For the week of December 18 - 23, 2002

City, county officials hold rare summit

More communication, 
cooperation pledged

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"We need to think of something that can be an economic base here that isn’t tourism and isn’t second homes."

— ANN AGNEW, Sun Valley councilwoman

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

In an unprecedented meeting last week, Blaine County’s mayors, city council members and county commissioners vowed to communicate more effectively and cooperate on key projects.

The meeting Dec. 5 at the River Run Lodge in Ketchum was called by Sun Valley Mayor Dave Wilson, who wanted to see elected officials from the county and its cities convene to discuss issues of common interest.

At the conclusion of the approximately two-hour workshop and discussion, Wilson said he believed the meeting established a "tremendous opportunity" for Blaine County governments to address issues such as affordable housing, transportation, and the consolidation of certain costly public services and facilities.

"I think over time we’ll get somewhere," Wilson said.

A significant part of the conversation also was devoted to devising ways to maintain diverse communities and protect the "vulnerable," less-affluent residents of the county.

The meeting was facilitated by counseling specialist Bob Werth. It was opened to the public, but public comment was limited.

After Werth asked the elected officials to break up into groups to develop a list of issues that affect all county residents and visitors, members of each group voiced their common concerns.

The end result was a daunting list of needs and problems that panel members agreed they could—and should—cooperate on. Key issues—many of which have been harped on for years by local activists—included the provision of effective public transportation, construction and maintenance of low-cost housing, provision of accessible public services and facilities, and protection of the county’s unique communities and natural environment from unchecked growth.

Some elected officials voiced concern about several more-specific issues, such as the over-allocation of water resources, the proliferation of individual septic systems in county-managed areas and the maintenance of access to public lands.

Most of the panel members agreed that most of the larger issues facing Blaine County government agencies are interconnected.

"I think we all agree that all of these issues are interrelated issues," Blaine County Commissioner Mary Ann Mix said.

In a discussion about affordable housing, Sun Valley Councilman Lud Renick said officials should look at providing housing that allows residents to live close to where they work, not at opposite ends of the county.

Carey Mayor Rick Baird said he was concerned his community might grow so quickly it will become less affordable for its residents.

Wilson said communities need to develop housing for public servants, such as firefighters, police officers and teachers. "These are the people we are leaving behind," he said.

Later, Sun Valley Councilwoman Ann Agnew voiced a need for the county to increase its economic diversity. "We need to think of something that can be an economic base here that isn’t tourism and isn’t second homes," she said.

Mix said public services must be consolidated. "It’s the fiscally responsible thing to do."

Mix added, "We need to mentor our youth better… We need to protect our seniors."

Bellevue Councilwoman Tammy Schofield called for officials to be "proactive, not reactive."

Several panel members put forth ways for public officials to begin cooperating on addressing the issues, but some warned that they should guard against being too ambitious.

"You have to prioritize and focus," Baird said.

County Commissioner Sarah Michael said she would like to see officials develop a "master plan for diversity of housing" in each of the region’s communities. However, she noted that the county’s elected officials "spend so much time on day-to-day issues" that they "rarely have the time to look at the big picture."

Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant offered perhaps the most realistic method for cities and the county to start working together. She suggested that each city circulate a one-page memo that describes large development projects being considered, their timelines for completion and the overall goals of the mayor.

"We may be doing duplicative efforts," she said. "We’ve spiraled around these same topics over and over."

Wilson suggested a county commissioner should attend regular, informal meetings of the county’s mayors, an idea that was readily accepted by the three commissioners in attendance.

 

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