Marks resigns as city manager

Takes a job in Sun Valley, Idaho

By RICHARD HANNERS/Whitefish Pilot

Whitefish city manager Gary Marks announced Tuesday he was resigning to take a job as the city administrator in Ketchum, Idaho.

"I will always consider my time in Whitefish as one of the most important and special periods of my life," he said.

In his nine years here, Marks has played a part in numerous civic projects, achieve-ments that many now use to define community spirit and cooperation in Whitefish — recreation facilities like the Stumptown Ice Den, The Wave, Kay Beller Park and the BNSF Loop Bike Trail, key infrastructure facilities like the water treatment plant, and investments in the future of downtown by preserving Depot Park and developing a Downtown Master Plan.

"Whitefish has always possessed a special spirit that has allowed its people to accomplish extraordinary things," he said. "I count myself fortunate to have been able to work alongside so many exceptionally talented people in Whitefish. Together we accomplished much."

Marks said his last day as Whitefish city manager could be as soon as July 25.

He has been looking at other city manager jobs for more than a year now, including Snowmass, Colo.

Last year, the Whitefish City Council approved raising the city manager's $95,743 base salary by $10,000.

Ketchum, Idaho, with the Sun Valley ski area nearby, is a resort town similar to Whitefish, but the affordable housing problem there was lost many years ago.