Whitefish looks at garbage rate increase
May 5—Whitefish City Council on Monday is finally set to discuss an increase in garbage collection fees after a previous Council meeting with the item was canceled.
Garbage rates are set to increase by 18%. The monthly fee for residential customers with a bear resistant cart would increase from $17.25 to $20.34.
City Council meets at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St.
The last time rates were increased was June 2022.
If approved, rates would increase effective May 15. Rates would also go up by 3.25% in both 2026 and 2027.
Commercial accounts would also see a similar increase, however, the current $5 administrative fee per business would increase to $7 per utility account with one business and $14 per account with more than one business.
Republic Services provides the garbage hauling service, while the city bills for the service and provides contact for customers. Garbage service is provided to about 4,100 residential accounts and 470 commercial accounts.
City Manager Dana Smith, in a memo to the Council, said that the rate increase is necessary to ensure that the solid waste fund remains financially stable by covering costs of operation and planning for future rising costs.
A REQUEST to operate a bar/lounge at 16 Baker Ave. is also before Council. Casey Malmquist is requesting a conditional use permit to allow for a full liquor license to be used at an existing ice cream business Clydesdale Creamery.
The building is located in the WB-3 general business district which requires a conditional use permit to use a liquor license.
Also on the agenda, Council is set to provide authorization to bid work as part of the Armory Park Master Plan. The park is the city's largest at 30 acres, and in 2019, the city's park board updated the plan for the park, outlining future improvements.
In fiscal year 2025, the Parks and Recreation Department is set to complete the installation of a small children's playground and some identified park amenities. The department is planning to bid construction of a storage garage foundation and drainage improvements and well development for the WAG Dog Park that is part of the larger Armory Park.
Council will vote on a resolution updating its ethics policy, which was first adopted in 1997. Changes are being made to bring the policy in line with Montana law.
Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.
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