There's no time like the present to get involved in city government, Life Noell maintains.

At 29, the lift attendant at Whitefish Mountain Resort is the youngest in a slate of six candidates for three open seats on the Whitefish City Council.

Noell has become active at the committee level in Whitefish over the past couple of years, serving on the Park Board, the Weed Control Advisory Committee and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Committee.

While his campaign has been fairly low-key - he's spending $50 total on publicity for business cards - Noell said he's passionate about people and the outdoors and simply wants to offer his energy to preserving the quality of life in Whitefish and "protecting these things that we share."

Critical areas ordinance

"I am interested in the transformation of the critical areas ordinance," Noell said. "I support simplifying it and it sounds like they're trying to move [the oversight of some regulations] to the Public Works Department."

He supports changes to the law that make it more understandable and user-friendly. The city is on the right track, he said, by looking at changes to the slope and administration/enforcement sections of the ordinance.

"It's a good document; it's just hard to grow when a document impedes growth," he said.  

The "doughnut"

Noell is concerned about the city's "apparent communication breakdown in our interlocal agreement with the county." He's referring to the agreement that governs planning control for the two-mile area outside Whitefish city limits.

With Flathead County recently giving Whitefish a one-year termination notice to back out of the 2010 revised interlocal agreement, and city residents set to vote on a referendum to repeal that revised agreement, Noell said it's time for resolution.

"The doughnut has been far too long in the fryer," he said. "I want to look into it and I've got the time to do it."

Noell would like to see some kind of committee or council established to represent doughnut-area residents, even though he realizes such a group wouldn't have any regulatory authority. His idea is to record doughnut residents' positions on issues "and retain them until the law gives them a structure to have a voice.

"Their informal positions are extremely important," Noell said about doughnut residents. "When you talk about them not paying for the betterment of the city, you'd be wrong. I recognize the contributions of the doughnut residents."

City Hall

Noell said he believes the city should either keep City Hall where it is or build a facility on the north half of the current City Hall block and use the south half of the high-profile corner of Baker Avenue and Second Street for retail development, if warranted.

He supports using some of the city's tax increment revenue for renovations to Whitefish High School and is seeking community input on that proposal.

"The future issues will be solved by minds coming out of that high school," he said. "It's a cornerstone to our success."

Budget

"I trust city government and the money handlers," he said. "I entrust our city management to do a good job. I admire the jobs being done by our city staff."

He said he believes resort tax revenue has been well spent and he particularly likes the investment the city has made in parks and trails.

Perception

"I recognize all classes of people in Whitefish. The rich and poor share the same activities," Noell observed. "And I notice growth coming to Whitefish because of its uniqueness."

Overall, Noell said he doesn't believe the laws on Whitefish's books are impeding growth. "Whitefish is the way it is because regulations are in place," he added.

"I want to see that our river is cleaned right and that our lake stays as clean as possible," Noell continued. "Also, I would like to encourage our citizens to get involved and to offer their ideas on how to help our economy bounce back and strengthen."

Life Noell

Age: 29

Family: Single

Occupation: Works in lift department at Whitefish Mountain Resort

Background: Attended Whitefish High School; graduate of Santa Fe High School, Alachua, Fla.; member of Whitefish Park Board; represents Park Board on city's Weed Control Advisory Committee and Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Committee.

Email: lifenoell@yahoo.com

Website: lifenoell4citycouncil.weebly.com

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.