thought of having to vote up or down
on the request to locate the building on city property. The council put
off the matter again without a vote and asked for more site suggestions.
The Save
the Church group has done everything the city asked. It deserves better
than to be strung along. The mayor and council owe the group an answer.