Rathdrum year in review

Rathdrum City Council and city staff members have made multiple strategic accomplishments throughout the year, which lay the groundwork for major projects to start in 2023.

“The year 2022 was a very good year for the city of Rathdrum,” said Mayor Vic Holmes.

Holmes said the city was able to complete several projects it believes will be of great benefit to Rathdrum residents.

“State Highway 41 has been significantly improved on the south side of Rathdrum, along with the addition of new fully-actuated traffic signals at both Lancaster Road and Nagel Avenue," Holmes said.

Another new traffic light at the intersection of State Highway 53 and Meyer Road has already improved the intersection's level of service, he said.

Traffic projects completed this year will coordinate with future improvement plans laid out in the new Rathdrum Transportation plan, which was approved and adopted this month.

The transportation plan outlines intersections in Rathdrum and surrounding cities that would fall below standards by 2040. The plan was adopted with a capital improvement plan, which provides a roadmap to improve those intersections before they become a problem.

Another major accomplishment for the city of Rathdrum was securing $2.7 million in grant funding for construction projects around the city, Holmes said, and $1.8 million in ARPA funding for a new sewage lift station.

The city will spend 2023 working to use those funds on a pathway extension on Meyer Road from Boekel to Nagel, a revitalization of the Stub Myer’s Basketball Court, and construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Boekel and Meyer roads.

Construction on the roundabout is scheduled to start this spring and could be completed by 2024.

Better roads and traffic flow will control some of the symptoms of growth in the city, allowing for more business development.

“Economic development initiatives continue to be a major pursuit of my administration,” Holmes said. “Our economic development goals are to continue pursuing and attracting commercial or light, clean industries which will both create full-time employment for Rathdrum residents and supplement the tax base. In 2022, we issued a record number of commercial building permits.”

The city has ongoing long-term housing developments at Meyer and Lancaster roads, and at the end of Nagel Road that are moving closer to completion.

Construction on a new project adding 154 single-family homes on 57 acres will start in the spring of 2023.

City council members approved new zone designations in city code reform this year that could allow the city to see other development. The new zones allow the city council to control where growth will be targeted, ideally in regions that have the infrastructure to withstand projected population increases, said Leon Duce, city administrator.

Despite booming population growth, the city maintains a commitment to safety.

“Our biggest bragging point is that Rathdrum was named the No. 1 Safest City in Idaho,” Holmes said. “Our award-winning Police Department is a valuable asset to our community and they continue to participate in outreach programs which both increase their visibility and keep them abreast of the needs of our residents.”

The parks and recreation department in Rathdrum was very busy in 2022, Holmes said, when they extended walking paths and constructed a new disc golf course on Rathdrum Mountain, rebuilt the roof at Stub Meyer Concession Stand, conducted beautification work at City Park and repaired the Veterans Memorial at Pinegrove Cemetery.

“Rathdrum is a financially stable and vibrant community,” Holmes said. “This statement is made possible by our hardworking staff members and the unbelievably generous and kind residents who make Rathdrum an awesome place to raise a family.”