Lakeside elects new community council
TAYLOR INMAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 10 months AGO
A view over land west of Highway 93, center, with Smith Mountain Road to the right and Flathead Lake's Table Bay to the left south of Lakeside on Friday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
REPORTER AND PODCAST HOST Taylor Inman covers Bigfork and the north shore of Flathead Lake for the Bigfork Eagle and the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on local government, community issues and the people who shape life in Northwest Montana. Inman began her journalism career at Murray State University’s public radio newsroom and later reported for WKMS, where her work aired on National Public Radio. In addition to reporting, she hosts and contributes to Daily Inter Lake podcasts including News Now. Her work connects listeners and readers with the stories shaping communities across the Flathead Valley. IMPACT: Taylor’s work expands local journalism through both traditional reporting and digital storytelling. | May 4, 2023 12:00 AM
Residents of the unincorporated town of Lakeside elected a group to represent them in planning and zoning decisions after all previous members resigned from the Lakeside Community Council in 2016.
According to preliminary results from the Flathead County Election Department, voters chose Hollie Widdekind, Marty Sunde, Denise LaSalle, Steve Kamerick, Donald Smith and Martha Wardle to sit on the council. The seventh member will be appointed by Flathead County commissioners.
The Lakeside Community Council acts only in an advisory capacity. It cannot levy taxes or impose mandates on Lakeside residents, as per the body’s 2010 bylaws. The group will work with the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Office to review applications affecting development in the Lakeside area.
Last year, community members approached the Upper West Shore Alliance often to voice concerns about an alpine coaster development being built just north of town. In an effort to have more representation, the community group looked at resurrecting the Lakeside Community Council.
All seven Lakeside Community Council members resigned in 2016 during a dispute over proposed changes to the board’s bylaws. Former chair David Fetveit said the conflict stemmed from being unable to review land-use applications for the Board of Adjustments, which meant the council would be unable to make recommendations for zone changes or variances.
He said those applications meant the most to area landowners. The group disbanded when a bylaw change, which would have given the group access to the applications, was denied by Flathead County commissioners.
Council members might already have an assignment before them when they begin their meetings. Last week, Lakeside residents met with Flathead County Planning and Zoning office staff for an informational meeting about bringing zoning to the area. This too was spurred by the controversial alpine coaster development, as some community members have indicated they want more of a say in how the area grows. Most of Lakeside is unzoned with the exception of the shoreline.
Following are preliminary results from the election on Tuesday:
Hollie Widdekind: 308
Marty Sunde: 320
Denise LaSalle: 257
Steve Kamerick: 263
Donald Smith: 257
Martha Wardle: 255
Tobias Liechte: 127
Rafael Moscatel: 237
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