Keep the community's heart in Sandpoint

On Wednesday, Sandpoint’s City Council will decide if plans for a downtown community center and ice skating rink can move forward. The structure will be situated near, and will preserve, the former Catholic Church at Oak and 6th Streets. The design of this facility, by Sean Fitzpatrick of CTA, is nothing short of enthralling and can be viewed on the Web at www.jpcenter.org.

The innovations that developer Bruce Pedersen includes in the facility are astounding and likely to attract state and national attention. Plans include “co-generation” of energy (steam heat and electricity) using local Lignetics fuel, townhouses as buffers for existing neighborhoods, and a “green” roof; complete with soil and living plants to utilize and recycle rainfall.

Neighborhood meetings in and around the site have created unbelievable support. The final result is that only one person has raised objections. In our community -where a by-pass can take 50 years -this is an amazing feat and a strong stamp of approval from the public.

Clear direction for the City Council is provided by the facts that more than 5,000 signatures of support from the public were gathered in 2004; the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, including more than 500 local businesses, have voiced its overwhelming enthusiasm; and the Sandpoint Planning Commission voted unanimously in favor of this project.

Council members are elected for their skill in untangling complicated issues and providing intelligent compromise when necessary. When there is extremely clear public support and a virtual absence of controversy, we expect them to simply reflect the public sentiment.

DR. ROBERT PIERCE

N. Idaho Animal Hospital

Sandpoint