Latest news with #DougRussell
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Census: Gallatin, Flathead County add most residents in Montana
The Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell, pictured on Dec. 31, 2024. (Micah Drew, Daily Montanan) Gallatin and Flathead were the fastest growing counties in Montana between 2023 and 2024, while the city of Kalispell has grown nearly 25% since 2020, adding more residents than any Montana city, according to the latest population growth data from the U.S. Census The federal government last week released the latest population counts for the nation's more than 3,000 counties, as well as all incorporated cities and towns. In Montana, 32 of the state's 56 counties saw a population increase, concentrated in the state's western counties, while the mostly eastern counties that saw population declines did so by just over a thousand cumulative residents. As a whole, Montana added 5,931 new residents between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024, for a total state population of 1,137,233. The state's growth rate of .52% was slower than the national growth rate of 1%, partly due to a last-in-the-nation level of international migration, and far lower than in recent years. Between 2020 and 2021, Montana added a whopping 19,000 new residents. The United States has added 3,304,757 people between 2023 and 2024. In the last release of census data, Gallatin and Flathead counties added 1,055 and 1,032 new residents, respectively, the first time since the population boom began in 2020 Flathead County hasn't led in raw numbers. But the northwest county had a higher rate of change at .91% compared to Gallatin's .84%. Broadwater County had the highest percentage population increase in the last year, 2.96%, and over the last four years, with 22.2%, but the county's 8,302 residents makes it just the 27th most inhabited in Montana. Since 2020, however, Flathead County has led the state in sheer number of additional residents, adding more than 10,100 to Gallatin's just over 8,000 and Yellowstone County's 6,800. Meanwhile, Kalispell, the county seat of the Flathead, added 1,125 new residents between 2023 and 2024 for a population of 31,296, a nearly 4% increase stemming from the city's annexation of new developments and migration into the area. Bozeman added the second most residents, 788, followed by Billings (686), Missoula (557) and Helena (360). Of the state's most populous cities, Great Falls, Havre and Sidney all lost residents. Kalispell's growth is even more drastic over the last four years. Between 2020 and 2024, the city added 6,218 new residents, a 24.8% increase that ranked the city 39th in the nation for growth among cities with more than 20,000 residents. Helena, which grew by 8.2%, and Bozeman, which grew by 8.1%, ranked in the 260s. Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell said seeing the actual numbers isn't a big surprise for the people who have been working to accommodate the rising population. 'We've experienced that large growth in person over the years,' Russel said. Russell said that planning for increased growth is key to keeping city services and infrastructure at a level to handle the demands of a rapidly growing population. 'Our public works department has done a really great job updating facilities plans on a routine basis and updating growth models to to anticipate where we'll need to prioritize infrastructure projects,' Russel said. Among the major infrastructure projects Kalispell has prioritized in recent years are construction of a new water tower to bolster the municipal water storage and working with the state transportation department to address potential bottlenecks along major transit corridors, such as W. Reserve Drive, along the city's north end. Russell said the city is currently updating its land use policy, which will allow city officials to prepare for the next round of anticipated growth. If Kalispell's growth trend continues, it could soon overtake Helena and Butte-Silver Bow in size. Just north of Kalispell, Whitefish has also grown by nearly 20% since 2020, adding 1,481 residents, while nearby Polson and Columbia Falls have grown 9.6% and 7.4%. Belgrade, a suburb of Bozeman, one of the state's least affordable cities, is the only other large city in Montana to exceed 20% growth, adding 2,265 residents since 2020. On the other end of the spectrum, Montana's smallest incorporated town, Ismay, has stayed exactly the same, with 21 residents since 2020, according to Census data. A call placed to the only publicly listed phone number in Ismay, the Ismay Community Church, did not get a response on Tuesday to verify the town's 21 residents. Two other incorporated towns in Montana showed flat growth rates since 2020, both on the Hi-Line in Phillips County — Dodson, which increased from 126 residents to 127 in 2023, but then returned to 126 in 2024, and Malta, which has fluctuated around 1,853 residents for several years. Nationally, of the 10 fastest growing cities in the country, six are in Texas, and one each is in Florida, Utah, South Carolina and North Carolina. Forney, Texas, added 15,079 residents between 2020 and 2024, a 62.2% increase. The nation's fastest shrinking city was Big Spring, Texas, which lost 14% of its population. The U.S. Census Bureau data breaks out changes to county population by natural change — the difference due to birth rates and death rates — and net migration into and out of a county. While Flathead and Gallatin counties each grew by roughly the same 1,000 residents between 2023 and 2024, they did so in vastly different ways. A quarter of Gallatin County's increase was due to a