My heart belongs to Whitefish. That is the way I feel about this town, though I see it becoming divided. I realize that this community is made up of many diverse personalities. Some have lived here all their lives and many more are choosing Whitefish now to raise their families, yet the feeling is they are not being heard or represented.

All of us should have a voice in what happens in and to the town. The latest controversy has created combative communication that is tearing us apart.

I wrote a letter to each of the City Council members when the city hall drama started. I received a call from the editor of the Whteifsh Pilot about putting the letter in the paper. I reluctantly said yes. From that letter, I received numerous and positive responses on my view; however the council members to whom I had written the letter chose not to reply. The mayor’s response, about the city hall not costing the taxpayer money, really bothered the simple economics side of me.

I have never heard of a government entity being an income producer. Simply put, their money comes from taxes and fees. (Grants to me are just dollars donated by people to cut their tax bill, ergo still a tax.)

We have a beautiful town that represents the varied cultural and sports interests of its people. The citizens, visitors and friends are the ones who have built an ice rink, a wonderful theater complex (O’Shaunessey Center) and the most recent Whitefish Performing Arts Center, to name a few. These projects did not cost the taxpayer any money unless they wanted to donate. They had a choice.

We are now in the process of a $15 million-plus city hall and parking structure (1/3 city hall, 2/3 parking structure). We, the citizens, are going to be charged through the Tax Increment District and the Whitefish businesses, again, are hit with an extra fee per size of business for parking spaces.

I have a different solution. We could reach across the “aisle” or in this case town and propose a collaboration with BNSF, the city and the O’Shaunessey to build a parking structure for all three entities as well as public parking near the viaduct, which would be visually less intrusive and then sell to a developer the other 2/3 for tax-based income. It is right on Central Avenue and very convenient. City hall is still downtown but with a more common sense application. Is it too late for this? Have we spent the money yet?

Are we making Whitefish all glamour but no soul?

For my part I want to give our new candidates an opportunity to serve. If they are willing, let’s see what they can do. —Pat LaTourelle, Whitefish