Rathdrum is in a growth spurt

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

RATHDRUM — Rathdrum has grown up.

The city of roughly 8,725 has grown by about 2,000 people, or 25 percent, since 2009, Mayor Vic Holmes told about 40 residents attending his annual State of the City address at Lakeland High School on Thursday night.

“This year alone we estimate that we will have between 420 and 460 new residents,” said Holmes, who is entering his 11th year as mayor. “As a city we are bigger than several counties population-wise.”

Rathdrum issued 164 building permits for new homes in 2017, compared to 149 in 2016 and 127 in 2015.

The city has grown about 5 percent per year in recent years.

Last week a 53-lot, 55-and-older community called Diamond Spike Estates was approved. It is a 9-acre project on the north side of Nagel Road just north of Golden Spike Estates, another 55-and-older development, and west of Betty Kiefer Elementary.

Residential subdivisions that were recently completed or are in various phases include: Corbin Crossing South, Prairie Sky, Timber Landing Estates, North Ranch at Corbin Crossing and Legacy Place.

Shelly Davis, who was at the Rathdrum Library on Thursday, said she enjoys living in Rathdrum because its “a little off the beaten path, but still close to the freeway.”

“It’s a great place to raise kids and it still has a small-town feel,” she said. “I do sometimes wonder, though, how long that can be maintained with the way building has really increased here.”

Davis said creating pathways and more parks as subdivisions come online will be critical if the city wants to keep that homey feel.

Educational opportunities such as the Lakeland Joint School District, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC) and North Idaho College’s Parker Technical Education Center are a big draw for Rathdrum, Holmes said. Being rated one of the safest cities in Idaho by safehome.org is also an attraction for families, he said.

The public is expected to have access to the city’s property on Rathdrum Mountain late this summer for light recreation opportunities. Higher-than-expected construction bids last year delayed the opening. The city needs to obtain a permit from the Post Falls Highway District and a site disturbance permit from Kootenai County to pave the way for the opening.

The city created an urban renewal board last year in hopes of balancing the housing growth with employment.

“We have a lot more homes than we have jobs,” Holmes said. “Our hope is to create some employment for the citizens of Rathdrum.”

With growth comes a demand for services.

“Just staying ahead of the infrastructure, city staffing and a place to house the staff are constant challenges,” Holmes said.

Police responded to 6,658 total calls for service in 2017, more than any of the previous six years. Holmes attributed the increase to growth.

There were 44 felony arrests, about four per month, the most in at least the past four years. Misdemeanor arrests totaled 115, down eight from 2016. Misdemeanor citations decreased to 200, down 73 from 2016.

Holmes credited the City Council for holding the line on tax increases in recent years and trying to make growth pay for itself through impact fees.

Tax hikes have been less than 2 percent for each of the past 10 years — the maximum allowed under law is 3 percent — and no increase was taken in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. If the city had taken the maximum over the past 10 years, it would have cost taxpayers about $750,000, he said.

“We take the money we need to take — no more,” Holmes said.

He said the city’s debt stands at $575,809, which includes loans for sewer, a grader and loader.

“Financially the city is very stable,” Holmes said.

Recent projects completed include: a water main extension along Highway 41, Main Street sidewalks, a water well, new playground at Roth Park, picnic shelter and ballfield lights at Majestic Park, planting of 1,000 trees on Rathdrum Mountain and an updated park plan.

The city also recently started an app in which residents can pay water bills, find parks, ask for information such as council agendas and announcements are posted.

City officials believe Rathdrum and Pocatello are the only cities to offer the bill feature.

“Once again Rathdrum is leading the way,” Holmes said.

Future projects are improvements to Gray Street, pathways along Meyer Road, the Greensferry lift station and Highway 53/Meyer intersection improvements.

Holmes said Rathdrum plans to establish an adult slow-pitch softball league this year.

He said events such as Trunk or Treat, Rathdrum Days, Taste of Rathdrum, December d’Lights, family events in the parks, Daddy-Daughter Dance, Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament, concert series, Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies and Easter egg hunt add to the quality of life in Rathdrum.

The city decided to hold the State of the City address at night this year in hopes of reaching more residents. It traditionally has been held during a chamber of commerce luncheon.

Holmes and others will also speak during the chamber’s State of the Community luncheon Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. Other speakers include: Kootenai County Commissioner Bob Bingham; Academy Mortgage’s Teresa Metz; Lakeland School Superintendent Becky Meyer; and Chamber President Matt Smith.

The lunch costs $15 for chamber members and $22 for non-members.