Post Falls city administrator Keck knows he can’t make everyone happy

Eric Keck is beginning his second year as city administrator for booming Post Falls. You can read his entire interview this morning at Huckleberries Online: www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/hbo.

DFO: Why did you move to Post Falls from Draper, Utah?

EK: Definitely for the North Idaho environment. Also, I had the opportunity to steer another fast-growing community.

DFO: You were once involved in the Air Force ROTC. What happened with that?

EK: I went through it for four years. I was studying electrical engineering. I realized I couldn’t become a pilot. I didn’t want to be a lab rat. So I decided to exit the program. I returned to Ohio to completely switch directions in my career, from engineering to political science.

DFO: The Spokesman-Review (editorial board) believes Post Falls should tear down the current City Hall when the new one opens. Do you agree?

EK: If we look at this from a pure business standpoint, it makes sense. The cost of preserving the building at this point is astronomical.

DFO: What will the city do if the voters decide to keep the building?

EK: Obviously, we will listen to the people’s voice. But they will have to be sensible enough to provide funding to maintain and fix it. It will cost $1.24 million to redesign the site. The current building has a number of deficiencies like a leaking roof and lack of handicap accessibility. Annual maintenance would cost $60,000 per year without capital improvements.

DFO: Is there anything Post Falls can do about that horrible intersection at (Highway) 41 and Interstate 90?

EK: Barring blowing it up completely and starting over?

DFO: Let’s play a name association game?

EK: (Gary Schneidmiller) Stalwart in the community; (Jim Hammond) dedicated servant; (Bob Templin) idealist; (Harry Green) missed opportunities; and (CJ Buck) smart investor.

DFO: If you had to choose a multimillionaire to deal with, would you prefer Bob Templin or Duane Hagadone?

EK: Probably Mr. Hagadone because he’s invested so much into his community.

DFO: Have you encountered a situation in your year in Post Falls that you’d like to do over?

EK: With the City Hall project, I’d like to have done some things differently. Maybe design it differently. I would have liked to have put it on Harry Green’s property (old Louisiana Pacific mill site along Spokane Street), next to the river.

DFO: You were physically threatened by a disgruntled resident with a knife earlier this year. Is that the strangest situation you’ve encountered in your public service?

EK: It ranks up there. I dealt with an inebriated individual in Draper. He shoved me. I thought he was going to swing at me. But he didn’t.

DFO: A former Coeur d’Alene city administrator used to say that a city administrator’s most popular day in office is his first one. Is this true?

EK: That’s very true. My mantra is: You’re only as good as your last council meeting. If you haven’t performed well, you may be asked to move along. You’re not going to make everyone happy. Unlike politicians, you have both community people and political people who could be unhappy with your decisions. You are the lightning rod for the community sometimes.

DFO: You’re a fan of the TV show “Lost.” What attracted you to it?

EK: It’s one of those shows that sucks you in. It’s the unknown, wacky events that draw you in. The intrigue. The mystery. I have the DVDs.

DFO: If you had the ability to do any Post Falls project immediately, what would it be?

EK: A mixed-use development with office, retail and a grocer.

DFO: You mean Riverstone?

EK: Yes.