SURA shares 2025 budget request

SANDPOINT — The board of the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency convened Tuesday morning to put forth its 2025 fiscal year budget request. 

The request’s sum is $2.32 million, and the primary items are the design and acquisition costs of the downtown revitalization and Great Northern Road projects.

In the meeting, board members shared an update about the latter project, which aims to heavily reconstruct a mile-long section of road in northern Sandpoint. 

Mayor Jeremy Grimm reported that the city is seeking $23.9 million in federal grant money to support the project, which has a total estimated cost of $29 million. The first of two grant proposals was sent with letters of support from state elected officials including Governor Brad Little; Grimm described the opportunity as “once in a lifetime for a town this size.” 

In a June meeting, Sandpoint construction manager Erik Bush described the city’s ambitions for the project, which include aesthetic improvements and a multimodal trail. “It’s going to be more than just a regular corridor on the edge of town,” Bush said. 

Proposed improvements to Great Northern Road have been inspired by poor existing stormwater drainage infrastructure and the city’s desire to encourage industrial development in the area. 

“This area is really besieged by stormwater,” said Grimm of the land near the road. The mayor expressed his desire to resolve the problem either as a part of the Great Northern Road project or independent of it. “It’s a barrier to any kind of development happening there right now.” 

Grimm also explored the possibility for Sandpoint to purchase land along the east side of the road that is anticipated to be sold by aircraft manufacturer Daher. If acquired, Grimm suggested that the city could construct a cul-de-sac and implement utilities to lease the land to industrial tenants, who tend to generate a high amount of tax revenue for the city. 

The outcome of Sandpoint’s grant applications for the Great Northern Road project will likely be known by the end of 2024. If funding is secured, the majority of the construction is expected to take place in 2027. 

Also discussed in the meeting were planned improvements to the public parking lot in downtown Sandpoint. The city intends to repave the lot, potentially alter the configuration of parking spaces, and implement a parking fee in the currently-free area. 

If financially feasible, the city plans to include electric car chargers and an automated toll collection system. The project is in the design phase; bidding for the construction contract is set to take place in about a month. 

Grimm stated that repaving the lot is the core of the project, and that other features can be sacrificed if necessary. “My preference is to make it look like a new parking lot. I would prefer that over other amenities and bells and whistles,” Grimm said. 

The SURA board plans to adopt the new budget in its next meeting Aug. 6.