HomeMy WebLinkAboutSteve Lord letter 6.05.03Page 1 of 2
Robert Corrie RE ~EIVED
From: Slatty@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 7:34 PM
To: corrieb(~ci.meridian.id.us
Subject: St. Luke's Meridian Helipad
~` ` 0 6 2003
iVIAYGR,S OFFICE
CITY OI~' rI~RIDIA.N
RECEIVED
June 5, 2003
F~~
JUN - b 2003
Mayor Bob Corrie
Keith Bird, City Council Member
Cherie McCandless, City Council Member
Tammy de Weerd, City Council Member
Bill Nary, City Council Member
Re: St Luke's Medical Center
Dear Mayor and Council:
City Of Meridian
City Clerk Office
I am pretty familiar with Boise's East End, having lived in Boise all my life and having lived near Municipal Park for
15 years. I am writing this in my individual capacity, but I also happen to be the president of the East End
Neighborhood Association.
Several years ago, St. Luke's came to the East End Neighborhood Association and informed us of their plans for
increasing the use of helicopter transportation to and from their downtown Boise location.
Some neighbors were skeptical at first about the noise related to this acctivity. I would like to offer two observations
about our experience with the Air St. Luke's experience in northeast Boise.
First, I was surprised to team that there are on average 60 flights a month. Based on what I hear (or thankfully,
don't hear), I would have thought Neat helicopters use the main helipad at most two or three times a week. I live
about eight blocks to the East and work about 7 blocks to the west of the St. Luke's main campus. In other words,
in a typical day, I am never more than eight blocks away from the current downtown Boise hospital facility.
Second, on those rare occasions when the noise has seemed excessive, a quick call to the folks at St. Luke's has
prevented any similar recurrence. I think that the hospital's sensitivity to neighborhood concerns on this issue has
resulted in my perception that there is about ten percent of the activity that actually occurs! And please trust me
about this issue: if it was a significant disruption to our neighborhood, we'd be calling immediately for Boise City to
do something about it. 1 haven't made that call and don't think I'll need to.
I have to admit that l am occasionally awakened by a helicopter medical flight, but it is rare, and I am always
relieved by the assurance that someone's parent, spouse or child is being provided with the quickest route to the
care needed for his or her medical condition. I think it's a small price to pay.
If I were responsible for a planning decision to allow a helipad at St. Luke's Meridian facility, I would grant approval
for that use.
Sincerely,
Steve Lord
1340 East Holly Street
Boise, Idaho 83712
342-3953
6/6/03