Pilot Editorial: City takes action on smelly situation

When Whitefish’s wastewater treatment plant began acting up earlier this spring, the stench was enough to drive nearby residents indoors with windows shut — no matter how nice the day might have been.

Apparently, an unseasonably warm spring caused some changes in how the sewer lagoons function, setting off some of the problems. The rancid odor became progressively worse and eventually hit a tipping point in mid-May.

Residents fed up with how the smell was impacting their daily lives rightly banded together in demanding the city address the smelly situation. They met with city officials one-on-one, typed letters to the editor, and did all they could to make sure the situation didn’t go unnoticed.

It didn’t take long for the city to get the message.

Immediate measures were taken to mitigate the odor, which seem to have worked as the smell dissipated in the following weeks. Now, City Council has decided to bring in a top mind in the wastewater industry to evaluate the plant and offer recommendations for going forward.

The city took ownership of the problem, moved into action, and recognized that an outside consultant is warranted to ensure this won’t happen again next spring. Credit due where credit deserved.

Residents spoke up, their voices were heard and action was taken — a refreshing example of how local government is supposed to work.