Kari Dequine Harden, Steamboat Pilot & Today Journalist Profile

Articles

Lack of quorum delays Sun Valley P&Z meeting on possible quorum changes

5 days ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Following an emergency that prevented its chair, Ken Herich, from attending, the Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission postponed its Thursday morning meeting agenda items due to a lack of quorum. A public hearing for design review items originally scheduled Thursday, May 8, will instead take place Thursday, May 15, while discussions about potential amendments to two separate ordinances will take place on May 22.
Sun Valley approves license plate readers

1 week ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Five license plate reader cameras will be installed at two locations within the city of Sun Valley to help catch “bad actors,” joining others at several locations in Blaine County.
Roundtable to tackle 'education, mitigation and economics' of wildfires

1 week ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The nonprofit Sun Valley Economic Development will hold a Community Roundtable on Tuesday focused on the potential impacts of wildfires on the Wood River Valley through the lens of “education, mitigation and economics.” SVED Executive Director Harry Griffith said the topic has ever-increasing importance—especially after the Los Angeles-area fires in January, the growing issue of insurance companies not issuing or increasing the cost of policies, state legislative efforts and other changes...
Sun Valley P&Z to discuss supermajority rule

1 week ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday will discuss potential ordinance amendments requiring at least three P&Z commissioners to vote in favor of a design review application for it to pass. At its April 3 meeting, the Sun Valley City Council addressed concerns regarding recent applications approved with only two P&Z commissioners voting in favor during meetings that only just meet the quorum requirement of three commissioners attending, the Express previously reported.
Sun Valley Resort named whitebark-pine friendly

2 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Sun Valley Resort has been recognized as a Whitebark Pine Friendly Ski Area—a designation bestowed on only seven other U.S. ski areas taking extra steps to raise awareness about and protect the endangered trees. Whitebark pines are a “keystone” species, said Mike Giesey, chair of the Ski Area Partnership Committee of the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, based in Missoula, Montana. In 2022, the tree was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
Sun Valley City Council meeting 'zoom bombed' before discussion on draft ordinances

3 weeks ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Sun Valley City Council stopped the Zoom feed of its April 2 regular meeting after it was “zoom bombed” with “inappropriate material,” city attorney Matt Johnson explained at the end of the meeting. Johnson said he wanted to put the reason for stopping the feed on the official recording of the meeting—though an audio recording continued for the duration. He noted there is no requirement to provide the Zoom feed.
'It’s so important to push comfort zones'

1 month ago | mtexpress.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Nature is a masterful teacher—and summer in the Wood River Valley provides countless opportunities for kids to get outside for play and learning. “The outdoors is really a natural teacher in the sense it gives our children natural consequences,” said Mathew Gershater, founder and executive director of Idaho Base Camp.
Oak Creek eyes next steps for developing long-proposed subdivision

2 months ago | steamboatpilot.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The town of Oak Creek is moving ahead with steps to determine the scope and cost of building infrastructure for the Tramway Park subdivision. Plans for the proposed development began in 2014 when the town acquired 9.44 acres along County Road 25 in the town’s southwestern corner. Located at 24120 C.R. 25, Tramway Park would include about 33 housing units located on roughly 8.5 acres, with a mix of townhouses and detached small single-family homes — or tiny homes.
Council considers Steamboat Resort lift tax proposal

Feb 12, 2025 | steamboatpilot.com | Kari Dequine Harden

Steamboat Springs City Council on Tuesday agreed to consider asking voters in the fall to pass a lift tax (a tax tied to ski resort ticket sales) and/or a tax on vacant homes — two proposals intended to address a predicament that “inevitably, our expenses are outpacing our revenues,” said Finance Director Kim Weber. The need for the discussion, Weber said at the council meeting, stems largely from the city’s reliance on sales tax, which can account for almost 70% of general fund revenue.
Steamboat Springs city manager search narrowed to 8 candidates

Feb 6, 2025 | steamboatpilot.com | Kari Dequine Harden

The Steamboat Springs City Council began the process this week of narrowing down eight potential candidates for the role of city manager. The city is seeking a city manager to succeed Gary Suiter, who stepped down at the end of January after serving in the role for close to a decade. Tom Leeson is currently filling the role of interim city manager. A public meet and greet will be conducted 6-7 p.m. Friday, Feb.