Council approves helicopter permit for Blaine County Fire Expo

The Sun Valley City Council voted June 15 to approve a permit allowing a Life Flight helicopter to land at Festival Meadows as part of the Blaine County Fire Expo scheduled for June 24, 2017. Public Safety Director Walt Femling said the helicopter would be brought in for the event and requested the council's approval.

Captain Reid Black of the Sun Valley Fire Department told the council the department considers the helicopter demonstration "very valuable for kids and other members of the public." Council Member Brad DuFur moved to approve the permit; Council Member Michelle Griffith seconded. A roll-call vote recorded four ayes and no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion approved.

The permit was presented as an educational and public-safety element of the Expo; no conditions or restrictions were recorded in the meeting minutes. The council did not take up additional debate over site logistics during the session.