City should invest in mall remodel

It was disappointing to learn our city council couldn’t support using some tax-increment finance funds for helping a remodel of our mall.

Jen Frandsen was quoted as saying “too many red flags.” John Anderson said he saw “too much risk.”

They failed to expand on why the investment was a risk at all since it would all be paid off by 2020. The same as the plan for the amount requested for the hotel would be paid off by 2020, which council approved.

The citizens of Whitefish are all very proud of our community and support our downtown businesses. Our council forgets that even businesses which are not in “the heart of Whitefish” are nevertheless IN Whitefish, benefit our community and we are proud of them as well.

I’m sure money we pay in resort tax to businesses in the mall should be recognized as some benefit, so I ask, to whom? Perhaps John Anderson answered that for me when he pointed out “it (use of TIF) doesn’t fit our traditional model.”

It seems to me this attitude contributed to the loss of some of our most talented council members. Our mayor has generally settled any tie vote from our council by turning the result “to fit our traditional model.”

Local folks have told me they value having a safe, indoor place to walk for exercise, especially in bad weather. I’ve never heard a complaint about any of the services offered by the businesses in the mall. Parking is convenient. Renovations by Sportsman and Ski Haus are good looking.

— Janet Matdies Collins