Ketchum resident Trina Peters has been appointed as the newest member of the Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency board after winning unanimous support from the board during its meeting Tuesday.
Commissioner Trish Wilson called Peters thoughtful, bright, considerate and prepared.
Peters said it was a love for the community and a desire to help it thrive that drew her to the position.
"I've always thought that the URA was a valuable tool of the city's, one that has the potential to have a significant impact on this community's future," she said in an interview. "I've always been interested in strategy and planning, and am looking forward to working with the other commissioners and the public on how the URA will manage and direct its resources."
Peters has been involved with the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, the Ketchum Arts Commission, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Sun Valley Figure Skating Club and the Community School.
Before moving to Ketchum with her family in 2001, she had a career in corporate and financial public relations and marketing in New York, Boston and Baltimore.
Peters said she will bring a new perspective to the agency.
"I think it's useful to diversify the URA board by having another citizen as commissioner, rather than an elected official," she said. "I think my background in communications will be particularly helpful—as we all know, there remains a lot of confusion and misunderstanding about the organization and I'd like to help alleviate that problem."
She noted that her experience with The Center will come into play.
"It, too, required good communication and open dialogue with various constituencies," she said.
Peters takes the place of Baird Gourlay, who resigned last week. She will serve the remainder of his term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2013. Hall said Gourlay, a member of the Ketchum City Council, offered to resign to open a seat on the seven-member board to a representative from the private sector.
Under state law, URAs are the governing bodies for urban renewal districts, which are created in downtown areas designated by the government as deteriorated or underdeveloped. Funded by a portion of county property taxes, they undertake infrastructure projects, such as the Fourth Street Heritage Corridor.
Rebecca Meany: rmeany@mtexpress.com