Kalispell mayor rebukes Legislature for 'antagonistic, vindictive approach' to cities

Yahoo

05-03-2025

Mar. 5—Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson on Monday slammed the state Legislature after learning lawmakers were again considering a bill sunsetting levies after 10 years.
"I've never seen such an antagonistic, vindictive approach against cities, counties to a lesser extent, than any other state that ours has towards us," Johnson said of the Legislature.
His remarks came during Kalispell City Council's March 3 meeting and after City Manager Doug Russell updated councilors on Senate Bill 204. The legislation originally required that all levies come with a sunset date but had been amended to exempt levies for fire protection and emergency medical service.
While the public safety levy passed by Kalispell voters last year would remain safe, Russell warned that the bill could be amended further.
Johnson accused legislators of scolding municipalities for not addressing the statewide housing crunch while pressing them to tighten their budgets. Johnson said that building infrastructure to support more housing inflates city budgets. And then "[legislators] sit in their chairs and yell at us because our budgets went up. The audacity is appalling," he said.
He called the legislature "extremely dishonest" for dictating city budgets without understanding how they are produced.
"They don't really represent us, they don't represent our taxpayers, they represent themselves and their party," he said.
COUNCIL GAVE the green light to Texas-based developer Vista Ridge Cottages to ship in 96 prefabricated residential units — 53 detached single-family units and 43 townhomes — bound for nearly 16 acres off Two Mile Drive, east of the U.S. 93 Bypass.
The land was annexed into the city and zoned under residential apartment (RA-1) with an approved preliminary plat and planned unit development, which will allow for smaller lot sizes than permitted under city code. The city's growth policy designates the land for high-density development.
Developer Guy Hatcher has had a second home in the Flathead Valley since 2011 and said he has observed the rising need for affordable housing. He said the homes are intended for younger families looking for a starter home or seniors looking to downsize.
Partnering with Fading West, the homes will be framed and shipped from its facility in Colorado. Hatcher said the homes should be ready to sell within a week of being delivered.
"We are trying to get a really cool village-looking feel coming out of this product," Hatcher said. He wants to see homes begin to hit the market in summer 2026.
He anticipates the homes to range from 580 to 1,800 square feet, with prices ranging from $325,000 to $480,000.
While the style of housing was favored across the board, Councilor Ryan Hunter expressed concern over developing on the 100-year flood plain that lies underneath a large portion of the property.
Building subdivisions on floodplains is disallowed under city code, but the developer can get approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to infill the land after it conducts an analysis of the property and revises the floodplain map to allow for development.
Sorensen doesn't anticipate the permit to be approved by FEMA until next year.
Hunter, who also works as a land protection specialist for the Flathead Land Trust, expressed concern over moving the floodplain which he said may still pose a risk to the surrounding area.
"My understanding is that this is not a good idea," he said.
Johnson voted for the development, wishing that FEMA would hand out the permit sooner.
"In all reality, a city our size, we don't have access to the federal programs for money to buy down housing prices. We don't have access to these things, so our attack is on building inventory. Inventory to the point it gets so much, we have too much," he said.
Still, Johnson in January sided with the Flathead County commissioners in their decision to reject a state program that would have funneled millions into Flathead County for workforce housing.
AFTER DELIBERATING last week, Council voted to adopt a new project plan to hasten upgrades for the city's wastewater treatment facility in the face of a fast-approaching deadline to complete construction.
With Glacier Gold Composting closing its doors, the city must upgrade its facility so it can ship its biosolids exclusively to the Flathead County Landfill.
Council also authorized the issuance of a bond package of up to $100 million to finance capital improvements at Immanuel Living's Buffalo Hill Campus. The conduit bond is authorized through the city, but a private bank provides the funds.
Johnson said the practice by companies is typical when pursuing larger projects.
Council also allowed the 91-acre Spring Creek Park subdivision a preliminary plat extension after inflation and labor shortages kept the developer from starting construction in the required timeframe.
Kalispell Police officers Chris Olsen and Cat Edson also were sworn in after completing their one-year probationary period.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [e-mail].