Rathdrum city leaders look to the future

Rathdrum leaders touted successes and challenges during last week’s State of the Community luncheon.

Mayor Mike Hill said Rathdrum has seen steady growth over the last 20 years, with the population sitting just below 12,000.

Hill said the growing population has meant the city can take on bigger projects thanks to more property tax revenue. Property taxes have increased an average less than 1% over the last 15 years, according to Hill.

“Growth has paid for and funded these different projects,” Hill said at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church

Marvin Fenn with the Idaho Transportation Department highlighted major roadwork projects in the Rathdrum area.

Work on the Highway 53 corridor between Washington and Rathdrum will continue impacting traffic conditions this spring, Fenn said.

Pleasant View Road is set to close in early March between Highway 53 and Prairie Avenue, and traffic will be limited to one way in each direction on Highway 53 with intermittent closures, according to the project website.

Additional projects along the corridor could see ongoing construction into 2030, Fenn said.

Lakeland Joint School District 272 superintendent Lisa Arnold highlighted the challenges the school district has seen, including the failed levy in November and how the community has come together.

Arnold said the district had chosen the theme of “stronger together” for this school year.

“I didn’t realize when we decided on that how prophetic it would be,” Arnold said. “It’s been a challenging year for the district, but we really are stronger together — not just for our district, but our community.”

Arnold said the district will continue to focus on academic excellence and hands-on opportunities for students and celebrated the district’s high graduation rates.

“It starts when they walk in the door at 5 years old in kindergarten,” Arnold said.

The district will rerun a reduced levy of $7.52 million in May.  

    Arnold