Whitefish City Council last week amended a lease agreement with BNSF Railway to establish a new public access point along the Whitefish River. 

For over 10 years, the city has had a lease agreement with BNSF Railway for the Roundhouse Landing park between the railroad tracks and river. 

Recently, BNSF acquired another property near the Roundhouse that was owned by the Kusumoto family, who homesteaded there over 100 years ago. BNSF Railway asked the city to manage the new piece of land as a public river access point and park, so an amendment to the lease agreement was drafted. 

The City Council adopted the amendment unanimously. 

“The amendment requires the city to manage and maintain the property as a public river access site, to be known and referred to as Ted Kusumoto Park and to establish and maintain a sign, placard, or bench in the park reading, Ted Kusumoto Park,” said Whitefish Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts. 

The park’s namesake, Ted Kusumoto, is the eldest son of the original Kusumoto family and the park honors his achievements and Silver Star Medal in World War II.  

The Roundhouse lease amendment has a 25-year term and aside from the price of a bench, plaque and regular maintenance, there are no additional costs to the city. 

IN WHITEFISH CITY Manager Dana Smith’s report, she said 4,354 bills have been requested with 329 House Bills and 226 Senate Bills drafted and available for review.   

She said since there is an “attack on local government property taxes,” she suggests delaying the release of the city’s preliminary budget due to uncertainties surrounding property tax levies.  

“The Legislature is very concerned about property taxes and I have tried to reiterate that cities make up around 20% of your tax bill,” Smith said. “We are not the problem here and in Whitefish, many of our residents are actually paying less in property tax today than they were in 2019, based on what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past five years.” 

She said it is likely more zoning related bills are going to arise, like Senate Bill 146, which would gut much of Whitefish’s zoning by limiting zoning to public health and safety only.

Whitefish River by Roundhouse Landing on Feb. 11. The new Ted Kusumoto Park will be located east of this parcel and will create similar additional river access. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)