Looking Back: Approval for Iron Horse neighborhood reconsidered

A look back at past Pilot articles by Julie Engler 

50 Years Ago 

July 1, 1976

The Whitefish School District 44 Board of Trustees adopted an approximate $2 million school budget for the 1976-77 school term. The combined elementary and high school budget was increased by about 8% over last year's total District 44 Clerk. Jack Zerr said the five trustees approved just under $1,104,500 for the elementary school general fund and about $816,000 for the high school general fund, Zerr said. He said the cost of the school's systems utilities had made a big jump and was a factor in the increase in the budget. A 7% across the board salary increase for the district's employees also was included in the budget. 

40 Years Ago 

July 2, 1986

The Whitefish School District may have reworked its budget in light of the state Legislature’s decision to grant a 1% increase in funding to public schools. “I'd be happy to work with the budget again if we have the opportunity to work with more money,” Whitefish School Superintendent Ivan Hernandez said. The Legislature decided that public schools would get a $2.8 million increase in state funding this year. The increase was less than the $11 million scheduled for distribution. Governor Ted Schwinden had recommended a freeze in school funding as a major portion of his state budget balancing plan. The Whitefish Public School’s share of the earlier proposed increase was $148,000, according to Hernandez. If the governor agreed with the Legislature’s 1% increase plan, Whitefish would be able to recoup a $37,000 increase. 

30 Years Ago 

July 4, 1996

The Whitefish City Council said yes, but Iron Horse developer Pat Donovan walked away without approval when the Council thought it over and said maybe. The council voted to reconsider its recent approval of Donovan's Iron Horse neighborhood. During an earlier meeting, the council passed a final resolution of adoption for the 496-unit Iron Horse neighborhood plan. Although the vote was split, it fell in Donovan's favor, but two councilors, Jan Metzmaker and Ken Williams, were on vacation and missed the meeting. Both members wanted to vote on the issue and had made that intention clear to some other members of the council. When Matchmaker discovered the decision had been made without their input, she voiced her dismay. To soothe the bruised feelings of his fellow councilors, Don Nelson moved to reconsider the final resolution of adoption. His colleagues agreed, and the issue returned to the table. 

20 Years Ago 

June 29, 2006

This year's public fireworks display at City Beach was cancelled amid concerns about the launching platform stability and the lack of manpower for the event. The $6,000 fireworks show was scheduled to return the following year with a new platform and a new pyrotechnics expert. The reason for cancelling the event is safety, mainly involving the makeshift launching pad for the fireworks. Former fireworks pyrotechnician Dave White said the barge is made up of retired flotation devices from City Beach, which are chained together and rotten. “It doesn't allow the square footage, plus it's rotten,” White said. “At this late date, we felt like nothing could be accomplished safely.” White had been doing the pyrotechnics for City Beach Fireworks since the mid 1970s and announced his retirement in 2005. 

10 Years Ago 

June 29, 2016

After last year's cancellation due to fire concerns, fireworks will return to Whitefish Lake for Fourth of July celebrations. “Thankfully we've had a return to normal spring weather here in the Flathead and the fire danger of last year has passed, so now we're in good shape for a real nice show out on Whitefish Lake,” said Kevin Gartland, executive director of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. Because the city expected a crowd of up to 5,000 people, Gartland recommended arriving early or walking, biking or taking a shuttle to the event.