Council addresses potential water tower, garbage company
The Whitefish City Council heard a report on fire service fees, approved the engineering report for a new water tower and agreed to provide an affidavit for a prospective garbage company.
The Whitefish Fire Department hired Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors to conduct a comprehensive study of the city's ambulance and fire rescue billing rates. Fire Chief Cole Hadley said in his letter to the council that the purpose of the study was “to evaluate current billing practices and ensure that the city’s rates are competitive, fair and aligned with industry standards.”
Steve Scharff, director at the advising firm, and Matt Stark, a manager, took about 45 minutes to present the report for the costs of services study for fire and EMS services.
The advisors recommended the city consider increasing the rates for advanced life support service for residents and non-residents to $1,787 and $2,431, respectively. That’s a $530 increase for residents and an $882 increase for non-residents.
It also suggested the rate for ambulance miles be increased from the current $24.90 to $35.36 per mile. The report said that for calls which include patient evaluation without transport to a facility, the fee should be increased to $652 for residents and $813 for non-residents.
The next step will be for the council and staff to review the rates and determine if and where adjustments are needed. A public hearing will then be scheduled to consider adoption of the new rates.
THE COUNCIL voted unanimously to approve the preliminary engineering report for the south Whitefish water tower and authorize its submittal to the Department of Environmental Quality.
Whitefish Public Works Director Craig Workman said the city’s potable water system requires additional storage to function properly along U.S. 93 South and the remaining 6-inch cast iron main on the south end of town is undersized, deteriorating, contains lead components and is well beyond its lifespan.
Seven alternatives were considered, with the most expensive having a price tag of over $26 million.
Workman recommended alternative No. 3 because it “addresses the water storage and emergency flow deficiencies in the southern main zone, transmission capacity issues with the construction of additional storage in the south City area and removes cast iron pipe.”
The engineering report is a requirement to apply for the State Revolving Fund, which is expected to pay for the project, along with city cash. The estimated construction cost for the chosen option is $16.6 million.
JONATHAN PROTO, owner of iRentEverything and Rapid Response Tents, asked the council to provide an affidavit for the Public Service Commission because he wants to open a sanitation business. The council had no opposition and directed staff to provide the affidavit.
Proto said in his letter to the council that his company is “seeking to offer ... residential and commercial trash services, including household pickup, dumpster service, advanced recycling programs, and innovative offerings such as trash can cleaning — a service currently unavailable locally.”
Mayor John Muhlfeld and Councilor Andy Feury were absent. Deputy Mayor Frank Sweeney presented Sophie Albert, executive director of the North Valley Food Bank, with the 2025 Green Business Award.
The City Council will hold its first budget work session on May 28, at 5:30 p.m.