Looking Back: Senior center established

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler 

50 Years Ago 

Sept. 18, 1975

An interlocal agreement between the City of Whitefish and Flathead County to establish a senior citizen center on West Second Street in Whitefish was accepted by the City Council, providing that no restrictions on the use of the property are specified. In the deed representing the Golden Agers, President Roy Gronberg presented the agreement to the council. In the agreement, the city would lease two lots east of the Second Street Bridge and the county would provide $35,000 in revenue sharing to construct the senior citizen center. The center would be administered by a three-man board composed of a representative of the Whitefish City Council, a representative of the Board of County Commissioners and one mutually agreed upon citizen.  

40 Years Ago 

Sept. 18, 1985

Mayor Jim Putnam cast a tie breaking vote to reverse a decision the council made which allowed a daycare center to relocate to 443 Central Ave. After some discussion, the council voted 3-3 on a motion to allow the permit. Russ Ramlow's reasoning for asking for reconsideration was because “a member of the board was missing at the last meeting.” City Attorney Leo Fischer said the law allowed the matter to be brought up again if a member in the majority wanted to reconsider his vote. Ramlow said that is what he intended. LaTourelle spoke out firmly against the permit, saying, “I have to go along with the homeowners on Central Avenue. I do believe Clear Skies and the children will find another new home.” 

30 Years Ago 

Sept. 14, 1995

The newest addition to Whitefish City Hall earned his stripes both in private business and working for Kalispell and Columbia Falls. Jerry Hansen began work as the new public works director for Whitefish. Hanson, who left a similar job in Columbia Falls, stepped into a position that had been budgeted for years but had not been filled for a decade. As public works director, Hanson will oversee the operation and maintenance of all streets and utilities in Whitefish. He was also in charge of new and ongoing engineering projects. Hansen was a department head and answered directly to Whitefish City Manager Dale Ennor. 

20 Years Ago 

Sept. 15, 2005

A 40-mile-long recreational trail linking 13,000 acres of school trust lands surrounding Whitefish is being called the linchpin of the neighborhood Plan that will protect those lands from development, and the City of Whitefish is now taking the lead in making that trail a reality. Two bills that would have allowed individuals to purchase conservation easements on school trust lands were defeated in the 2005 Legislature, but existing law allows government agencies and cities to acquire. Rights of way on state lands for infrastructure, parks and “other public uses,” said Bob Sandman, area manager for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservations Northwest Land Office. 

10 Years Ago 

Sept. 16, 2015

The city is considering creating a single, large drop-off recycling site or implementing mandatory curbside recycling current. There were three recycling sites in the city -- the parking lot south of the Craggy Range, on Kalispell Avenue behind National Parks Realty and at the City Beach boat trailer parking lot. A recycling container near Alpine Village Market was removed last summer after business owners complained about illegal dumping. And litter from the container. “At the satellite sites, the containers are small,” Public Works Director Craig Workman said. “They don't get emptied on the weekends when the majority of people are using them.”