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Copyright © 2003 Express Publishing Inc.
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Friday, June 25, 2004

News

Ketchum land swap proposal in limbo


By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

A contingent of prominent Ketchum-area residents voiced strong support Monday, June 21, for a proposal to purchase a prized parcel of commercial land one block south of City Hall.

However, despite urgings from several former city officials to purchase a vacant lot at the corner of Fourth Street and East Avenue, Ketchum City Council members showed no inclination toward issuing a decision on the matter.

At issue Monday was a city proposal to trade its Town Square parcel—at the corner of Fourth and Main streets—for a privately owned land parcel directly south of the Giacobbi Square shopping center.

The city parcel is the site of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau visitor information center. Wells Fargo Bank owns the private parcel.

City officials in May issued a plan to swap the two 11,000-square-foot properties, but an alternative plan to purchase the property outright has since gained momentum.

That proposal—which essentially called for purchasing the Wells Fargo parcel as part of a city-driven local-improvement-district initiative—was put forth by former Mayor Jerry Seiffert at a June 7 public hearing.

Seiffert suggested that the city establish a LID that could include purchasing and improving the Wells Fargo parcel, installing lighting on public thoroughfares in the downtown core and developing much-needed sidewalks in the inner city.

Jack Corrock, a former member of the City Council, said he believes the city should act decisively to acquire new land.

"For 15 years the city has not bought one inch of public land," he said. "It seems to me we ought to be buying more."

Corrock noted that he believes the city should by no means trade its parcel at Fourth and Main Streets, where the city’s old City Hall sits.

"Steve McQueen used to sit and drink coffee with the cops there," he recalled.

Joe Koenig, also a former City Council member, said he believes the assessed value of the Wells Fargo parcel, approximately $1.3 million, represents a good value for the city.

"We ought to just buy this property," he said. "A million-three is cheap in the town now."

Mayor Ed Simon contested that the city might not be able to acquire the funding necessary to buy the parcel.

"We just don’t have the money unless we go to a general-obligation bond," he said.

A bond—which would require voter approval—might not gain adequate public support, Simon noted.

Seiffert countered that the city could pursue a LID in lieu of a general-obligation bond. A LID would not require a citywide public vote, he noted.

In Idaho, cities are given the power to form LIDs in order to construct and finance an infrastructure project that benefits a specific area. The cost of the project is typically paid by special assessments on the various properties that are benefited.

To initiate an LID, 60 percent of property owners in the proposed district must sign a petition for action, Idaho Code states. Or, the code states, a city council can initiate an LID with an affirmative majority vote from the full council.

Council members Monday offered a mix of comments on the issue.

Councilwoman Terry Tracy said she is leaning against the proposal to trade the two properties in favor of a plan to buy the Wells Fargo site.

"Why don’t we just sit down and put everything down on the table that we think we need to do?" she asked.

Councilman Baird Gourlay warned a LID might not gain enough public support to be implemented and could take a significant amount of time to organize.

Council President Randy Hall said he is willing to consider the will of the public, if it indeed is to take on new expenses to improve the downtown.

"I’m hearing loud and clear that that we need to buy more property and we need to get the city core fixed and (citizens) are willing to pay for it," he said.

City officials will likely resume the discussion at their next meeting, Wednesday, July 7.


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The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.





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