Kalispell Council appears likely to adopt hazard mitigation plan
The 2024 Western Montana Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan is meant to serve as a policy and program blueprint and "identify and reduce long-term risks from disasters or natural events" across Montana, according to city officials.
Development of the Flathead County portion of the plan began in 2022 and was approved by the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency earlier this year.
But to the frustration of Mayor Mark Johnson, Flathead County, Columbia Falls and Whitefish adopted the plan before it was ever brought before Kalispell City Council.
Johnson called the move a missed opportunity to bring the neighboring municipalities to the table to mull over the plan together.
"Because one of the biggest complaints I get is there's no regional planning," Johnson said. "This is really kind of self-reflection on the process, because we also missed the opportunity."
Councilor Ryan Hunter also pointed out some typos he requested to be fixed before adoption.
When the plan first came before the Council in April, Councilor Sid Daoud successfully passed a motion to delay voting until he and his colleagues had enough time to read through the 500-page document.
On Monday night, Daoud expressed reservations about some of the automatic actions in the plan that would bypass the city and state and go straight to the federal level.
Adopting the plan would open up grant opportunities for hazard mitigation projects in 2025.
Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.
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