Grant Hughes, the Whitefish appointee on the Flathead City-County Board of Health, gave an update to Council last week about the county's recent decision to allow gravity fed septic systems for the first time since they were banned in 2004. 

Hughes said the Department of Environmental Quality Circular 4 published new state septic regulations for homes at the end of 2023, which meant county and state standards were misaligned.  

A rewrite of the county's septic regulations and construction standards ensued over about a year. 

“There was suddenly a big interest in the fact that gravity fed systems were now back on the table,” Hughes said. “For three-quarters of us on the board, this was somewhat of a surprise. We didn’t even think that anyone cared that much.” 

He said there were 70 pages of public comment on the issue. 

Hughes said location, soil quality and the percolation rate determine whether the gravity fed systems can be allowed. 

“I just want to make damn sure that there’s an engineer or hydrologist or qualified professional that puts their professional license on the line,” commented Deputy Mayor Frank Sweeney. “That’s what I think would cause a lot of people to get a little more relaxed with this idea of dropping the requirement for pressure fed.” 

In other updates, Hughes said the behavioral health mobile response team, a crisis intervention team, was integrated into the Health Department. He also reported that all Whitefish restaurants scored A or A+ on recent inspections. Additionally, animal control added a staff member and several improvements. 

FIVE NEIGHBORS from Armory Road and Willowbrook Close spoke about the Armory Road project’s effect on waterflow and requested help with the maintenance of the footpath and bridge on their shared park-like property. 

Phase IV of the Armory Park plan is to complete the parking lot and open space projects.  

Director of Parks and Recreation Maria Butts said six bids were received and the low bid, $302,719, was from Vada Contracting and was 43% below the engineers’ ‘estimate. 

COUNCILORS EXPRESSED simultaneous sadness and excitement over the retirement of Senior Planner Wendy Compton-Ring.  

“I think the care and contribution she’s made to this community over the years ... certainly are noticed by our staff and certainly noticed by all of us who have sat up here for the 20 years tenure that she spent with us and she will be missed,” Councilor Andy Feury said.  

Feury also announced Councilor Ben Davis and his wife, Brooks, welcomed a daughter last week.

Sweeney led the meeting in the absence of Mayor John Muhlfeld. Davis was also absent.  

Reporter Julie Engler can be reached at 406-862-3505 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at whitefishpilot.com/support.