Feury brings historical perspective to city issues

Andy Feury continues to enjoy serving on Whitefish City Council, so he’s decided to seek another term in city government.

“I like being involved,” he said. “I like shaping the city for not just today, but for tomorrow, for generations to come.”

Feury, 59, is the only incumbent seeking re-election in the race, which includes three candidates for three spots on Council. Following a five-year hiatus, Feury’s recent stint serving in city government began when he was elected to Council again in 2013.

“I think I still have something to contribute,” Feury said. “I do bring a historical perspective that some of the other members of Council don’t have.”

Feury’s long political career here began when he was appointed to the council in 1991 to replace Larry Fonner. He was elected to the council in 1993 and served for four years.

After losing the 1997 mayoral election to Mike Jenson, Feury was off the council for two years. He successfully ran for mayor in 1999, ran unopposed in 2001, defeated Mike Gwiazdon in 2003 and ran unopposed in 2005.

He resigned from his mayoral post in August of 2007 due to demands of a business venture in China.

Feury still runs his business, Western Pacific Plastics, which makes laminate film and parts for the trophy industry and now has expanded to Vietnam. But he only travels for business now a handful of times per year and says he is able to schedule his trips around his Council commitments.

Affordable housing

Feury says that creating affordable workforce housing in the city is an issue that has come to the forefront. Drawing on his historical perspective, however, he points out that it’s not really a new issue facing the city.

“All of the people interested in that now, when we started talking about it in early 2000s, we were told the private market will fill those voids,” he said. “Now a lot of those people are realizing there is an issue and what they forget is the free market created those issues.”

He said the issue is a “crisis” based upon two main issues — land cost and density.

“Land cost without some kind of public funding is not going to change,” he said. “Density generally is unwelcome by neighbors.”

He said the solution to counter acting the high cost of land is allowing projects with higher density. Another solution, he said, could be knowing that some affordable housing may have to come outside Whitefish, but that could be counterbalanced with a better public transit system.

“I wish I had a great answer,” he said. “We’ve struggled with this for a long time.”

Feury said the problem needs to be looked at “holistically” noting that he expects a positive outcome as a result of the Whitefish Strategic Housing Plan expected to be released in November.

Growth

Feury points to the highway corridors leading outside Whitefish — south on Highway 93 and east on Montana 40 — as areas that haven’t been planned well. He says increased traffic along those corridors along with not enough foresight in planning has impacts, especially on those commuting.

“Planning impacts everybody,” he said. “Planning is not just a dirty word.”

He said the city itself has done a good job of planning for growth, but more could always be done.

“We’ve maintained a livable, vibrant community while growing it at the same time,” he said. “There’s room for improvement in every aspect. We’re very thoughtful in our approach.”

Water quality

A 2012 study shows that aging septic systems along Whitefish Lake are threatening lake water quality.

Feury serves as chairman of the Community Wastewater Committee that was created to draft a management plan to deal with failing septic systems around Whitefish Lake.

“The science is pretty solid,” Feury said. “We’ve got 30 years of sampling that shows septic leachate is influencing the water quality of the lake.”

Feury said he is encouraged that some homeowners, especially those in Lion Mountain, have become more educated on the issues.

“I think there is a much broader understanding of the problem. That’s a step in right direction, but does that make it any more affordable? No,” he said. “I think we’ve at least for Lion Mountain have taken the annexation card off the table and that’s why there’s interest — this is not a land grab by the city.”

“It is a problem we need to address,” Feury added.

Utilities & taxes

Whitefish water and sewer rates have been steadily increasing in the last few years, in part to pay for a new wastewater treat plant to meet state standards.

“I want to see a good treatment plant that is affordable for us,” he said. “The affability of the utilities we provide is at a critical point — driving that is the treatment plant. We have to provide water and sewer services and try to do it at an affordable price point.”

He notes that a rental home he owns, the city utilities run about a third of the cost of the rent.

“It’s an area of concern,” he said. “I don’t want to suddenly charging people $300 per month to run their tap and flush their toilet.”

Feury said he tries to balance the cost of the taxes that city residents pay, knowing that their tax bills also include school district and county taxes.

“There are increased costs to live in your house,” he said. “And I get it. It adds up.”