A proposal to increase regulation of construction trades in the city of Ketchum raised hackles Monday evening.
Discussion raised to a fevered pitch as Ketchum City Council members defended the need to impose regulations, and some representatives of the construction trades appeared angry with the city's plans.
"I've talked with a lot of people, and the level of anger out there is more than you would believe," said William Glenn, a 35-year Ketchum drywall contractor. "You don't even want to hear the things they're saying."
Glenn and Councilman Baird Gourlay fired back and forth at each other before Mayor Randy Hall quelled the debate.
"All right, let's keep the next round of discussion up here at 30,000 feet," he said. "Look, if we don't do something, none of us is going to have a job because the people who hire us have asked us to do something. We'd be derelict in our duties if we didn't answer the phone and listen to what the citizens in our neighborhoods are telling us.
"Is it going to be easy? Well, no, man. You're right. We need construction. It means a lot to the fabric of our community."
The proposed regulations, which were discussed Monday only as an issue up for debate, would apply to all new construction and additions in excess of $25,000. Regulations would govern excavation, site screening, parking, storage, delivery, site cleanup and landscaping. A committee has been meeting and working on the proposed regulations for several months.
"The city has received numerous complaints that traffic, debris, et ceteras are having an effect," said Ketchum Assistant Police Chief Mike McNeil, a member of the committee. "Where we are at this point in time is we are ready to go forward with the possibility of presenting to the City Council and the mayor options that can be placed into an ordinance that can address many of these problems."
Gourlay kicked the discussion off by stating up front that the regulations should be reworked with local contractors' input.
"I'm going to send this back to subcommittee," he said. "I want to make sure there are three, at least two, construction individuals on the subcommittee. It's imperative, though, that you have very clear guidelines.
Ketchum attorney Cynthia Woolley, representing several local contractors, said several of those contractors were willing to serve on the committee.
"It seems to us that there is some need for regulations and guidelines, but we also think there needs to be input from the construction industry on what those need to be."
She went on to cite reasons the proposed regulations were too strict.
"What would happen if all of that were to become law in Ketchum?" she asked. "It would put all construction workers out of work for 83 days each year. Only nine weeks would be available to excavate the right-of-way. If I wanted to paint my bathroom, I wouldn't be able to do it on a Sunday or on Christmas Eve."
For his part, Glenn read a lengthy testimony into the record.
"I think this proposal is so grossly unfair I just have to say something about it," he said. The proposal "denies the realities in the construction business and is, in my opinion, unworkable. The costs will be considerable and will not be borne by the construction industry. Should this proposed ordinance be enacted, the hotel developers better start planning for another floor to pay for it."
Former Sun Valley Mayor David Wilson, who owns Wilson Construction, said he thinks there is a way to make the plan work.
"We're just asking to be treated fairly," he said. "If we become a town that's starting to in-fill all the vacant lots, then it's going to get more challenging. We just want to be treated fairly and help you solve the problem."
Another subcommittee hearing, complete with contractors, will be held March 22 at 9 a.m. at Ketchum City Hall.
