More than a year's worth of work has produced designs for a historic streetscape, affordable housing projects and, in some circles, hope for a revitalized downtown Ketchum.
Work on the city's downtown master plan and its implementation has also produced a $1 million bill for the city, according to the city clerk's office.
Of that, $750,000 will go toward buying the property at First and Washington streets on which an affordable housing project will be built.
Another $283,812 went to contract for service fees for Tom Hudson in his capacity as economic development consultant on the downtown master plan. During that time, he and his associates billed the city for $13,258 in lodging. In Hudson's more recent capacity as executive director of the Community Development Corporation, his bill for services so far is $27,775.
The city has paid $19,500 to Benchmark Associates for mapping services, and $35,812 to Forsgren Associates for road construction. Jane's Paper Place has been the recipient of $138 for assorted paper products related to the master planning process.
Aside from the property purchase, the Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency has spent $2,082. The City Council authorized the payment Dec. 4 for next year's insurance coverage for liability, property and other areas.
"That's our only expense to date," said Ron LeBlanc, Ketchum city administrator and the Urban Renewal Agency's executive director.
The $750,000 billed so far for the First Street lots is part of the payment on a two-lot, half block parcel the Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency is in the process of buying for $2,250,000. The property sale has been approved but hasn't closed. LeBlanc expects that to happen by year's end.
Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall said the money paid to Hudson has well been worth it, as evidenced by the progress on affordable housing projects, town design and the completed master plan document.
"This is all his brain child," Hall said.
The mayor said Hudson was tasked with not only coming up with a way to revitalize Ketchum, but finding ways to pay for the ideas.
"I didn't want him to get too far out in front with warm and fuzzy things about design without backing them up with a way to pay for them," he said. The Community Development Corporation and the Urban Renewal Agency are functioning as funding mechanisms for the master plan.
What does the city get for its money?
While the Community Development Corporation and its committees are designing projects like the Fourth Street heritage corridor, the Urban Renewal Agency—along with the city's capital improvement program funds—will step in to help construct them.
An arts promenade on First Avenue and a plaza on East Avenue are also under consideration. The city is in discussions with Mountain West Bank to secure that site on East Avenue and Sun Valley Road for that plaza.
"(Hudson) has brought issues to the community in a way we can make decisions and move forward with them," said Planning Director Harold Moniz. "If it can save this community, I don't think you can put a price tag on it."
TOM HUDSON
