Doughnut agreement repealed

Whitefish voters overwhelming chose to

trash a governance agreement regarding the city’s two-mile planning

and zoning “doughnut” by approving a ballot referendum. The final

unofficial results show 1,444 voted for the referendum, 738 were

against.

The referendum asked voters if they

were “for” or “against” repealing Resolution 10-46, or the Restated

2010 Interlocal Agreement between Whitefish and Flathead County

concerning planning authority in the area around Whitefish. City

Council passed the resolution in 2010.

A majority vote to repeal the agreement

by law supersedes the council’s decision in 2010, making the

document obsolete, Whitefish City Attorney Mary VanBuskirk told the

Pilot last month.

This result could bring the 2005

Agreement back into talks. If the restated 2010 agreement never

existed, VanBuskirk said, the city goes back to what existed prior

to the council’s 2010 vote.

VanBuskirk warned legal challenges

could follow a vote for repeal.

At a City-County Planning Jurisdiction

Interlocal Agreement Committee meeting on Nov. 3 Whitefish City

Councilor Bill Kahle expressed his desire to continue talks with

the county, even if the referendum passes.

“I will continue to reach out

regardless of what happens and work toward a resolution that

doesn’t involve a fist fight,” he said.

Committee member Lyle Phillips said at

the meeting if the agreement is repealed, “it isn’t going to be

pleasant.”

The committee agreed to meet again

after the election.