As you contemplate your vote for mayor and Ketchum City Council, you should take a tour of the accomplishments of Mayor Hall and Councilman Gourlay over the last four years.
Walk past the First and Washington former Dollhouse property where they spent $750,000 of in-lieu money specially designated for community housing, but which has sat vacant for almost three years now.
Walk past the former Mountain West Bank building on Sun Valley Road and East Avenue, which they used another $640,000 of in-lieu money specially designated for community housing funds, and which instead houses the CDC, the chamber of commerce and Mountain Rides, rent free.
Walk on Fourth Street in front of Atkinsons' where they were supposed to spend $350,000 of the specially designated $1 million the URA borrowed from Steve Shafran for infrastructure improvements, but instead transferred the remaining $350,000 to Ketchum's general fund.
As you walk around, also contemplate that Mayor Hall and Mr. Gourlay have incurred $5.56 million in debt in the URA, all with balloon payments due in three years or less, which they have no cogent plan on how to pay back. They have been using the funds received by the URA to pay interest only on the debt, and allocated the balance to Ketchum's general fund.
When Ketchum Councilman Charles Conn was promoting the concept of the consolidation of Sun Valley and Ketchum, one of the fears of the Save Sun Valley group was that Ketchum's government is financially mismanaged. At that time, Mr. Conn stated that if you don't like how the officials are handling things you could "throw the bums out."
Please vote on Nov. 3 and follow Mr. Conn's advice.
Jim Plomasen
Ketchum
