Wednesday, March 5, 2008

City considers funding economic assessment

Sustain Blaine asks for $25,000


By JON DUVAL
Express Staff Writer

With the number of studies that have passed before the Ketchum City Council and gone unutilized, it was hardly surprising that council members were initially hesitant when approached for a sizable sum to help with Sustain Blaine's Regional Economic Assessment and Economic Development Strategy.

However, after hearing from County Commissioner Tom Bowman and a plethora of other economic groups from throughout the Wood River Valley, it looks as if the city will likely lend a hand, though to what degree has yet to be decided.

Bowman, as a representative of the county, which will be in charge of dispersing the funds, requested $25,000 from Ketchum to help the consortium of private and public entities reach its budget of $150,000.

"I was skeptical at first as well," Bowman said to the council. "But I think it's really important to know how much money is leaving the valley every day when workers drive home to other counties."

This is just one piece of information the study is aimed at gathering. If completed as intended, it should give an idea of what the addition of major hotels would mean to the local economy, as well as how construction of affordable housing would help attract new business.

County Administrator Mike McNees, who was also chairman of the steering committee that selected TIP Strategies as the consultants to carry out the project, said Sustain Blaine is in the process of determining the scope of work to be included in the study, but that it will definitely provide necessary decision-making information.

"This is not just another study that will sit on a shelf and gather dust," McNees said. "This will include a roadmap and an implementation plan."

Councilman Baird Gourlay, who was running the meeting in the absence of Mayor Randy Hall, said that while the council was supportive of the idea, it couldn't make a decision without discussing it with the mayor.

As well, he said that for the amount of money requested, which the city does not have in this year's fiscal budget, it would want a voting representative on the Sustain Blaine board.

Gourlay said the council would revisit the issue at its next meeting on Monday, March 17.




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