Colorado Man Planning An Elk Farm On Prairie

A Colorado man who says he’s planning an elk farm on Rathdrum Prairie has an option to buy 314 acres there.

The City Council voted Tuesday to sell its purchase option to Steve Kerns of Laporte, Colo.

Kerns would say little about his proposal Wednesday, except that he still has to work out some legal details. He said he’s “99 percent sure” the elk farm will take shape and he’ll know within three weeks.

For Kerns’ $10,000, the council agreed to sell its right to purchase the land from the Brickert Land Co. for $1 million. The city negotiated that price in October, planning to use the land for sewage treatment. The city would have had to come up with the $1 million by June 30.

Kerns plans to fence off about 160 acres to graze elk and sell the antlers, said Kerns’ attorney, John Redal of Coeur d’Alene. There is a large market for the antlers in Asia, where they are believed to be an aphrodisiac.

The city retains the right to buy half the property from Kerns. Also, the city may be able to spray treated wastewater on the entire 314 acres.

“You can spread the effluent on my 160 (acres), as long as it doesn’t harm my elk,” Kerns told the council Jan. 4.

The land is located along Green Ferry Road, where the city’s sewage pipeline to Post Falls runs. The parcel is bordered by Airport Road to the north and Hayden Road to the south.

Also Tuesday, the council appointed a former Rathdrum police chief and veteran City Councilman to fill a vacant council seat.

The council appointed Harlan Fritzsche, a Post Falls police detective sergeant, to serve the remaining year of former councilwoman Debbie Waddell’s term. She and Mayor John Heitstuman lost their seats in a recall election.

Fritzsche, 59, served on the Rathdrum City Council from 1985 to 1993. He said he won’t run for re-election this fall.

“I feel there are people as qualified or more qualified living in that town,” Fritzsche said. “The people need to be involved in city government.”

Fritzsche has worked for the Post Falls Police Department for 19 years. Prior to that, he was the Rathdrum chief. He’s lived in Rathdrum since 1960.

Fritzsche said the town needs to develop more water storage and sewage treatment capacity. Post Falls now treats Rathdrum’s sewage, prompting a clash over increasing Rathdrum flows this summer.

“Looking down the road, I think we’re going to have our own facility,” Fritzsche said.