Ketchum voters could decide on new government plan

KETCHUM (AP) - A group in central Idaho that wants to change the Ketchum government to a council-manager plan has turned in signatures it has collected to put the initiative on the November ballot.

The Idaho Mountain Express reports that the group submitted the signatures to the Ketchum City Clerk's office on Tuesday.

"The early submission of the initiative petition will provide voters, both for and against the proposal, with additional time to have a fair open debate and dialogue about the benefits and detriments of both forms of government," Ketchum resident Anne Corrock, who led the initiative petition drive, said in a statement.

If the signatures are deemed valid, Ketchum voters will likely decide in November whether to adopt that system or stick with the current form of government.

The current form has a mayor that serves as the city's chief administrative officer. In the council-manager system, the city manager is the city's chief administrative officer.

Ketchum Council President Larry Helzel said there won't be time for public education or a smooth transition.

"It's going to be highly disruptive and highly destabilizing," he said. "I'm concerned that all the very important issues have not been explained to the general public as well as petition signers."