YMCA vote looms
Petition signatures certified; issue now before council
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
Ketchum voters in November will likely be asked to weigh in on whether the city should help finance the proposed Wood River Community YMCA.
Sandy Cady, Ketchum city clerk, announced Monday, Aug. 9, that a citizen petition demanding city leaders seek voter approval of any plan to fund or convey public land to the YMCA facility is supported by 163 valid signatures.
To be enforceable, the petition required the signatures of 128 registered Ketchum voters?20 percent of the city electorate.
Larry Young, a former Ketchum mayor and City Council member, formally filed the petition last month.
Essentially, the petition demands that Ketchum legislators enact a new ordinance that mandates the city gain approval from a majority of voters before providing land for the YMCA or following through on a plan to confer $3 million in public funds to support the proposed project.
Cady told council members Monday that they now must either pass an ordinance that reflects the full intent of the petition within 30 days or must put the matter to a vote in the Nov. 2 election.
The debate is centered on whether the public should provide funding and support for the YMCA?s $16 million recreational complex and community center proposed for a section of the city-owned Park and Ride Lot, north of downtown.
In February 2003, the City Council approved a resolution to ?match the initial $3 million of charitable pledges by timely seeking city voter approval of a revenue bond in the amount $3 million.?
The city resolution also declared that ?a portion of the Park and Ride property is reserved to the Wood River Y? and could be leased to the organization for $1 per year.
The petition filed by Young demands an ordinance that states the city will adhere to its 2003 resolution, prohibit any contract that would out-source city recreation services to the YMCA and declare that the city will not ?be responsible? for the operating costs of the YMCA.
However, it is unclear at this time what the exact language on the ballot would be if the council does not independently adopt the petition?s language into policy.
Mayor Ed Simon said he will likely call a special public hearing on the matter before asking the council if they intend to act in the next 30 days or send the issue to voters.
