Things seem to be looking up for the Blaine County Housing Authority. Its maintenance budget for fiscal year 2009 is balanced, it has paid approximately $110,000 of the $150,000 that was borrowed from the Ketchum Housing Reserve Fund and it is now looking for a part-time executive director.
"There seems to be some perception that the housing authority is staggering around," authority Chairwoman Susan J. Passovoy said. "We are perfectly centered and continuing to do the job that we are supposed to be doing."
Passovoy did acknowledge the gap between the housing authority's situation and the place it had hoped to be.
The authority had asked for a larger funding commitment from the county and local municipalities. Instead, the cities of Sun Valley and Hailey cut their contributions while Ketchum and the county continued to give the same amount.
"We are back to our basic operations, which we have already been doing," Passovoy said. "There is no crisis. Our record is very clear that we have an extremely capable group of people, and we are actively fulfilling our mission to the best of our ability in these difficult times."
What has really kept the housing authority from operating in the red was the resignation of its sixth executive director in 10 years, Jim Fackrell. Authority Program Coordinator Nancy Smith said Fackrell was paid about $80,000 a year for his services. Without him on board, the authority can now repay the remaining $40,000 it owes to the Ketchum Housing Reserve Fund and pay a part-time executive director $40,000 per year.
In addition to looking for a new part-time executive director, the authority wants to fill three vacant positions on its seven-member board.
"BCHA has received a number of expressions of interest from community members in volunteering for particular tasks that are performed by the Housing Authority, or just serving on the board," Passovoy said. "We are encouraging these people to contact the Blaine County Commissioners or Blaine County Administrator Mike McNees."
Passovoy also noted that the authority plans to encourage all past and present community home owners to become more involved.
For more information or to become involved, contact the housing authority at 788-6102.
Jim Fackrell
