With just seven weeks to go until a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new City Hall and parking structure, the Whitefish City Council tonight will get the latest construction update from Mike Cronquist, the city’s representative for the $16 million project.

An open house and ribbon cutting are planned from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19.

Martel Construction is closing in on the completion of the long-awaited facility that replaces the 1917 City Hall and adds a three-story parking structure with about 200 spaces. Crews currently are completing the brick masonry work along Baker Avenue, installing carpeting, paneling and wainscot, lighting and plumbing fixtures and are preparing the boilers for initial startup.

THE COUNCIL has four public hearings on tonight’s agenda.

Jim and Lisa Stack are asking for a conditional-use permit to construct a commercial building at 615 and 625 Wisconsin Ave. that would be used as a professional office, personal service facility and/or art gallery.

Dorinda Gray and Cory Utterback are asking for a conditional-use permit to build an accessory apartment at 802 Columbia Ave.

The other two hearings involve the city’s continuing effort to annex property into the city. The parcels are located along U.S. 93 South, Baker Avenue and West 18th Street.

The council will vote on an ordinance that adds a new chapter to the city’s lakeshore protection regulations, establishing an aquatic invasive species prevention program. The Whitefish Lake Institute presented its proposal to the council at a March 6 work session and the council directed staff to prepare the ordinance. The council also approved a prevention program that includes mandatory inspection stations at City Beach and Whitefish Lake State Park, along with a decontamination station owned and staffed by Whitefish Lake Institute.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. for its annual goal-setting session. The regular meeting begins at 7:10 p.m.; both the work session and meeting will be held at the interim City Hall, 1005 Baker Ave.

For more information and a full meeting agenda, visit http://www.cityofwhitefish.org/mayor-and-city-council/agenda-info-2017.php.

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