Not representing Whitefish

On April 6, the Whitefish City Council made it very clear that they do not represent the merchants or citizens of Whitefish. They had received copies of the petition and signatures in each packet on March 31 which opposed the widening of the sidewalks, narrowing Central Avenue by three feet, also opposing the bulbouts and raised crosswalks.

This petition was presented again at the council meeting stating that there were well over 600 signatures: 57 signatures of people who do business in Whitefish, 30 of the 57 have businesses on Central Avenue, which is the majority of businesses on Central opposing all of these changes.

These changes will affect them the most. That leaves over 500 signatures of concerned citizens opposing these changes. The petition was in favor of replacing the infrastructure and the streetlights.

The council listened for two hours to people speaking on this topic. More were opposed than for it. Then it was turned over to the council to discuss it, which they did, but there was no mention of the petition. Not one word about the merchants. Not one word about the concerned citizens.

It was brought up about how the bulbouts would be maintained, and public works director John Wilson said they did not know yet. The new city manager, Chuck Sterns, stated that he was not in favor of the city taking on the maintenance.

Wilson stated at the Heart of Whitefish open house on March 25 that the merchants on Central could not shovel the snow from the sidewalks into the street. On April 6, he stated that they could shovel the snow into the street, and the merchants are responsible for shoveling of the sidewalk.

There seems to be a number of unknowns with this project but the council proceeded to vote — Ryan Friel being absent, Frank Sweeney, Nancy Woodruff, Nick Palmer and John Muhlfeld voted, approving all the changes to Central Avenue. Turner Askew did try to get a motion to keep the sidewalks at their current width, but no one would second the motion. He voted against the changes.

This is a city council that told us they were going to be such good listeners, before they were elected. They do not listen.

Mary Jo Look lives in Whitefish.