McEuen Field public information officer likely

COEUR d'ALENE - The McEuen Field project could have a public face during construction season this year, and it won't be a crane, dump truck or even need a hard hat.

The downtown project will likely have a public information officer to answer questions and share info with nearby property owners once the multi-million transformation gets under way in earnest at the end of March.

The city of Coeur d'Alene and its urban renewal agency, Lake City Development Corp., are pitching the idea of contracting the position. They would split the cost down the middle, tentatively estimated at $75 an hour up to $24,000.

The city and LCDC are paying for the project and both have part-time public information officers. But the McEuen Field project could need its own point of contact to streamline information between the yet-to-be-selected engineer and nearby residents during what's sure to be an aggressive construction season slated from March to November, they said.

"It's going to be a tough summer," LCDC member Jim Elder said Wednesday about the upcoming construction. "No question about it."

At the top of the list to fill the position so far is Karen Osterdock, of Welch Comer Engineers, the same company that has representatives who helped design the park plan. The LCDC board said Wednesday it will interview her later before making a decision, but the duties would include attending construction meetings, answering residents' questions and circulate a weekly newsletter on issues such as traffic re-routes.

It would free up the engineers to concentrate on building the park, they said, estimated to be around $17 million to $20 million.

The position had originally been a part of the park's budget, but had been taken out as the plan was going through changes over the year, some of them budget-driven. The city approached the board about putting it back on due to the importance of keeping communication lines open.

"I think a public relations person is a big part of this," said Brad Jordan, LCDC member.

The board helped pay for a similar position during midtown's makeover a couple of years ago, and that position proved to be useful, it said. The McEuen Field project, however, is "10 times the project midtown was," Jordan said.

The scale of the project is why the city and LCDC don't want to rely on their part-time public information officers, they said.

The city budgeted $65,000 for its part-time, non-benefited position - around $45,000 of the total would be for wages. LCDC pays $1,400 a month for its position, at seven hours a week.

But the city said it wants someone with an engineering background who can answer engineering questions specifically while focusing solely on the park project.

"The easier we make it for people the better off we'll be and that's the goal," said Deanna Goodlander, city council member who also sits on the LCDC board.

Meanwhile, contractors are sharpening their pencils as the project is out to bid.

A bid opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 5 in the old City Council Chambers to see which one offers the best bang for the park's buck. After the bid opening, the council will vote on a contract at a special call meeting at 5 p.m. March 7 in the Community Room at the library. Both meetings are open to the public, and the City Council meeting will be televised.

Pending the contract approval, park construction is expected to begin March 18. Front Avenue will be closed from March to November.