After meeting remotely for more than a year due to the pandemic, the Whitefish City Council will convene in a hybrid format Monday evening, with members of the council and the public able to participate in person or by video.

The council will consider requests from several property owners for permits to install gravel, riprap, steps and native plants around the shore of Whitefish Lake, as well as a request from Marissa Keenan and Spilled Milk LLC to operate a bar selling beer and wine in the Stumptown Marketplace at 12 Spokane Ave.

The council also will consider awarding a nearly $1.87 million contract to White's Civil Contracting LLC for the reconstruction of Edgewood Place between Colorado Avenue and the eastern edge of the city. One other contractor, Sandry Construction, offered to take on the project for nearly $1.99 million. Both bids were significantly lower than previous cost estimates that were well over $2 million.

In a memo to the council, Public Works Director Craig Workman wrote that White's Civil Contracting is a relatively new contractor in the valley and has never worked with the city of Whitefish, so he arranged a meeting with the company, city staff and the engineering firm on the project, Robert Peccia & Associates.

"City staff and RPA left the conference with a high level of confidence that WCC fully understands the scope of work, has the equipment and labor force required to complete the job, and possesses the financial resources necessary to fully execute the contract," Workman wrote.

Crews are expected to rebuild Edgewood Place between July and October this year, then rebuild Texas Avenue from Edgewood to its northern end in 2022. The bulk of the project will be covered by Whitefish's resort tax, while smaller amounts would come from the city's stormwater and water impact fee funds.

The council meeting will begin at 7:10 p.m. Monday at City Hall. Instructions for tuning in via Webex, as well as the council's meeting agenda, can be found on the city's website.

Assistant editor Chad Sokol may be reached at 406-758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com.