County proposes 'doughnut' committee

The Flathead County commissioners want an advisory committee that includes Whitefish representatives as the county moves forward to take control of the two-mile planning "doughnut" around Whitefish.

A recent court ruling upheld the county's decision to rescind an interlocal agreement that gave Whitefish planning control of the doughnut. Although the city has appealed the decision to the Montana Supreme Court, the county is forging ahead with conversion, which involves changing its growth policy to include the doughnut.

To help with the transition, the county has proposed an advisory committee that would include Peggy Sue Amelon, Whitefish Planning Board; Ryan Friel, Whitefish City Council; Greg Lane, Winter Sports Inc.; B.J. Grieve, assistant county planning director; a Whitefish resident submitted by the city of Whitefish for approval by the county (the county preference is Marshall Freidman with Casey Malmquist as alternate); and Commissioner Gary Hall.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Whitefish Mayor Mike Jenson and the council, Hall said it's important to have city input on all doughnut issues, including flood plain, lakeshore and zoning.

He also extended an offer to settle the doughnut dispute.

"If you felt this would be an opportune time to forward legal proposals to the board [of commissioners] that would perhaps bring settlement of this case, then let it be known the board would welcome such correspondence," Hall wrote. "We are always willing to listen and always open to settlement. Since the city initiated litigation in this matter we feel settlement proposals need to be forthcoming from the city."

Hall said the commissioners felt they needed to propose the committee makeup because they need a group they can work with.

"If they [the city] don't want to participate, that's fine," Hall said.

Hall said Jenson acknowledged the letter and would put the matter on Monday's council agenda.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com