Observatory Timeline

The observatory was first introduced to the City of Red Lodge at the Red Lodge Parks Board meeting on February 2, 2022. The following are all of the documented encounters by Theresa Whistler with the City regarding the Whistler Observatory that were found by Montana Independent News as well as pertinent information. Links to the relevant documents are provided where available.

2/2/22 - Parks Board: Whistler makes first pitch for an observatory- “She is researching small observatories, for example a 12x12 foot square building.”. In the written proposal, the budget of approximately $11,500 is for a platform for the observatory dome, a dome kit, and “Solar Panels and Battery to Power Observatory Dome movement and Telescope tracking motor”. The proposal presents three examples of similar models and specifically states in the budget that the solar panels “will be “packable, storable w/in observatory until needed”. None of the observatory examples presented in the written proposal are described to be larger than 10.5 feet in diameter.

3/2/22 - Parks Board:  Whistler states she is still looking at designs and is leaning toward a design that will require “a concrete structure for the integrity of the building”. No mention of a change in size.

4/6/22 - Parks Board:  Whistler states Public Works is "comfortable" with project.  "Courtney will look further into building codes to clarify the size of the concrete slab."

4/19/22 - Resolution 3599 is entered into official records as “adopted” by the City . The document signatures have the day portion of the date left blank.

4/26/22 - City Council:  Resolution 3599 is presented for discussion and action to the City Council. The resolution includes the statement “upon a cement slab that shall not exceed 20’ by 20’” - presumably after the building codes clarified the requirements.

OCTOBER 18, 2022 - A 10x12 concrete pad is poured in Van Dyke Park

11/2/22 - Parks Board:  Whistler states concrete pad (no specified size) has been poured.  Presents MOU to Board.

2/1/23 - Parks Board:  Whistler states that the 10x12 "viewing pad" is in place and that the building will be 16x24.  Nowhere does she request permission from the Board or indicate she has received permission elsewhere to change the size and scope of her project.  The Board voted unanimously to recommend an MOU be sent to City Council regarding the management of the observatory. There was no mention of changing the parameters of the project as set forth by City Council in Resolution 3599.

The Parks Board annual report (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022) included in the minutes for the City Council meeting on 3/14/23 makes no mention of any MOUs for Van Dyke Park in its MOU section. There are no ongoing projects listed for Van Dyke Park.

3/9/23 - Parks Board discusses their 2023 Plan.  The entire entry for Van Dyke Park reads:  "Van Dyke Park- - At eastern Trailhead, fix drop off at trail head: City earth work ("

A portion of my reporting for Carbon County News from March 2023 is shown below with the City’s written comments. My concern in the first paragraph shown is that there is no parking allowed in Van Dyke Park and yet the plan on 11/6/22 was to park a camper on the pad in Van Dyke Park. Is that why there is such a large concrete skirt around the observatory? To accommodate RVs? The only legal parking near the observatory is on Airport Road. The parking area across the street belongs to the County and is used for County purposes. In the second paragraph, an argument can be made that cantilevered portions of a building don’t count. One way that is used to judge whether it should be considered part of the footprint is whether or not it is integral to the design or function of the building. The City may apply any definition it wishes.

As far as not needing a permit for a small group, that may be true, but this was an invitation on Facebook to the world not a to a select group.

3/28/23 - City Council approves MOU for observatory

4/5/23 - Parks Board minute entries: "Doug- Observatory is still a work in progress, sign for Van Dyke would have to start from scratch. Does city have sign standards?"   "Other announcements:  Observatory- what can Parks Board do to help with this situation? Doug will look into this." 

NOTE:  The observatory MOU (at this writing there is no online access I have found to the signed MOU, but a draft is in the 3/28/23 City Council minutes) states that Hero's will "Order, install and maintain appropriate signage".  It does not specify who pays for the signage. It also states that “both Parties agree that Hero's ownership of the observatory and its continued existence and operation within Van Dyke Park is in the best interest of the public”. If Hero’s owns the observatory, what happens to the building and pad when the MOU ends in five years or sooner if the 30-day cancellation option is exercised?

4/25/23 - Building permit issued for observatory

The last documented communication of Theresa Whistler with the Parks Board was on July 5, 2023, and is presented in its entirety below:

“Teresa Whistler- observatory status. Plan has not changed, they were a week away from cement pour and foundation. They have since heard that NORthWest Energy is replacing their poles in the vicinity with 58’ poles (taller) with red lights on top and orange balls along the lines. They have now put plans on hold because of these new poles.  Interested in north side of upper Coal Miners Field as a possible alternative.

Courtney: The FAA letter about these poles is not requiring lights, and it does not seem like Northwest wants them.

Jenn Battles: Originally Northwest Energy did not present these tall poles as their plan. She thinks they should need to fix it.

Amy- how can this board help at this point? 

Teresa- they are possibly ready to move to Coal Miners, if they can work with the neighbors to get good lighting. 

Beth- would this limit future lighting opportunities for soccer or baseball? And use of that area as spillover for recreation events?

Amy asked the Observatory committee to let the parks board know by next week whether they want to make the move to Coal Miners, and then board members can reach out to Coal Miners user groups for input.

Jeremy- whether the observatory is there or not, the Van Dyke area needs to be protected from the impact that these new poles will make. 

Jenn- send a representative to the city council meeting to talk about this”

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If you have credible documentation that will help illuminate this subject, please share.

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