Rathdrum projects planned amid record growth

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

RATHDRUM — Rathdrum had record growth in 2018, making next year's start to widening Highway 41 and other improvement projects even more paramount.

In his State of the City address at Lakeland High on Tuesday night, Mayor Vic Holmes said a record 184 residential building permits were issued in 2018.

That was a 12 percent leap from the previous record of 164 in 2017.

Holmes described the city's role amid growth as creating a delicate balance between attracting more businesses so the city is self-sustaining but also trying to maintain a small-town feel.

"It's good and bad both," he said to about 150 attendees of an open house on city and community programs. "New growth is good for the tax base. I also like to see us attract the businesses that we need (from medical to retail). But the other half of me thinks I can drive somewhere else for that. I like our little town, but it does need to grow a little bit."

Rathdrum's population has topped 9,000. The total acres annexed into the city in 2018 was 304.

The Idaho Transportation Department will widen Highway 41 from Rathdrum to Post Falls into a divided, four-lane system in 2020 and 2021.

Holmes said Lancaster Road in Rathdrum is slated to be converted into a five-lane road to sustain the planned increase in traffic. The city bought 30 acres across Lancaster from the Kootenai Technical Education Campus two years ago and still plans to build the next City Hall at the site.

"We think it will become a professional center up and down that road," Holmes said.

Holmes said Spokane Teachers Credit Union and Potlatch Credit Union are expanding to Rathdrum and an undisclosed company has purchased the former Stein's IGA building.

"Things are going to happen commercially here," he said.

Attendee Mariana Cochran said Rathdrum has kept its small-town feel despite growth.

"We love the openness, outdoor recreation and that everyone is neighborly," she said.

Cochran said she appreciated the chance at the open house to offer input on multiple initiatives, including what citizens want to see in the city's next park and assisting with drafting an update of the city's comprehensive plan to take to public hearings.

"There's such an array of offerings," she said. "And it's our responsibility to contribute to the community."

Resident Robert Krause said he's pleased with the state of the city from recreation offerings to snow removal.

"I'm very happy with what I have seen," he said, adding that there's a good mix of businesses.

One male attendee said he had concerns with train fumes in town. Holmes responded that the city has some concerns as well but some federal transportation laws supersede local ordinances.

Rathdrum hopes to open its property on Rathdrum Mountain for light recreation opportunities next summer after spring paving on Barrett Road is completed. The project has been in the works for several years.

"We thought they were going to open that last year, so we're looking forward to that," said Steve Cochran, Mariana's husband.

Rathdrum's crime statistics for 2018 were comparable to other recent years.

The number of felony arrests decreased to 41 from 44 in 2017, while misdemeanor arrests increased last year to 123 from 115 in 2017.

The number of parking and abandoned vehicle violations spiked to 353 in 2018 from 222 in 2017.

The total calls for service in 2018 was 6,562 compared to 6,658 from 2017.

"As our population has grown, our crime rate has gone down so that's a pretty good indication the police force is doing something right," Holmes said.

According to a report released by the SafeWise home security firm last year, Rathdrum is the sixth-safest city in the state. The report considers violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents that were reported to the FBI.

Holmes also recognized three high school students with Mayor's Youth Achievement Awards.

Lakeland High's Ruth Schenkenberger won first place in a regional Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest and will compete at the state level. She will receive her associate's degree from North Idaho College before receiving her high school diploma. Her activities have included Girls State and editor of the school yearbook.

Lakeland's Christopher Hartman was recognized for his drone racing national and international titles, 4.14 GPA and holding six swimming records at Lakeland High.

Basquiat Nelson, a freshman at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, was honored for student leadership, competing in soccer and track and school science projects. He is a mentor for the seventh-grade robotics team.