Resignations continue to rock the Blaine Ketchum Housing Authority, as Associate Director Drew Sanderford has left his position to work for a private real estate consultant in Ketchum.
Sanderford's resignation comes four months after Michael David resigned as executive director and 10 months after the organization's entire board resigned in protest.
For the past nine years the Housing Authority has worked to increase affordable housing throughout Blaine County. Despite its efforts, there are still fewer than 60 deed-restricted units in the county.
"We were a bit surprised," Jim Fackrell, who replaced David as the Housing Authority's executive director in October, said about Sanderford's resignation. "He was originally planning on leaving at the end of March, but he had another opportunity.
"Drew did a great job for the Housing Authority, but he may have burned himself out early. There are lots of evening meetings."
Sanderford, who resigned Wednesday, Nov. 22, was instrumental in the formation of a series of inclusionary housing ordinances approved by the county and the cities of Ketchum, Sun Valley, Hailey and Bellevue in the last six months. Those ordinances will force all future developments to include between 14 percent and 20 percent deed-restricted community housing—depending on location.
Sanderford, 24, admitted his position with the Housing Authority was demanding and time consuming but that's not the only reason he resigned.
"The real deal is, I had an opportunity to learn a whole lot of new things in the real estate field," he said. "This is an opportunity to serve the county in a different way that will allow me to grow personally. I'm just going to learn some new things and be a citizen like everybody else."
He declined to name his new employer.
Before joining the Housing Authority, Fackrell served 18 months as the executive director of the Wyoming Housing Network and 11 years as the head of Boise's housing and community development program.
When Fackrell joined the Housing Authority, Sanderford had been carrying much of the load left by the departed Michael, who is now the director of the McCall, Idaho, housing program.
"The Housing Authority Board of Commissioners extends its sincere thanks to Mr. Sanderford for continuing his employment during a period of transition," a news release from the Housing Authority states.
In August, David declined to elaborate on his resignation, saying only that it was "time for a change."
The board's mass resignation in February came on the heels of Sun Valley City Administrator Virginia Egger's appointment to the board by the Blaine County Commission. Tim Eagan, former board chairman, said Egger's appointment violated a state statute because she is a city employee.
Despite the turbulent nature of the Housing Authority, Fackrell insists the organization is stable and "pressing forward."
"I don't think it's in trouble at all," he said. "We have a great board that is very knowledgeable in the industry and brings a great deal of experience to the table."
In addition to Egger, the board is composed of Chairwoman Susan Passovoy, John Flattery and Micheal Roos.
"I see a commitment there on behalf of local government officials and the community, and that's fantastic," Fackrell added. "Overall, there is a tremendous acknowledgement of the need for community housing."
Sarah Michael, chairwoman of the Blaine County Commission, said the Housing Authority was "lucky to have Sanderford's energy and knowledge for a couple years." Like Fackrell, she's not concerned about the organization's stability.
The county and city of Ketchum both contribute funding to the Housing Authority.
"We're getting affordable housing units built by developers under ordinances, and I think it's exciting," she said. "The Housing Authority has a great board. We need to continue to support them because they're absolutely essential to develop the right kind of affordable housing."
Fackrell said there are currently "in the neighborhood of 100 community housing units" in various phases of planning and development in Blaine County. By contrast, there are about 2,500 community housing units in and around the city of Aspen, Colo.
"I see us as being a tremendously busy organization," he said. "We have a whole lot of development in the pipeline, a lot of community housing units."
Fackrell said the Housing Authority would likely not replace Sanderford until the spring.
Drew Sanderford, associate director of the Blaine Ketchum Housing Authority, resigned last week
