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West Yellowstone council approves West Hills lease extension, funds for local events and routine year-end items
Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the West Yellowstone Town Council approved a lease extension for the West Hills Foundation, authorized a sewer-line cleaning purchase order, approved year-end claims, and awarded MAP fund grants to the Heavy Lake Ice Fishing Tournament and the Octane Expo; it also approved street closures and a resort-tax waiver for the Wildfire Defense Race.
The West Yellowstone Town Council approved a bundle of year-end items at its Dec. 16 meeting, including a lease extension for the West Hills Foundation, routine procurement and claims payments, and several event funding and permit requests.
The council voted to extend the lease for the West Hills Foundation to expand the facility footprint by 12 feet to the west after the Montana Department of Transportation raised concerns about garage size and circulation. A councilmember moved to approve the updated lease; one member recused under policy 46 and the motion passed by voice vote.
Carrie Cohen, who identified herself as representing the Salesforce Foundation, explained that the 12-foot revision was requested to add garage space and to free up storage and office area; she told the council the change came after MDOT reviewed the plans. "With expanding the garage space, that took away storage and office space that was needed, and that's why the additional 12 feet is being asked for," Cohen said.
Council also approved purchase order #7020 to 3 H Construction LLC for approximately $14,288.65 to perform CCTV sewer-line cleaning and pump-station work. The purchase order was moved and approved by voice vote.
The council authorized a year-end claims list reported in the meeting as $1,852,932.56 and approved the December 2 meeting minutes without correction.
On event funding, the council accepted advisory-board recommendations from the MAP fund and approved $4,398 for the Heavy Lake Ice Fishing Tournament and $22,300 for the Octane Expo and Son of the Rodeo. Tournament organizers told the council they will not run the ice-fishing event unless there is a minimum of six inches of safe ice; organizers emphasized safety and the local economic benefits from multi-night stays. Council members raised questions about prior insurance problems for the Octane Expo; Town Manager Dan Walker said the town’s insurance requirements have not changed this year and that the event organizer had time to secure coverage before the event.
Council also approved a special-events permit for the Wildfire Defense Race series (2026), granting requested street closures and a waiver of resort tax on certain items. Staff said planning had included law enforcement and the U.S. Forest Service because the application proposes a new dog skijoring element that would use a forest-service trail.
The council closed its session with calendar reminders and a notice that Town Hall will be closed for the holidays. The next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 6, when the new council member will be sworn in.
Votes at a glance • Purchase order #7020 to 3 H Construction LLC (sewer cleaning) — approved (voice vote). • Year-end claims — approved (voice vote); claims amount presented as $1,852,932.56 in staff remarks. • West Hills Foundation lease extension (12-foot west expansion) — approved; one member recused under policy 46. • MAP fund: Heavy Lake Ice Fishing Tournament — $4,398 approved. • MAP fund: Octane Expo and Son of the Rodeo — $22,300 approved. • Wildfire Defense Race special-events permit (street closures, resort-tax waiver) — approved.
The council recorded no defeated motions at the meeting and most routine items passed by voice vote; several items were brief and staff follow-up (final lease language, insurance verification, and the MAP fund budget amendment) was requested.
