Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Ketchum opens wallet for Housing Authority

Organization could be self-sustaining within fiscal year


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

The city of Ketchum will give the Blaine-Ketchum Housing Authority requested funds, but not without voicing a few pressing concerns.

The Housing Authority's new executive director, Jim Fackrell, went before the City Council Monday to formally meet the body as well as request approval for a quarterly payment of $67,000.

The request was on the heels of a slew of text amendments, the addition of a new chapter for workforce housing linkage and replacement of the entire chapter governing Ketchum's Community Core zoning district, all of which were approved Oct. 30.

"We've just gone through this incredible process, hopefully to give you the tools you need to help us," said Mayor Randy Hall. "We're looking forward to creating some inventory."

Although the council unanimously approved the allocation, Councilwoman Terry Tracy expressed doubts about the Housing Authority's direction.

"I'm curious as to where we're going with this regional housing," she said. "The whole picture to me is still a little muddied. The county and Ketchum are the ones that are carrying the burden of that financial (aspect)."

Fackrell said he hoped both for financial independence and regional contributions before the end of the fiscal year.

"There is a point in the future where the Housing Authority should be self-sustaining," he said. "We should reach that point within this fiscal year."

He said there are enough affordable housing units in the works that, once they're sold, will be able to finance the Housing Authority.

Tracy said similar promises have come out of the Housing Authority in the past, but the burden continues to fall on Ketchum and the county.

"It's a county(wide) problem, not just Ketchum's problem," she said.

"Regionalization of the Housing Authority ... is something we should achieve within this fiscal year," Fackrell said. "That's second only to strategic planning. It's been listed as a top priority by board members."

The Housing Authority has settled down to work after a year of flux.

The entire board resigned in February in response to the Blaine County Commission's appointment of a Sun Valley city employee to the housing board.

The commission claimed that the appointment of Sun Valley City Administrator Virginia Egger to the board violated the spirit of the Idaho statutes enabling the creation of housing authorities.

Then, in September, Michael David, the authority's executive director, resigned.

Hall highlighted a positive turn, saying that despite the Housing Authority's reliance on outside money, the community has accepted its mission.

"It was pretty hostile," Hall said of early affordable housing dialogue. "Look where we are now. This community has embraced affordable housing as its top priority."




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