Rathdrum looks to future while keeping eye toward past

RATHDRUM – Rathdrum must keep pace with population growth by upgrading its infrastructure even as city officials focus on keeping the city’s small-town feel, said Rathdrum Mayor Vic Holmes last week in his first state of the city address.

That push for the future balanced with a desire to respect the city’s past dominated Holmes’ speech to more than 100 members of the Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce at the Route 53 Diner.

An annual state of the city address is in itself a bigger city staple that Rathdrum had not adopted until this year.

“Rathdrum is growing up,” said Holmes.

The city’s population has exploded from just more than 4,600 people in 2000 to about 7,000 in 2007.

New people bring an increased need for city services. Last year the city began operating its police force 24 hours a day.

“It’s necessary for our protection,” Holmes said, noting that police calls increased from 4,457 in 2006 to 5,247 in 2007.

Rathdrum Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Smith urged Holmes during a question-and-answer period following the address to protect the city’s future by following Post Falls’ lead and annexing more land on the prairie.

Rathdrum building permits dropped slightly from 2006 to 2007 as real estate transactions slowed across the county, state and country.

“We believe growth will continue but not at the same pace as the past two years,” Holmes said.

He said a key goal in 2008 is to build a budget reserve totaling three months of city expenses.

“The city is in a good, stable but not great financial situation,” Holmes said, adding that more retail businesses should help the city’s budget picture.

City officials are looking forward and planning improvements to Rathdrum’s parks, streets and public facilities as well as the addition of several new city employees in 2008.

Holmes said the budget calls for hiring public works, streets and parks staff.

A new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Highway 41 and Maple.

Holmes urged Rathdrum’s citizens to take part in city meetings and volunteer activities.

“Be able to look at yourself and say, ‘This is what I did to make Rathdrum a better place,’ ” he said.