Drawbacks From Hydroplane Racing In Cda Outweigh Any Benefits

The difference between attracting decent employers and mobs to North Idaho is significant.

The economy is the focus of recent attention to the possible return of hydroplane racing to Lake Coeur d’Alene. However, what’s desirable for some businesses may not be desirable for the place.

Jobs Plus is an organization that attempts to lure worthwhile employers to North Idaho. It seeks environmentally conscious companies that are able to pay trainable employees more than the minimum wage.

These companies usually are not dependent upon the tourist economy. They also take up the slack of providing jobs as the industrial base of the area changes. It’s no secret lumber and mining companies slowly are disappearing or cutting back.

Perhaps the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce should pursue those objectives rather than the disruptive hordes that congregate for hydroplane races.

Let’s face it. Boat races attract thousands of people to town for two or three days of outdoor partying. As a Seattle area sportswriter for 10 years, I “covered” my share of hydroplane races. The only boating thrills people want to see are the crashes.

So you get a few thousand drunks that require augmented local law enforcement groups (paid by the taxpayers) to ride herd. The mobs absolutely trash the place, so taxpayer-funded employees pick up the garbage. And if the viewing area is on a fragile site such as Tubbs Hill, the probable results are fires (fought by taxpayer-paid firemen) and erosion in non-trailed areas (repaired, if possible, by taxpayer-paid parks employees and volunteers).

A theme should be emerging here.

The citizens pay the bill while the service industry (lodging establishments, restaurants and convenience stores) rakes in the dough. Meanwhile, the area gets more publicity to attract more people, many jobless.

Several years ago citizens voted a resounding “no” to future hydroplane races. Now is the future. It should take another vote to change things, but petitions would be needed to get it on a ballot. And not enough time exists for that to happen if race promoters are hoping to get the races here this coming year.

So the chamber of commerce hopes to skirt the people and get a positive answer from the Coeur d’Alene City Council. The chamber needs to remember that the City Council represents the people, the taxpayers who would be denied use of their beaches and lake when the visitors pour into town.

One caller, when I whined about this several months ago, said this is all mute because the races wouldn’t be held in Coeur d’Alene anyway - but along the old Highway 10 lakeside strip east of town.

Then why is the chamber of commerce lobbying the City Council? I doubt very much that the taxpayers have changed their minds. The vote stands.

Meanwhile the Coeur d’Alene Resort last week was granted a $1 million building permit. The changes to the existing facility would expand convention and spa services.

Four meeting rooms, ranging from 600 to 1,500 square feet, will be added to the south side of the existing convention center. Built with the possibility of expanding upward, the addition will cover what is now patio and lawn area.

The area adjacent to the existing recreation center will become a European day spa, according to Bill Reagan, general manager. The spa will include six treatment rooms (for massages, facials, whatever) and a meditation room with a relaxed sitting area and fireplace.

“This reflects a trend among five-star resorts,” Reagan said. “We’re trying to bring in more group business.”

The addition should be complete by May and will add 25 to 50 employees to the resort’s existing roster of 750, Reagan said.

Since the resort’s former cruise boat picnic destination of Huckleberry Beach was sold this year, a new picnic area is being added to the resort golf course. Suited to accommodate groups up to 400 people, the lakefront site (complete with tent coverings) will be available from May to October.

Oh. A rumor that the entire Coeur d’Alene Resort and Golf Course complex is for sale is “definitely not the case,” Reagan said.

A couple of tidbits:

New business Bulbs Express brings a fully stocked van and free delivery of light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and specialty lamps to businesses and institutions. Owners are Ken Bertrand and Jeff Nasiatka at 666-9012.

Post office officials explored sites that are finalists for the new Coeur d’Alene annex last week, but they haven’t announced their selection.

xxxx

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Nils Rosdahl The Spokesman-Review