The costly remodeling of the Old Blaine County Courthouse in Hailey is just one of a number of projects for which the Blaine County Commission hopes a congressional lobbyist could help secure funding to complete.
At a meeting Tuesday, commissioners discussed the courthouse project as well as a long list of other county funding priorities that could potentially be funded with federal money.
At the center of the discussion was Washington, D.C., lobbyist Ken Lee, who maintains a part-time residence in the Wood River Valley. Lee, whose clients include local governments in Utah and Colorado, was at the meeting to answer questions about the complicated federal budgeting process.
In October, commissioners discussed hiring Lee, but delayed making a decision. They are now considering hiring him beginning Jan. 1.
Commissioner Sarah Michael, who led the previous discussion, said Lee typically charges a $1,500 monthly retainer fee to secure funding for critical public projects. Michael said that when Lee is successful, he charges an additional fee based on a sliding scale percentage of the grant amount.
Much of the commissioners' discussion on Tuesday had to do with the degree of success Lee would have to achieve to be paid the additional fee. Lee said that in the past, his clients have considered his efforts successful when they've received an award letter stating their funding request has been granted in part or in whole.
Lee said he would work closely with the staff of Sen. Larry Craig and Rep. Mike Simpson, both Republicans.
"My impression is that they expect to work closely together through the upcoming appropriations cycle," he said.
Lee said the deadline for submitting funding requests to Craig and Simpson's offices is Feb. 11.
He described the county's hope to secure funding for remodeling the Old Blaine County Courthouse as "a reasonable, doable request." He said funds for the project would likely come from the U.S. Department of Interior's "Save America's Treasures" account.
Other projects highlighted by the commission as possible federal funding candidates include the completion of a water study by the U.S. Geological Survey evaluating water resources on the upper Big Wood River and Silver Creek basins, emergency communications and construction of a centralized wastewater treatment facility.
At the end of the discussion, the commission asked Deputy Blaine County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Graves to discuss contract details with Lee.
Sarah Michael
