The Whitefish City Council last week approved improvements to City Beach, provided direction regarding funding of a new ladder truck for the Fire Department and annexed a piece of riverside property. 

The council authorized a bid for an extension to the boat ramp and improvements to the boat inspection drive lane at City Beach. 

Maria Butts, director of Parks and Recreation, said the existing boat ramp has eroded because of boat propulsion. Its current condition creates safety concerns. The tight radius of the boat inspection drive lane has resulted in several boats hitting the roof of the inspection station. 

The proposed timeline has the jobs going for bid in mid-August, with work on the boat ramp taking place from the end of September through the end of October and work on the drive lane beginning and ending in May. 

The current estimate for construction is $193,000, which includes $120,000 for the boat ramp extension and $73,000 for the drive lane improvements, and is in the budget that will be addressed by the council in August.  

THE COUNCIL voted unanimously to direct the department to proceed with ordering a ladder truck and approved an option for funding. 

Fire Chief Cole Hadley said the department currently operates without a ladder truck and the recent structure fire across the viaduct on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Edgewood Place required ladder trucks from Kalispell and Columbia Falls. 

Councilors approved a funding option that utilizes the INTERCAP Loan Program that allows for a 15-year loan with a variable interest rate. 

The estimated cost for the ladder truck is between $1.5 - $2 million, and the projected delivery time is three to four years from the date of order. 

Hadley said fire apparatus is custom built to order, and most are not ready to purchase. 

“We can build it to our needs and not necessarily get stuck with options that we don’t need, that we’re just paying extra for,” Hadley said. 

THE CITY of Whitefish requested the annexation of a nearly 1-acre parcel of land north of JP Road, between the Whitefish River and Riverwood Park. The land is undeveloped and will increase public access to the Whitefish River and provide parkland and open space. 

There was no public comment, and the council voted unanimously to annex the property. 

The city's social media policy was adopted, and the rating panel and selection committee to obtain professional planning services to aid in the production of the land use element of the growth policy was approved.