Ketchum city officials have cancelled plans to create a "form of government advisory committee," Mayor Randy Hall said at a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 6. The committee's purpose was to look into the feasibility of three models of city government: the traditional mayor-council structure, a council-manager form and a hybrid model.
Hall cited the town hall meetings planned by the Wood River Economic Partnership as a good alternative, adding that a city-organized committee may not have been viewed as an objective source of information.
Ketchum residents will vote in November whether to change the city's government to a council-manager form. Though current officials were elected under the "strong mayor" form, Ketchum operates under a hybrid model, according to Hall.
Wood River Economic Partnership is sponsoring an open meeting today to inform the electorate about the proposed council-manager form of government. Speakers will address what Idaho law says about the current and proposed form of government, while others will debate the issue.
Attendees will be able to ask questions following the panel discussion.
Confirmed pro/con speakers are Anne Corrock, a Ketchum resident who spearheaded the initiative petition to put the form-of-government question on the ballot; Ed Simon, former Ketchum mayor; Jack Bariteau, developer; Wally Huffman, Sun Valley Co.'s director of resorts and resort development; and Jerry Seiffert, former Ketchum mayor.
Educational speakers include Ketchum City Administrator Gary Marks, Ketchum City Attorney Stephanie Bonney and Jerome City Administrator Ben Marchant, who also serves as president of the Idaho City Managers Association.
The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 14, at Sun Valley Inn's Limelight Room B.
RSVP to dougbrownsv@gmail.com or 208-309-0187.
Rebecca Meany: rmeany@mtexpress.com