Whitefish does what's needed
It’s unfortunate that the city of Whitefish has found itself in financial trouble and expects to end the fiscal year with a general-fund balance in the red. We commend City Manager Chuck Stearns and his administrative team for taking swift action to tighten the city’s belt by making some painful but necessary layoffs and imposing hiring and spending freezes.
The drastic drop in construction activity is just part of the cash-flow problem in Whitefish. Higher numbers of property-tax protests and delinquencies are other factors.
Unfortunately, the real culprit for Whitefish’s financial woes is a $400,000 judgment the city had to pay after it lost the Walton lawsuit. The state Supreme Court upheld a Flathead District Court ruling that found the city violated the Waltons’ right to equal protection when it restricted the couple from building on a steep slope.
There were many who criticized the city for not making a bigger effort to settle the case. Even the Waltons’ attorney said afterwards there were many opportunities for the city to settle and it “didn’t need to go this far.”
That’s water under the bridge now, and we hope lessons will be learned by Whitefish and other local municipalities about looking for middle ground in expensive lawsuits.
But in the meantime, Whitefish had no choice but to face facts and do what is necessary.
IT'S NOT all bad news for Whitefish, though. Taxi service has restarted in the resort town thanks to Lee Sturdevant, who has leased the Kalispell Taxi permit from its former operator.
Taxi service is a tough business to make a living at in the Flathead, but it’s important in a ski town that draws tourists from far and wide to partake in the many amenities Whitefish has to offer. Those amenities include lots of downtown bars and outlying lodges where alcohol is served, and having a reliable taxi service is a necessity.
It’s not just the party crowd that relies on taxi service, however. Many disabled and elderly residents need a way to get around, too. It’s wonderful they now have a service they can depend on.
IF YOU'RE wondering what to do on Saturday, it’s worth the trip to Whitefish to take in the last round of Winter Carnival activities. A kiddie carnival, Penguin Plunge at City Beach, Yeti Snowskate Jam and the grand parade are among the many offerings. Go to www.whitefishwintercarnival.com for more details.