Kelly Jackson is director of outreach for Citizens for Smart Growth in Hailey.
By Kelly Jackson
Proposition 1 is an exciting opportunity for the citizens of Blaine County to raise $3.4 million to protect land, water and wildlife. It's a chance for us to protect these things while we still can and before it costs much more to do so.
In the face of a national financial crisis in which we can only hope to effect change, here is a chance to vote for something that directly affects our quality of life and property values.
We are very lucky to live in a county where a group of local residents got together to form Blaine County Citizens for Water and Wildlife. We are lucky to have county commissioners who listened to the group and agreed to put Proposition 1 before voters on Nov. 4. More than anything, we are lucky to live in a community that values open space.
Surveys indicate that an overwhelming majority of Blaine County citizens support Proposition 1. Citizens have identified the Big Wood and Little Wood rivers as areas we want to see protected. When the levy passes, an oversight committee will be appointed to oversee how the money the levy raises is spent.
The best part is that it will only cost the average homeowner $50 each year for two years. A friend of mine used this comparison to put the $50 annual amount into perspective: It's the equivalent of one trip to Atkinsons' for dinner supplies (likely enough for only one dinner).
Citizens for Smart Growth is a fervent supporter of this levy. Smart Growth's mission is "empowering citizens to shape vibrant communities in balance with nature." That's exactly what this ballot measure purports to do.
The ballot measure is great on a number of levels. Smart Growth works to protect our natural assets: rural charm, open space, air and water quality and wildlife habitat, while encouraging economic prosperity. This ballot measure will help do both.
The land, water and wildlife levy will help maintain and possibly bolster property values. It will also help deter development in the rural and sensitive areas of our county. Such developments are expensive to taxpayers because they often require the extension of county services. It will encourage development closer to cities, where these services are more accessible.
I'll leave you with this final thought. Cities in the Wood River Valley are expected to add more than 12,000 residents by 2025. New residents will add about 5,000 homes and more than 9,000 vehicles. Growth will likely be concentrated in south valley areas, but the impacts on traffic, recreation, open space and community services will be experienced valley-wide. Where will these new residents work and play? How will they impact our roads, schools and infrastructure?
Voting "yes" on Proposition 1 empowers you as citizens to help shape this growth so that it doesn't impact our natural assets.
From a Smart Growth perspective, Proposition 1 is a way to be proactive rather than reactive to our growth concerns in Blaine County. We like that. We hope you do too.
