Spirit Lake seeks head-turners

SPIRIT LAKE - City leaders say it's time to liven up downtown Spirit Lake.

The five-member Maine Street Revitalization Steering Committee has been formed to explore ways to bring charm back to the city core.

An open house for community input will be held at the senior/community center in Spirit Lake, 32564 N. Fourth Ave., on Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m.

Three design concepts will be on display for feedback.

"I'd like to see people drive through town on Highway 41 and rubberneck - what was that? They'll turn around and spend some time in downtown Spirit Lake," said Mayor Todd Clary, one of the committee members.

Ideas include new and wider sidewalks, more parking spaces, paving, street trees and pedestrian lighting.

Other committee members include: Kim Hill, a city council member; Cam Criswell and Cathy Kirk, business owners and chamber members; and Tiffany Gallimore, urban renewal agency member.

The committee acts as community representatives guiding the consultants in the appearance of the revitalization design. However, the committee is also seeking input from the entire community.

Consultants working on the project include: Rusty Leahy of David Evans and Associates; Kathy Schultheis, a landscape architect with UrbanNature Consulting; and Nancy Mabile, an economic development planner and grant writer for Panhandle Area Council.

"This is your town, so the design needs to be a balance of what your community wants and what will work for the Maine Street businesses," Schultheis told committee members.

After the community weighs in, design concepts will be narrowed to a preferred concept. A cost estimate for the improvements will then be developed.

PAC is applying for an Idaho Community Development Block Grant for the city that will be submitted in November to help finance the project. The grant is Housing and Urban Development funds that are managed through Idaho Department of Commerce.

"Once the design is determined, we will know the cost of the project and can then identify how much can be covered by grants," Mabile said.

The city has signed an engineering and landscape architect contract with the consultants for $43,500 to develop the design. PAC is performing the grant writing at no charge.

A second community open house will be held on Oct. 7 at the community center from 6-7:30 p.m. The preferred concept, cost estimates and other proposed funding sources will be discussed.

"The purpose of the second open house is to have a more detailed design of the design concept the majority of the public likes from the open house on Thursday," Mabile said.

There will be a public hearing before the City Council in early November on the grant application. The city will learn in mid-January whether the application makes the first cut. The grant would be awarded in late April or early May.

If funding is approved, construction on improvements would likely start next summer or fall.