Loss of clinic should be a lesson

Inter Lake editorial

It was disappointing to learn last week that a $4.6 million eating-disorder treatment facility planned for Whitefish now will be built in Missoula instead.

This would have been a great addition to the North Valley Hospital campus, not to mention the 32 well-paying jobs and economic spin-off that such a facility would have brought to a small community.

The city of Whitefish did nothing wrong, per se, in its dealings with the developers of the new clinic. Timing was a factor because the project needs to be 'shovel-ready" to qualify for federal stimulus money - and Missoula economic-development leaders have assured the developers they can meet the June 1 deadline.

What's troubling in this scenario is that the developers perceived there could be difficulty in getting the project approved in Whitefish. They didn't trust Whitefish. And in the end, Missoula welcomed them with open arms, excited about the project and willing to do what it takes to make it happen. Whitefish apparently didn't go out of its way to show any excitement about the potential for such a unique project.

Whitefish City Council member Turner Askew is right when he said this is a "wake-up call" for Whitefish. During flush economic times, the resort community seemed to have projects handed to it on a silver platter despite the council's often draconian approach to new development.

We remember the council going round and round with Safeway over design elements for its new grocery store. We remember North Valley Hospital's battle with the city over an entrance sign for the new hospital. We remember the city taking Mrs. Spoonover's to task for an ice-cream mural everyone seems to love.

Is it any wonder, then, when people perceive the city of Whitefish as an obstacle in doing business there?

We're not saying the city should lower its standards or break the rules. But with unemployment at 12.2 percent in the Flathead, it's time for cities to take a more aggressive role in economic development if they want their communities to continue thriving.

Whitefish isn't the only Flathead community that has lost out recently. Just weeks ago, Kalispell lost planned Kohl's and PetSmart stores, in part because of the impact fee issue.

If we want our valley to continue growing and rebound from this recession, everyone - city officials included - needs to take a more active role in welcoming environmentally friendly enterprises such as this eating-disorder clinic, instead of handing them off to the next town down the road.