Area mayors: Year packed with change
SANDPOINT — It’s been a year of big changes for local cities.
Local mayors had a chance to share their progress with local business owners at the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce state of the cities conference. The forum offered Sandpoint Mayor Marsha Ogilvie, Ponderay Mayor Carol Kunzeman and Kootenai Mayor Mike Keough a chance to share recent developments in their respective towns and their visions for the future.
Sandpoint is beginning to show signs of growth once again following the economic downturn, Ogilvie said. She pointed to substantial developments that have occurred within the past year, including major construction projects like the Bonner General Hospital extension building, a new events center housed in the former Catholic church and the recently-opened water treatment plant. In addition, the number of personal residences are growing with the construction of 16 new homes and 150 new apartments — mostly in the Milltown Apartments north of Super 1.
“That’s significant, because they’ve been built entirely under new zoning codes,” Sandpoint City Planner Jeremy Grimm said.
Based on the numbers, the Sandpoint economy has improved as well. Taxable sales are up, with $110 million more generated this year than in 2009. Similarly, the unemployment rate has lowered to 8.9 percent as compared to 12.1 percent in 2010. According to Grimm, 131 businesses have also started up so far this year — a number likely to eventually exceed last year’s 140 new businesses.
Ogilvie said a particular point of pride for the city over the course of the year is the improved public perception of the Sandpoint Police Department. Previously plagued by accusations of unfair traffic stops and intimidation, the department has shaken many of those associations under Police Chief Corey Coon, Ogilvie said.
“I have not had one complaint about our police officers or how we’re doing things,” she said.
It’s been a year of big changes for Ponderay as well, according to Kunzeman. While she joked the city may have had only one house constructed this year compared to Sandpoint’s 16, the year has seen major changes like the expansion of U.S. 95. According to Kunzeman, the town is also primed to become more pedestrian and bike friendly with improved street crossings and pathways connected to Sandpoint. The town is also looking forward to the purchase of the third Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail parcel, an expense they’ve allocated into their budget thanks to grant funding. Based on the findings of a circulation study, the town will likely add on a new street near Bonner Mall, which Kunzeman intends to name after longtime resident Wilma Erickson.
While Kootenai’s $100,000 budget may be small compared to Sandpoint’s $27 million or even Ponderay’s $2.4 million, Keough said the residential community has experienced significant growth in home construction. He’s seen many young couples purchase starter homes and begin families within the community in the past year. In addition, 49 businesses operate out of Kootenai.
“I think we’re finding out this is a good place to live, and there’s room to grow,” he said. “Kootenai could someday become the suburb of the Sandpoint and Ponderay area.”
Despite a small budget, Kootenai made some notable public improvements this year, Keough said. One problem for the community is a lack of spaces for children to gather, but thanks to the Safe Routes to School program, Kootenai now has a child-friendly walking path connected to the elementary school. Keough said he’d also like to see Kootenai link up with Sandpoint and Ponderay’s integrated pathway system.
City officials have also been hard at work with new zoning regulations, Keough said. They are inviting the public to inspect the proposed codes for themselves and offer suggestions at an upcoming public workshop set for Sept. 25 at the city hall.
“We’d love to have any input we can get,” he said.