On July 14, 2006, the Idaho Mountain Express ran an opinion piece by Randy Hall, mayor of Ketchum, and Jon Thorson, major of Sun Valley, calling for the protection of the Boulder-White Clouds and urging people to support the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA). Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) introduced the legislation, which includes a number of titles dealing with small land conveyances, authorization of grants for rural economic development, continued motorized recreation opportunities and designation of more than 300,000 acres in the Boulder-White Clouds as Wilderness, among other provisions.
In their article, the two mayors acknowledge the spirit of compromise in CIEDRA. “In this day and age with politics being what they are, it is not reasonable to expect perfection in any new legislation. This is the case with the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) sponsored by Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. The scope of this bill is broad and addresses many issues that Idahoans hold near and dear. It is no wonder that not everyone agrees with the compromises made. But the old adage proves true: The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”
The two continue to discuss the economic benefits of the legislation for their resort communities as well as neighboring Custer County. “Custer County, our neighbor to the north with whom we share the Boulder-White Clouds, does not have the luxury of being an all-season resort area, and consequently faces significant economic limitations, as do many rural Idaho counties. Simpson has worked out what seems to us a highly reasonable package of economic assistance for Custer County as part of CIEDRA, including transfer of some very modest parcels of federal land.”
In closing, the mayors ask for support of CIEDRA. “So we call on all Idahoans to get behind Simpson's common sense, reasonable bill and to join us in speaking up for it. We've had a great Idaho debate about the details, but time is now short to get it enacted into law this year. Simpson needs to know we are behind him, and Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo need to know it, too. The way we see it, CIEDRA will go down in the books as a historic landmark for Idaho: good for the land, good for the economy and good for our communities.”
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