For the week of May 14 - 20, 2003

Ketchum eyes more tourist-friendly image

Police Department to make several changes

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum officials are planning a series of small projects designed to give the city a more friendly image with the public, particularly visiting tourists.

Foremost, Police Chief Cory Lyman has announced that later this year he will implement several changes to the Police Department to establish a "friendlier" rapport with the general public.

Lyman last week said the Code Enforcement Division of the department will soon be revamped and renamed the "Community Services Division." He said the officers in the division would be given an expanded set of duties that will range beyond routine code enforcement.

Lyman explained that the change is part of a larger effort to install so-called "community policing" techniques in Ketchum. "We’ve been doing some analysis, and we decided that we’ve got to get out of the patrol cars and do some walking and things like that," he said.

As part of the program, some officers will be given "community liaison assignments," while all officers in the department will be outfitted with new uniforms, Lyman said.

In addition, the department will be "looking at new ways to approach speeding problems," mainly by educating the public on how not to break the existing speed limits posted in the city.

Responding to some complaints from local business owners and residents, Lyman said the department will try to use "traffic calming" measures and "friendly signage" to better inform motorists of local parking and driving regulations.

Police officers will also be asked to help educate local merchants on how to avoid being victims of petty theft.

Some merchants at a meeting earlier this month with city officials complained to Lyman that shoplifting and vandalism are hurting their businesses.

"The idea is to identify problems and get to them before the crime has occurred," Lyman said.

City officials are also considering how to address other ideas and complaints put forth by owners of local businesses in recent months.

To help educate visitors about the city and where to find specific businesses or services, city officials are considering working with the Ketchum-Sun Valley Chamber & Visitors Bureau to install informational kiosks at several strategically placed locations in the downtown area.

Mayor Ed Simon last week said the city is researching the design and potential cost of the kiosks. "I would like to get a couple of them done before the next business year," Simon said.

City Administrator Ron LeBlanc said the city would also consider a long-term program to replace some of the city’s street lighting fixtures, considered to be unappealing and ineffective by some local merchants.

""I think the businesses want a more aesthetic–looking lighting," LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc and Simon said that no fixed plan is in place to replace older street light fixtures, but such a program could be included in a future Capital Improvements Program currently in development.

"We don’t just want to put in lights piecemeal," Simon said.

 

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