Friday, January 23, 2009

Ketchum yearns for federal funds

City: Thousands of jobs could be created


By JON DUVAL
Express Staff Writer

After the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of representatives released its plans for an $825 billion economic stimulus package last week, Ketchum city officials are prioritizing projects that they say could lead to new construction and new jobs.

Ketchum Community and Economic Development Director Lisa Horowitz presented a list of 17 proposed projects at a City Council meeting on Wednesday with an estimated cost of $105 million.

Along with numerous downtown road reconstruction projects, the list includes construction of a new city hall and town plaza, at a cost of $25 million, located on the block directly south of Atkinsons', as set out in the city's Downtown Master Plan.

Another large project, the development of Guyer hot springs as a source of geothermal heat for homes and businesses, would require $8 million, by Horowitz's estimate.

This list, titled "Ketchum Ready to Go," was sent January 12 by Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall to Idaho state politicians, including U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and U.S. Representatives Walt Minnick and Mike Simpson, as well as Tom Cochran, CEO of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The conference requested the proposed packages from city officials as part of an effort to document the need for infrastructure investment and potential job creation.

But the list includes some job creation estimates that could be called optimistic at best.

Ketchum City Engineer Steven Yearsley estimated that one job would be created for every $10,000 of proposed spending, resulting in a startling high calculation of over 10,000 jobs.

So, a sheet of proposed projects and jobs created thereby includes the widening of South Main Street in Ketchum. Because the project's estimated cost is $55.5 million, the city estimates that some 5,550 jobs would be created by the work.

Yearsley admitted that was just a "best guess," but Councilman Charles Conn called the figures overly optimistic.

Conn said that with cities from all over the country looking for federal funding, it could be more advantageous to select only a few projects that would be "shovel ready" and completed quickly. As an example, he pointed out that the proposed widening of Main Street from Elkhorn Road to the Big Wood River, with the estimated $55.5 million cost due to the need to purchase property, would take years before being ready for construction.

"This is an enormous wish list and every community will have one of these," Conn said. "Might it not be a better strategy to focus on two or three projects that have a good chance of success?"

To that end, Councilman Baird Gourlay suggested that he and his fellow council members submit a list prioritizing their own top five projects from the overall list.

In an interview, Conn said the proposal should be aligned with the spirit of President Obama's plan, focused on infrastructure and energy development rather than town beautification projects. He said that is especially so given that state leaders will have a say in where the money is directed.

"I think it's incumbent on us not to put everything we can think of on this list, but only what will be attractive from a success standpoint," Conn said.

Jon Duval: jduval@mtexpress.com

Dreaming of big jobs

A sample of projects proposed for economic stimulus package

Project Cost Jobs created

· South Ketchum Main Street widening $55.5 million 5,550

· Town Plaza and new City Hall $25 million 2,500

· Guyer Hot Springs geothermal source $8 million 800

· Park & Ride facility $3 million 300

· New well near Hulen Pond $1 million 100

Source: Ketchum Community & Economic Development office




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