Whitefish City Council on Monday is set to consider accepting an additional chunk of parkland next to the Roundhouse Landing Park along the Whitefish River.  

Council is set to vote on an amendment to its lease agreement with BNSF Railway that would extend the park space along the river.  

City Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St. 

Last year, BNSF acquired a property that is separated from the Roundhouse Landing by a private property lot. The railway company is asking the city to manage the parcel formally owned by the Kusumoto family as a public recreation river access site.  

The nearly 2-acre property would be used as a picnic area and landing for canoes and kayaks and would be designated with a sign or bench reading Ted Kusumoto Park.  

The Ted Kusumoto family owned the land for more than a century, according to Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts, and naming the park recognizes Ted Kusumoto, the eldest son of the original family who homesteaded on the land and honors his achievements and Silver Star earned in World War II.  

Whitefish in 2024 entered into a lease with BNSF for the Roundhouse Landing to use as a public park.  

DURING A work session at 5:15 p.m. two items are on the agenda.  

Whitefish Fire Chief Cole Hadley will present information regarding his department’s potential to enter into a contract with the proposed Star Meadow Fire District. The city has been in conversations with representatives of The Homestead development located northwest of Whitefish to provide fire service to the district, according to a memo to Council from Hadley.  

The area currently falls within the Whitefish Fire Service Area, which the city already provides fire service for through an existing agreement. A new agreement would not introduce additional responsibilities or cost for Whitefish. 

The Homestead is a 1,400-acre property located 13 miles north of Whitefish near the intersection of Farm to Market and Star Meadows roads. 

The proposal includes private funding of a new fire station, daytime staffing of the station during the work week and the purchase of fire apparatus to expedite the process until the fire district is created, according to Hadley.  

“The establishment of the new district would create a dedicated funding mechanism for this portion of the response area, leading to enhanced fire and emergency medical response services,” Hadley said. “The proposal would result in significantly reduced response times for emergencies west and northwest of Whitefish, in areas spanning from Spencer Lake to Olney.”  

The Fire Department is seeking direction from Council if it's interested in considering an additional contract for service.  

Also, as part of the work session, Council will review the city’s ethics policy and social media policy.  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].