City OKs Moose's burger sign

With little fanfare and almost no discussion, Whitefish City Council on Monday night granted permission for Whitefish’s100-year-old Loyal Order of the Moose to display an A-frame sign on Baker Avenue to advertise their weekly burger and bingo nights. Council was unanimous in their decision.

Whitefish’s sign ordinance prohibits off-premise A-frame signs, although city council has the option to review requests for “signs for events of a general nature, citywide, civic or public benefit.” In the past, the city has allowed off-premise A-frame signs for organizations such as the Shepherd’s Hand Clinic, the Memorial Park fundraising effort and the Tuesday farmers market.

According to a report by city attorney Mary Van Buskirk, the city Planning and Building Department had contacted the Moose Lodge about its burger night sign located on a city sidewalk along Baker Avenue as non-compliant with the sign code. As requested, the Moose Lodge stopped displaying the sign.

However, business was noticeably slower on the popular burger and bingo night without the sign to advertise the community event to the public. The organization was in jeopardy of staying viable, members of the Moose said.

The sign was necessary to direct people’s attention to the Moose Lodge which is somewhat off the beaten path on 10th Street, west of Baker Avenue.

On Monday, Moose member Tom Gilfillan made a case for allowing the lodge to have the off-premise signs. He noted that Alpine Theatre Project has an A-frame sign on Central Avenue in front of a business. He said he had no problem with that sign because it provides a better experience for visitors.

“I don’t see a problem with the Alpine Theatre Project putting a sign there in order to draw people to the theater (at the middle school,)” he said. “Some of the A-frame signs are good for Whitefish.”

The Moose sign, he said, was another one of those examples.

Contrary to most council discussions regarding the sign code, city councilors quickly OK’d the consent agenda, giving the Moose permission to replace their sign. The Moose will be allowed to display the sign only on Mondays until the end of the burger night.