News Releases

	News from the City of McCall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2010 City Of McCall Offers to Dismiss Lawsuit Against the Sewer District (PDF format) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 29, 2009 C entral District Health H1N1 Flu Vaccine Clinic by Appointment Make Your Appointment now for H1N1 Flu Vaccine The Central District Health Department (CDHD) McCall office is holding by appointment only H1N1 flu clinics every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at its office, 703 North 1st Street. Everyone six months of age and up is now eligible to receive the free H1N1 flu vaccine. To make an appointment for the H1N1 flu vaccination call 630-8002. Appointments are on a first come-first served basis and there will be no walk-ins for these flu clinics. All vaccine administered by the health department is free. The vaccine is also now available at area pharmacies, but they are allowed to charge an administration fee up to $19.07, which is the regional Medicare reimbursement rate. Many insurance companies and Medicare cover the administration fee. Current information on the H1N1 flu is posted to the CDHD website daily at www.cdhd.idaho.gov and is provided through the CDHD Flu Hotline at 321-2222 or 1-800-962-2343, which is staffed 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 7, 2009 OER Announces Grant Award to McCall to Boost-Start Them on Becoming a Solar City The Office of Energy Resources (OER) has announced awarding the City of McCall nearly $172,000 for the development of a Renewable Energy Enterprise Zone (REEZ) in the McCall area. The City is working with a private renewable energy provider, Idaho Solar Power, to take the first steps to making McCall a sustainable community by installing several solar systems. Funding for this project will go towards installing solar electric panels on public, non-profit, and private commercial properties within the REEZ area to generate electricity which will connect to Idaho Power’s electrical grid system through the net metering program. The property owners will be able to off-set their electricity usage. The off-set will allow the City and non-profits to use energy cost savings for other needs. Project partners would provide a cash match, and the total project cost is estimated to be $228,005. “The City has received considerable support from the community for this effort” said a VIP from the McCall area. City staff also consulted with representatives of Idaho Power and a renewable energy and building analyst regarding the development of this solar energy proposal. City leaders plan to examine its current zoning and development codes to insure that viable renewable energy efforts do not become stalled due to the development approval process. Currently, McCall does not have any restrictions on the installation of solar technology on buildings in its jurisdiction, which is the corporate City limits and the McCall area of impact, a total of 27.7 square miles. This funding opportunity was designed to spur economic growth and job creation by encouraging renewable energy development collaboration between local authorities and energy developers. Although $1.5 million was earmarked from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for this competitive grant program OER had over $5.5 million in requests. A total of 26 grant requests were received and 12 grant awards were offered including the McCall project. More information about the state energy stimulus projects and the Office of Energy Resources is available at http://www.energy.idaho.gov/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2009 Assistant Fire Warden’s House nominated to the National Register of Historic Places The Idaho State Historic Sites Review Board will be considering the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places of the Assistant Fire Warden’s House at the Central Idaho Historical Museum site. The City of McCall nominated the building and is soliciting comments on the nomination. All interested persons are invited to attend the McCall Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Tuesday, October 20th, at 1:30 pm at the Library Room of the Congregational Church at 901 1st Street in McCall. For more information, please call Carol Coyle at 634-3504. Renewable Energy Enterprise Zone Grant Program FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 28, 2009 The City of McCall intends to apply for funding through the Renewable Energy Enterprise Zone Grant program from the Idaho Office of Energy Resources. The proposed project includes the installation of solar panels on City owned buildings as well as on buildings owned by private businesses in the McCall area. It is anticipated that the installation of the panels will assist businesses in reducing their electricity costs or allow them to generate income through selling the electricity to electric utility companies. The complete scope of the project is under development, but interested businesses are urged to contact the City if they might be willing to be a partner in the grant proposal. There will be a cost share to participate in the project, but the actual cost is yet to be determined, and will be based on the number of businesses participating. Because the grant deadline is October 30, business owners interested in learning more should contact Michelle Groenevelt, Community Development Director, at 634-5229 or email her at mgroenevelt@mccall.id.us by October 7 to indicate interest in the project. McCall Voters Retain City Manager Form of Government FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2009 For more information, please contact Lindley Kirkpatrick, at 634-8099. In a Special Election held on August 4, 2009, McCall voters defeated a proposal to change the form of government. The final vote was 293 in favor of retaining the council/manager form of government and 212 against. A simple majority was necessary for the proposed change to pass. “The voters have clearly spoken and expressed their support for the council/manager form of government. It is a system that has worked well for McCall, and will continue to do so” said Mayor Bert Kulesza. The City of McCall remains one of three cities in Idaho to operate under the city council/city manager form of government. Despite its rarity in Idaho, the council/manager system is the most common form of local government in the United States. The other council/manager cities in Idaho are Twin Falls and Lewiston. McCall has operated under the council/manager form since 1993. Lindley Kirkpatrick has been City Manager since 2004. In the council/mayor form of government, a directly-elected mayor is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the city. Policy decisions are made by the city council, with the mayor voting only in the case of a tie. In the council/manager form, the city council hires a professional city manager to implement the council’s policies and be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the city. A mayor, with largely ceremonial responsibilities, is selected by the city council from among its members. The election results are not official until the City Council meets on Thursday August 6 to declare the election final. If the initiative had been successful, the change to a mayor/council form of government would have occurred in January 2010. Additional information about the election, and each form of government, can be found at: http://mccalldecision2009.wordpress.com/ and http://www.mccall.id.us/. City of McCall Receives Economic Development Grants For Immediate Release June 19, 2009 Contact: Michelle Groenevelt, 208-634-5529, mgroenevelt@mccall.id.us The City of McCall is the recipient of a $12,000 Idaho Gem Grant through the Idaho Department of Commerce for a “design charrette” for an area plan for future business park development in the McCall area. The adopted 2007 McCall Area Comprehensive Plan has an economic development objective to "encourage diversification of the economy by providing zoned and serviced land for business parks and light industry". The project will involve property owners, business owners, residents, community groups, utility providers, service providers, as well as planning staff, public works staff, engineers, and consultants in a visioning and planning exercise. The Idaho Gem Grant funding will augment the Capital Matrix Community Initiative grant of $10,000 that was awarded to the City for the design charrette project. For more information, contact Michelle Groenevelt at 634-5229. Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Awards Grants to City of McCall For Immediate Release June 19, 2009 Contact: Carol Coyle, 208-634-3504, ccoyle@mccall.id.us The City of McCall has received notification that it has been approved for three grants through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. The Road and Bridge program awarded $14,750 for the completion of the intersection improvements at Lick Creek Road and Davis Ave, which will improve vehicular access to Ponderosa Park and improve pedestrian safety. The Recreational Trails program will provide $8919 for a pathway connection from the Spring Mountain Ranch pathway to the Payette Lakes Middle School pathway. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has awarded $75,000 for the purchase of US Forest Service land adjacent to Riverfront Park to provide access to the city-owned park land. For more information on these projects, call Carol Coyle, Grant Coordinator at 634-3504. Wausau vs. City of McCall Information and Materials**