Overseas business means less time for mayor

By RICHARD HANNERS

Whitefish Pilot

The impacts of the Chinese economic juggernaut could soon be felt locally — with political implications.

Rumors first began circulating in early January that Whitefish mayor Andy Feury might step down after his wife Terri shut down Finn Biscuit, her bakery business in Columbia Falls. She has since reopened it up for several weeks at a time.

Feury said he could be spending up to seven months each year in China. His business ventures there will take a big step forward this year, now that his business partners in Western Pacific Plastics have decided to work with Hong Kong-based packaging manufacturer Wing Fat to build a new factory near Shanghai.

"We just didn't have enough space in Hong Kong for all the machinery," Feury said.

Feury has one year left in his two-year term. He served on the city council from 1991-1998 and has been mayor since 1999. He was recently elected to his fourth term as mayor. Voters last November lengthened the mayoral term from two to four years, starting with this year's election.

Feury said he's not sure of his plans this year, but he'll likely take a leave of absence this spring, leaving the council under the direction of councilor and deputy mayor Cris Coughlin.

While councilors must deal with three-inch information packets every two weeks, the mayor must take on additional tasks that range from ribbon cuttings to board and committee appointments.

Feury said he's involved with initial screening of all applicants for city jobs. He also sits on the board of directors for the Montana League of Cities and Towns and meets quarterly with Montana West Economic Development, formerly Jobs Now.

For her part, Coughlin said she's not sure she can take over Feury's position for the entire year.

Coughlin told the Pilot she has more time available in the winter and shoulder seasons, but her rafting and guiding business in Glacier National Park demands a lot of her time in summer.

Another subject of rumors recently was city manager Gary Marks, who was approached by head hunters for the city manager job in Snowmass, a resort town in Colorado.

Marks told the Pilot he agreed to put his hat in the ring because the salary and benefits offer were very good. Marks' salary here is $92,864 a year, not including benefits.

Marks said his application made it to the top-10, but he wasn't chosen for the Colorado job.