Luke Omodt
Omodt
Office sought: Sandpoint City Council
Education: BA Secondary Education EWU
Occupation: Public School Teacher/Soldier
Family: Kami (wife) + two awesome kids; Fred & Patty Omodt (Shingle Mill Blueberry Farm)
Website: Facebook — Omodt for Sandpoint
Public service to our country and state has been an important part of my life since 1997, I have served five presidents and three governors. The reason that I am running is that I love our town and its people. The University of Idaho sale to private development was tragic; the voters should have had an opportunity to decide whether to invest our dollars in that property and we never got that chance.
As an active member of the Idaho Army National Guard I have worked with and in government since 1997. I have traveled all over the world and country serving our state and country. As a public school teacher I understand the importance of clear and realistic expectations. I am experienced with public policy, budgets, personnel, and a trained leader. I teach government and understand the value of pragmatism, compromise and success.
Housing, infrastructure, and economics are the most important issues facing Sandpoint. They are all related to the rapid growth of our town. There are help wanted signs up all over town with many paying wages that would have been livable recently. Cost of living in the greater Sandpoint area has created a brain and brawn drain that is only going to get worse if we continue doing nothing. We have workable local solutions.
The city council should create a Greater Sandpoint Area Housing Authority in accordance with Idaho Code 50-1910. The city should actively partner with private developers to support income based local housing such as Culvers Crossing. Current developments are mostly market driven with little regards to our current residents. We need an all hands on deck approach to this issue through the creation of a regional housing authority, updating the comprehensive plan, zoning and city code.
I would attend the briefings and workshops from the city staff, especially the legal counsel, take notes, and read City of Sandpoint and Idaho Code. Housing is the issue that motivated me to run because it is a necessity. The City Council should be taking a more active role to improve our housing crisis. The creation of a regional housing authority would create a commission with authority answerable to the voters not just investors and developers.
Why are so many professional staff from the city of Sandpoint leaving to seek employment in the private sector? Historically, employment with the city of Sandpoint was a destination where employees served their entire professional career. In the last five years we have lost decades of experienced professional staff. Their successors are leaving Sandpoint's employment before even becoming vested; this is an institutional loss that results in a lower quality of service for Sandpoint residents.
Sandpoint is a wonderful town to grow up, raise a family, and grow wise in. Housing is not a right; it is a necessity. We can make a difference by voting for leaders who will act and work towards solutions, or we can continue to kick the can down the road. Our city provides public services seven days a week, 365 days a year. We get what we pay for, and we are represented by those we elect.
The sale of the University of Idaho property to private developers for $4 million in direct contrast to the 2018 Strategic Plan and the 2019 Housing Assessment being acted upon in 2021 demonstrates where our current city government has just been missing in action. Our workforce is leaving. Our current council were duly elected, they have integrity, and are serving our city. Choices about housing and property should be in the hands of the voters.
What do you see as the role of city government? City government is responsible to provide services to citizens such as water, sewage, garbage, maintaining facilities such as parks, streets, and stadiums, establish zoning and building regulations, promote economic development, provide law enforcement and public transportation. Without housing that can be afforded on wages paid by local jobs, services cannot be offered, maintained, or improved. The city must provide leadership and action regarding housing.
City councils are the legislative branch of local government. Sandpoint should partner with Dover, Kootenai, and Ponderay in the formation of the Greater Sandpoint or Lake Pend Oreille Housing Authority. This regional housing authority would be focusedhttps://cdapress.com/news/2021/oct/01/options-local-worker-housing/ on low to middle income housing which is what our workforce needs. This is not a silver bullet. At the same time the council must update the comprehensive plan and city code. We can do this!
I would have preferred to see the LOT language include the ability for the city to purchase property, as allowed by I.C. 50-301, for potential housing. The delayed response to the 2019 Housing assessment has only exacerbated the problem and forced locals to look for work in a place that they can afford. All private and public projects require resources, the voters get their chance to determine the cities priorities on Nov. 2.
Citizen engagement is necessary for any healthy town. The council and mayor should consider bringing back some of the commissions and committees that have become inactive. These citizen boards are a good conduit to bring together history, skill and passion. I am an advocate for workshops where citizens can attend and make their voices heard. The most important tool each city resident has is their vote. They should use it on Nov. 2.