Looking Back: Council holds secret meeting at LaTourelle's house

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler 

50 Years Ago 

Aug. 19, 1976 

Considering the rising cost of inflation and the fact that Whitefish City water rates had not been increased for 20 years, the Montana Public Service Commission found a Whitefish water rate increase request to be reasonable and just. According to a letter read to the Whitefish City Council, the water rate increase would go into effect September 1, 1976. Plans for necessary replacements and improvements to the water system require increased revenues, explained the increase request. Forty percent of the residential users were on a flat rate, but plans were to accomplish universal metering within three years. The new metered monthly rates said the first 10,000 gallons were $1.10 cents per 1,000 gallons. The minimum meter charge per month for 5/8-inch to 3/4-inch pipe was $3.30. 

40 Years Ago 

Aug. 20, 1986 

The Whitefish City Council held a special closed meeting Monday night without any public notice at the home of Councilwoman Pat LaTourelle. The meeting possibly violated state statutes, which require that meetings be open to the public, that public notice be given, and minutes are taken and available for review. Topics discussed included the petition to change the form of government and city manager, according to some of those who attended. The meeting was called for about 5:30 p.m., an hour and a half before the regularly scheduled business session. No official announcement of the meeting was made before or after. When asked by the Pilot, some of those present confirmed the meeting had taken place. All of the council, except for Dale Jessup, attended the meeting with City Manager Ralph Friedman. 

30 Years Ago 

Aug. 22, 1996 

Mountain biking in the Flathead Valley moved a notch closer to the sky when the newly completed Summit Trail opened. The 6-mile trail zigzags its way across the face of Big Mountain, peaking at the summit. The Summit Trail gives bikers single track terrain from the village area to the mountains top. Cyclists can also load their bikes on the Glacier Chaser and cruise down the two-way traffic trail. During opening weekend, use of the Glacier Chaser will cost riders $2.00. With all proceeds going to the Flathead Food Bank and Whitefish Food Bank. The cost of using the Glacier Chaser for bike transport then goes up to $5 for one ride or $8 for all day. 

20 Years Ago 

Aug. 17, 2006 

Dog park proponents seemed much happier after an Aug. 8 open house on the Armory Park draft master plan. Supporters of a new dog park at Armory Park had asked for five acres, but the draft plan provided two acres that included a pond with a bench. The key to increasing the size of the dog park could be using an adjacent 225-by-360-foot soccer field -- land that the dog park proponents had originally wanted for their new facility. But the talk turned to making the soccer field a "multi-use" facility, available to dogs most of the year and used by soccer teams when "overflow" situations exist during tournaments. 

10 Years Ago 

Aug. 17, 2016 

Two grizzly bears wandering Whitefish neighborhoods were captured and relocated near the Canadian border. One grizzly was hanging around a Cherry Tree on Dakota Avenue, and the second was getting into garbage near Blanchard Lake. Neither grizzly had previously required management actions, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Both were relocated near Frozen Lake.