Mayor: Recognition, projects have boosted Rathdrum's image

RATHDRUM - Gone are the days of many folks viewing Rathdrum as being just another sleepy small town, the city's mayor said during his State of the City address on Thursday.

"We're players," Vic Holmes told about 60 people attending the Rathdrum Area Chamber of Commerce lunch at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

Holmes referred to growing Rathdrum being touted by organizations as being a great place to raise young families and having a great school district and healthy housing market.

"I go down to Boise regularly and people tell me they have heard more and more about what's going on in Rathdrum," Holmes said. "I'm very proud of that. I think we're going somewhere."

Since the city last year gained access to its 557 acres on Rathdrum Mountain, it plans to hire a facilitator soon to gather public input of how to lightly develop the property for recreational opportunities.

"We want this to be the citizens' project," Holmes said.

Holmes said the $36,059 the city spent on attorney fees to secure access was well worth the money because it greatly increased the value of the site and opened public opportunities.

Selective timber harvesting of the property will continue through October. Funds from previous harvests have been used to fund city projects, including the construction of City Hall.

"Most people believe the property is too valuable for the city to ignore (and do nothing with it)," Holmes said.

Holmes drew applause as he released Rathdrum's crime statistics showing a 39 percent decrease from 2013 to 2014 on crimes against society such as DUIs and drugs, a 16 percent drop in crimes against property such as vandalism and a 2 percent fall in crimes against people such as battery.

Total calls for service rose slightly (from 5,204 to 5,243), but were still lower than the previous three years that ranged from 5,582 to 5,840.

Police Chief Kevin Fuhr said the numbers reflect the improving economy.

"When the economy is bad, crime is higher," he said.

Holmes said the city is looking forward to several other projects this year, including North Idaho College's professional-technical center, adding more lighted crosswalks to increase pedestrian safety, a new water well and the installation of a mounted city seal being constructed by Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC) students that will add a beautification element off Main Street.

Holmes encouraged the attendees to participate in the public input session of the future of the Highway 41 corridor between Rathdrum and Post Falls. The session will be held this spring on a date to be determined.

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and we need to do a little squeaking," he said.

Holmes said a committee is discussing whether an urban renewal agency and district would be a good fit for Rathdrum to add infrastructure to spark economic development on commercial land.

The American Legion recently formed a post in Rathdrum and the city agreed to provide up to $2,500 in startup costs to the nonprofit that will participate in school, baseball and community events.

Rathdrum's population grew 238 people in 2014 to 7,389 for a 3.3 percent growth rate.

"That's a healthy rate," Holmes said. "We can manage that type of growth and make changes."