During a chamber of commerce breakfast billed to feature a discussion of Sun Valley Resort development plans, a large contingent of elected officials, municipal staffers and business operators this week got an earful about a proposed new airport and a county initiative to promote community housing.
Wally Huffman, general manager of Sun Valley Co., was the featured speaker at an annual breakfast gathering held by the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau Wednesday, June 8, at Sun Valley Lodge.
After delivering an update on Sun Valley Resort's long-term development plans, Huffman surprised some in the audience by moving into a lengthy speech about why those in attendance should insist Friedman Memorial Airport officials rethink their plans to move the Hailey airport out of the Wood River Valley.
Later, Huffman went on to another unannounced topic, Blaine County's initiative to encourage community housing south of Ketchum, where he lives, before asking the audience to sign a petition to alter the county's course.
In the beginning, Huffman chastised those in the business community for not being more active in voicing concerns about the potential negative impacts moving the airport out of the valley might have on tourism-related business.
"The people in this room have really been the quiet people in this process," he said. "Where the hell have you been?"
At issue is the proposed relocation of Friedman because it is operating below federal safety standards. Huffman—a former member of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority's Site Selection Committee, which was disbanded this week—has been a vocal proponent of studying a plan to keep the airport in Hailey or, if necessary, creating a new one at the southern end of the valley.
The site committee ultimately recommended three sites for a new airport, selecting as its first choice a location known as site No. 9, near the Shoshone Ice Caves in Lincoln County, just south of the Blaine County line on the west side of Highway 75.
Through the process, some airport officials have said that reconfiguring Friedman to meet Federal Aviation Administration standards is possible, but not within its current boundaries and at a considerable cost, the exact amount of which has not yet been determined.
Huffman told his captive audience Wednesday that the consequences of moving the airport out of Blaine County would be drastic.
"If you don't get off your duff and talk to your elected officials, we're going to have an hour-and-a-half ride to an airport that nobody will use," he said.
Then, Huffman sought to dispel some concepts that he called "myths." It is a "myth," he said, that Friedman could not be reconfigured in a way that would placate the FAA.
Secondly, he said, it is a "myth" that the "Ice Caves" airport would succeed, claiming that there is no data indicating "that anybody is going to fly to it."
In the end, Huffman concluded, "This process is flawed. This process was predetermined. This process will hurt you."
Airport Manager Rick Baird, who did not attend the breakfast, was asked by the Express Thursday to comment on the "myths" Huffman spoke of.
Baird said the owners of the airport, Blaine County and the city of Hailey, have determined they will not "expand beyond" the airport's current fence.
In addition, he said, the FAA has said in writing that it does not grant permanent waivers for airports to operate below its safety standards.
"They will not even consider it," he said.
As for the viability of the Lincoln County site, Baird said all parties have acknowledged there are risks associated with moving the airport, but added that there are also risks to staying in Hailey. The FAA might not allow continued service by the class C-III aircraft used by Horizon Air, and costs of using Friedman would climb if it were reconfigured.
Site 9, Baird said, is 37 miles from Sun Valley, a distance that test drivers have covered in 40 to 45 minutes. Plus, he noted, it would have fewer weather delays.
Baird agreed with Huffman that anyone with concerns about proposed airport sites should speak to the Airport Authority.
As for housing, Huffman said he wants the county to include all parcels in the county community-housing overlay zone in a moratorium on new subdivisions, primarily so the community-housing policy could be reviewed.
Blaine County Commission Chairwoman Sarah Michael, who was in attendance, said afterwards that perhaps the Chamber next time would consider using a point-counterpoint format to allow responses to speakers' comments.
Wally Huffman, general manager of Sun Valley Co., addressed Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau members Wednesday, June 8, at their annual breakfast at Sun Valley Lodge.
