Emmett/Gem County Community Review Report Summary

News Articles
Community Assessment Team Visits Emmett
Emmett Messenger Index
May 28, 2003
By Janet Monti
More than 20 people swarmed through Gem County last week checking out all of the assets
and problems, both visible and hidden. Written results of the independent assessment will be
available in a couple of months for local county and city officials to glean from as they look
to the future.
Three teams were formed; one to address infrastructure, another for land use and
community design, and one looked at civic life and community involvement.
Organized through the Association of Idaho Cities, team members represented a crosssection
of groups and governments. These people were teamed with local representatives
and residents.
For two days, each group toured the county and talked to dozens of people about their
views. Over 200 surveys were returned that addressed over 60 issues of Gem County life.
More surveys are still out. Based on this information, a preliminary report was delivered to
a gathering of about 60 people last Wednesday evening. Members of each assessment team
took time to briefly share their findings. Most reports included a common thread of
capitalizing on Gem County¹s unique history, unique qualities.
About 90 percent of those who once worked at the Boise Cascade Sawmill and still live in
Gem County now work in Ada or Canyon Counties, said Dwight Johnson from the Idaho
Rural Partnership and the Dept. of Labor. Altogether, 60 percent of the residents work
outside of the county. This places Gem County in the middle of a huge transition from
predominately agriculture-based to bedroom community.
“Your retail businesses need to adapt and change to capture the 60 percent who work
elsewhere. One of your assets is your heritage; promote and capitalize on it. You have a
unique downtown. You need to be creative and proactive,” said Johnson.
An industrial park is a definite asset. It would bring new money into the community, not recirculate
existing money as retail does, Johnson said. Development of both industry and
new retail needs to happen together.
The first report came from those on the Infrastructure Committee. Gem County¹s
infrastructure offers unique challenges and opportunities, said Joe Haynes, Local Highway
Tech. Asst. Council. One consideration would be to stripe a dedicated left turn lane down
the center of Washington Avenue through Emmett. Improvements to Main Street would
help businesses there. A bridge from West Main Street to the Gem Island Sports Complex is
also important, as is preserving the railroad corridors at almost any cost.
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