Times are a changin’ in the Flathead

Times are a changin’ in the Flathead, and whether we like it or not, growth is imminent. The City of Whitefish, like other cities in the valley, holds City Council meetings every two weeks to discuss, approve/deny resolutions reviewed by city staff, development proposals, fiscal reports, and most importantly, hear feedback from citizens like yourself. Why is it that only those citizens with NIMBY-itis come to the council meetings to air their views? What the City Council does/doesn’t do affects every citizen in Whitefish and the valley!  Our civil servants and councilors who volunteer and dedicate their time, and work for YOU! Support, attendance, and engagement is a responsibility that each of us should willingly offer! Assuming that we all share what Whitefish has to offer, let’s give back by our involvement in the city’s future growth.

The recent Neighborhood Visioning Session at the Grouse Mountain Lodge was surprisingly well attended with over 50 participants. Participants engaged in lively overviews of what one of our four city “neighborhoods,” discussed what they “vision” for the city, and expressed what needs to be improved. Now, that’s involvement! There will be three more “neighborhood” sessions coming up focusing on different geographic quadrants of the city. City staff is requesting members of the community attend one of the four sessions based on the particular area in which they live. A flyer with a map indicating the areas can be accessed from the Vision Whitefish 2045 page located at www.engagewhitefish.com. This is your chance to air your views; past, present and future.

The City of Whitefish and the newly formed Community Development Board needs your input for implementation over the next 20 years. Times are a changin’ and every one of us can make a difference! Become involved.

— Phil Boland, Whitefish