Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Ketchum leaders study citywide projects

Mayor, administrator hope to implement major capital improvements plan


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum City Administrator Ron LeBlanc reviews summer projects with the City Council Monday. Photo by Willy Cook

School children at Hemingway Elementary will have a safer walk down First Avenue when school resumes in fall.

As a prelude to Ketchum's proposed Capital Improvements Program, the city is undertaking multiple projects this summer, including a temporary asphalt sidewalk on the west side of First Avenue from Hemingway School to Perry's restaurant.

Ketchum City Administrator Ron LeBlanc reviewed for the City Council Monday the plan's upcoming projects.

In the summer of 2006, pending the council's approval of the CIP, the city will begin a series of capital projects outlined in the city's comprehensive plan.

The CIP coordinates the projects from fiscal year 2006 to 2011.

Other preliminary projects to begin this summer are the widening of Warm Springs Road, making way for a bike path on either side, and resurfacing the bike trail.

LeBlanc also said the renovated Guy Coles Skate Park is set for a grand opening in early June.

"We'll have (Councilwoman) Terry Tracy practicing her ollies," he said.

"I won't be ready by the 18th," Tracy joked.

LeBlanc informed the council that water line replacements in the city's southeast quadrant would have to get public approval before work begins.

"We can't get any kind of debt without public vote," he said. "We should look at that for the November ballot."

The council was in agreement on LeBlanc's good efforts for the city.

"I think you've done an outstanding job," said Council President Randy Hall.

One item that LeBlanc said merits further attention is the local option tax on building supplies.

Some people might be buying supplies in other cities, paying only sales tax at the time of transaction, but failing to pay Ketchum's 1 percent LOT on those items.

"I think an audit is needed and cooperation with the state is needed," LeBlanc said.

A "shroud of confidentiality" makes it difficult to compare accounts to see who has paid what in taxes and where they built with the supplies, he said.

"We need to see what the state is collecting and see if our accounts are high or low," LeBlanc said. "There's major accounts that we're not collecting any money on."

The council could approve the CIP as early as their next meeting, May 2.




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

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.