Harrison facing progress issues

Sat., Sept. 6, 2008

Herb Huseland Correspondent

Harrison, Idaho, is a little town that is about to be overrun by development. Population is about 170 residents and aproximatley 120 registered voters.

Nestled in a small bay at the mouth of the Coeur d’Alene River, and dominated by the high bluffs on the north side of the river, progress is overwhelming this formerly sleepy resort city. Two issues face the town. One, the Powderhorn Ranch, lies on the high ground to the north and is contiguous to the city limits. The ranch has been purchased by developers hoping to establish a large, upscale community.

Earlier this year they filed a development application with Kootenai County but later withdrew it. The Powderhorn group is currenlty pursuing annexation to the city of Harrison.

The second issue is the deterioration of a very old sewer system, which is still functional but discharges the gray water into the lake. “Our system is fully functional but every year the EPA establishes stricter standards, plus there really isn’t room to expand,” Mayor Josephine Prophet said.

Streets, curbs and sidewalks are all the goal of a new Urban Renewal District being formed by the city, as well as the expansion and possible upgrade of sewers. Matching-fund grants are available, but with only 170 residents to share costs, many residents are resisting annexation.

According to John Austin of Panhandle Area Council, a nonprofit organization that helps small cities with grant applications and the formation of urban renewal districts, Powderhorn has offered up to $30 million dollars in infrastructure funds to Harrision in return for annexation.

Residents of this 115-year old former mill town are about evenly split over the Powderhorn annexation, as the City Council. Mayor Prophet sounded like she would prefer to table that issue, rather than split the town over it.

Kootenai County Commissioner Rick Curry said, “Powderhorn withdrew, or suspended their application pending the annexation to Harrison request.”

Officials of Powderhorn Ranch were unavailable for comment.

Harrison occupies an idyllic spot just north of the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. Kootenai County has a large dock and swimming area in town right near the venerable Gateway Resort.

Over where the old sawmill burned down for the last time, sits a city owned RV and campground park managed by camp hostess Rose Sutton. A shingle mill was established at that spot in 1915, burned down, was rebuilt in 1923 and burned down twice more. Now, the base of the smoke stack and just the stubs of pilings that once held the offshore mill still bob around just off shore.

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