McCall extends July 4 booze ban in lakefront parks
BY DREW DODSONThe Star-News Two-day extension envelopes holiday weekend A law that bans alcoholic drinks in city parks fronting Payette Lake during the July 4… Login to continue reading Login…
May 2024
Read MoreMcCall extends July 4 booze ban in lakefront parks
Primary rundown: A guide to Tuesday’s ballots
Tuesday’s primary election ballot will feature bonds, levies and several candidates vying for county and state office.In person voting runs from 8 a.m.
Townhomes proposed along Wooley, Davis
A proposal to build 28 single family homes and townhomes along Wooley Avenue was aired last week to the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission.The proposal by HTW McCall, a company registered to Gregory Byron of Boise, would develop two parcels totaling 3.7 acres along Wooley and Davis avenues.The subdivision, known as Dawson Trails, would feature nine single family homes with two-car garages and 19 three-story townhomes with two-car garages, under current plans.Short-term rentals would not be allowed in the subdivision, said Nick Louie, who represented Byron during a hearing before the P&Z.Dawson Avenue would be improved to include on-street parking and a separated pedestrian pathway, according to plans.A formal development application has not yet been submitted for Dawson Trails.Last week’s P&Z hearing was a pre-application meeting that developers are required to complete before submitting formal development plans to the city.
McCall: boat fees should pay for water quality monitoring
Fees paid to launch boats on Payette Lake should fund city water quality monitoring programs, members of the McCall City Council said last week.The fees, known as ramp fees, could be in place as soon as July 1 for all boaters seeking to launch from a city boat ramp near Legacy Park.“We need to know what is happening in our water and what is coming out of the lake, and someone needs to pay for it,” council member Colby Nielsen said.
P&Z: First Street subdivisions still too dense
A proposal to build 52 new homes along First Street in McCall is still too dense, according to the McCall Area and Planning and Zoning Commission.The Woodmore Crest Subdivision, proposed by Rick Williams of Star, would build 36 single family homes and 10 townhomes on six acres at 500 First St., or near Colorado Street.Meanwhile, the Blackwell Subdivision, also proposed by Williams, would build six single family homes on less than an acre at 520 First St.
Thank you’s May 16
Adopt-A Highway CleanupValley County Democrats extend a huge thank you to the 18 volunteers who helped with our Spring Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup on Thursday, May 9.
The Star-News wins four awards from Idaho Press Club
The Star-News won four awards, among weekly newspapers, in the Best of 2023 Annual Awards Contest sponsored by the Idaho Press Club.Editor Max Silverson won first-place for Serious Feature Report for coverage of the Elkhorn Fire in August of last year.
Voters to decide on EMS expansion
The Valley Countywide EMS District will seek a permanent levy override for up to $4.1 million in the May primary election on Tuesday.The current EMS levy raises about $1.3 million per year, which is split evenly between the three fire districts at about $419,000 per year.The May ballot measure, if approved, would add about $2.8 million to the budget.
McCall seeking $16.5M for water treatment plant
McCall voters will be asked on Tuesday to approve a $16.5 million bond issue to pay for improvements to the city’s drinking water system.Approval will require 50% of voters to be in favor of the proposal, plus one more voter for a simple majority.The $16.5 million bond would be used to increase the storage capacity and disinfection capacity of the city’s water treatment plant, which is located in Spring Mountain Ranch and serves all city water users.The improvements are needed to keep up with increasing water demand in McCall, which during the summer peaks at more than 3 million gallons per day.The city’s Water Fund does not have enough money to fund the upgrades, which must be complete by 2027 to meet standards set by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, the permitting agency under which the treatment plant operates.The McCall City Council chose earlier this year to seek a bond issue to fund the work instead of adopting rate increases that could double residential bills, which currently average $70 per month.The bond money would be repaid over 20 years through fees added to monthly bills paid by 5,900 city water accounts.
Viewpoint: MDSD bond/levy are essential
As Superintendent of the McCall-Donnelly School District, I feel a deep responsibility to ensure that all our students receive an outstanding education that prepares them for bright futures.