It may require some longer work days and weekends on the job site, but the primary contractor for the McEuen Park reconstruction project still plans on an early May opening for the multi-million dollar lakeside park.

"We're still shooting for the same timeline and we're excited about the weather," said Bryan Taylor, President and COO of Contractors Northwest, Inc.
"Right now, we're at the mercy of Mother Nature."

Crew lost some ground in recent weeks due to frigid cold snaps and a couple snow storms. But the bad conditions didn't come as a surprise, officials said. After all, it's winter in North Idaho.

It's an early indication that spring is on its way: Daylight Savings Time begins this weekend, specifically at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 9. Across the country, fire departments encourage residents to recognize the bi-annual time change ritual by changing the batteries in their smoke detectors.

"Our number one goal is life safety and having a working and clean smoke detector in your home helps us accomplish this goal," said Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel.

An attractive Donor Wall planned for McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d'Alene provides the opportunity for citizens to make a permanent impression, while supporting citywide parks.

The Panhandle Parks Foundation has made the initial payment of $25,000 to the city of Coeur d'Alene to construct the wall, with an additional $17,000 promised as donations are received. The granite donor wall will be placed at the western end of the park near the Fourth Street entrance to McEuen Park.

For a donation of $500 per line you can have your family name, business or a loved one's name engraved in one of six granite plaques. There are only 380 lines available and many have already been sold.

Congratulations are in order for Craig Etherton. The Coeur d'Alene Fire Department fire inspector was recently voted into the position of President for the Kootenai County Fire Prevention Cooperative (KCFPC).

"This team of dedicated individuals is made up of all the fire service departments in the county and carry out a ton of activities and educational events in the area," said Coeur d'Alene Fire Chief Kenny Gabriel. "Craig will provide great leadership for this respected group."

The City of Coeur d'Alene has announced the availability of street trees to be planted in public right-of-way areas within the city limits through the CDA Re-Leaf program. Trees are planted at no cost to the homeowner to enhance our neighborhoods. Trees reduce air pollution, increase oxygen in the air, mitigate storm water runoff, buffer noises, lower energy costs, increase property value and much more!

Priority will be given this year to targeted areas including new neighborhoods (less than 10 years old) and residential properties near the downtown area, south of Sherman Avenue and west of 15th Street.

They seem to be appearing all around Coeur d'Alene: Mobile businesses selling anything from tacos to sunglasses and even knives.

While the city regulates these types of businesses when they are on public property, there are currently no regulations when the operation is on private commercial property like the parking lots of adjacent established businesses, City Clerk Renata McLeod told a City Council subcommittee on Monday.

Currently, there are an estimated 26 "mobile businesses" within the city. These to not include the multitude of coffee stands around the city, which are regulated and go through a city approval and permitting process. These also do not include include temporary vendors during events such as Art on the Green or a the downtown Street Fair.

Work will begin next week on replacement of utility boxes damaged last month due to a traffic accident at Fifth Street and Sherman Avenue. Since the accident, which caused an estimated $17,000 in damage, the signal at the intersection has not been functioning.

City Street Superintendent Tim Martin said the contractor, Classic Electric, will start work as early as Tuesday, February 25. The project will result in the closure of a half-block of Fifth Street north of Sherman Avenue to the alleyway between Sherman and Lakeside Avenue as the contractor and city crews install new utility boxes and repair sidewalks.

A 10th water well is in the works to better serve the residents of Coeur d'Alene. The city's Public Works Committee on Monday will consider awarding a bid for construction of the well facility near the intersection of Atlas Road and Hanley Avenue.

When the well goes into service in the fall, the city's pumping capacity will increase from 37 million gallons a day to 43 million gallons a day. City water superintendent Jim Markley said the new well is needed as a safeguard to protect against water restrictions during peak water usage should another well fail.

A relatively mild winter has allowed officials to speed up the preliminary process of fixing several stretches of sidewalk in downtown Coeur d'Alene that are in poor condition and pose a public hazard.

Last December, the Coeur d'Alene City Council voted to move forward with $400,000 in funding for the sidewalk improvements. Work will occur over the next two years. The city will tap $300,000 in available funds previously set aside as part of the citywide Sidewalk Hazard Abatement Program.

Funding commitments have been made by the Lake City Development Corporation (LCDC) and the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association (DTA). Over the two-year period, the LCDC has pledged $70,000 and the DTA will contribute $30,000.

The City Council this week voted unanimously that a bronze sculpture entitled "The Explorer" is a good fit for McEuen Park.

The artwork depicts two boys and a girl hiking over a log. Initially, the piece included three boys, but the city's Arts Commission asked the artist to include a girl in the mix and the sculpture was revised. Council members said the artwork conveys nature, adventure and the outdoors—all of which they deemed as important themes for the park.

"The Explorer" will be placed along the Centennial Trail confluence near the base of Tubbs Hill at the southwest end of the park.