younger population. The county's birth rate was 1,141 people while only 686 individuals died during the year of record. Meanwhile Flathead, Missoula, and Yellowstone counties had almost equal numbers of births and deaths in their communities, trends that extend back to 2020. Flathead County's primary source of growth is new residents moving to the county. Ninety-nine percent of new residents between 2020 and 2024 relocated to the area, while just three-quarters of new Gallatin County residents did. Both on the eastern side of the state, Montana's two least populous counties, Treasure and Petroleum, with 739 and 535 residents respectively, saw the largest population percentage decline in residents. Petroleum lost 18 residents in 2024, six from a higher death rate than birth rate, and 12 who moved out of the county. Treasure County dropped by 28 residents, gaining two from natural change, but losing 30 to relocation. The state's largest county, Yellowstone, with 171,583 residents, is more populous than the state's 36 least inhabited combined.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell proposes $182M budget for fiscal 2026
May 6—Kalispell City Hall has released a $182.2 million preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026. The financial roadmap proposed by City Manager Doug Russell is about $1.5 million more than the fiscal 2025 budget approved by City Council last year. The city's general fund expenditures are expected to come in at $16.9 million, compared to roughly $16.5 million last year. Slightly over half of the general fund revenue comes from property taxes, and the fund is responsible for bankrolling most administrative and public safety operations. Departments in the general fund face inflationary and growth-related impacts, Russell wrote in his summary of the preliminary budget. The budget does not include any staffing increases in departments supported through the general fund, according to Russell. The proposed budget calls for reserves in the general fund ending balances to be 19% rather than the 20% outlined in city policy. The fiscal 2026 budget includes a handful of hefty capital improvement projects, notably the replacement of two PFAS-contaminated drinking water wells. The city is expected to tap into federally funded programs to cover the estimated $22.6 million price tag for the projects, however. As the city moves away from sending its biosolids to soon-to-be closing composting facility, Glacier Gold Composting, it is budgeting roughly $3.7 million to implement an alternative means of disposing of the waste. Officials anticipate spending $5.3 million from the city's voter-approved public safety levy in fiscal 2026. The mill levy, which went into effect July 1, 2025, is intended to boost Kalispell's emergency services, including the addition of a third fire station on the west side of town. Over fiscal 2025, money from the levy was used to hire 12 new Fire and Emergency Services personnel along with 11 new Kalispell Police Department staff. For this upcoming fiscal year, $226,000 is being staked out for two patrol cars and two detective vehicle replacements. The majority of the anticipated expenses for the Police Department are centered around maintaining and replacing existing equipment, according to Russell. The Fire Department is allocating $260,000 for a new ambulance for its forthcoming third fire station along with $216,500 for equipment for a new fire engine expected to be delivered in the fall of 2026. KALISPELL CITY Council will hold the first of a series of work sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E., to discuss the proposed budgets for several city departments. On Tuesday, councilors will discuss the general fund, Development Services and Public Works. On Wednesday, the body will look over the budgets for the Police and Fire/Emergency Medical Services departments along with Parks and Recreation and Information Technology. The preliminary budget can be found here: Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
650 acres burned in Riley County wildfire
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Riley County officials report an estimated 650 acres of land was scorched by a wildfire on Monday, requiring a large response from local and state firefighters. Riley County reports that firefighters with the Riley County Fire District #1 were called around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7 to a brush fire burning near the intersection of Harmony Road and Dial Road. The fire reportedly started as a controlled burn but began spreading out of control. Volunteer firefighters found 20 acres on fire initially with county commissioners declaring a disaster emergency later on due to the fire's growing size and potential impact. Firefighters from Pottawatomie, Nemaha and Marshall Counties responded to calls for help alongside the Dickinson County Wildland Task Force. More than 65 people, 40 vehicles, two planes and 11 fire stations helped fight the fire. 'After sunset, winds died down and firefighters were able to get a handle on the head fires in the riverbed,' RCFD#1 Deputy Chief Doug Russell said. 'We've learned over the last few years to aggressively attack any fires in this area, requesting resources immediately. Thanks to everyone's quick response and a favorable wind change, we were able to conduct back burns and get this fire under control.' Funeral plans released for slain Kansas priest Riley County reports that an estimated 650 acres were burned in the fire. No one was injured in the fire and no livestock was lost. 'We are incredibly grateful for the assistance from neighboring counties, the State of Kansas, and our dedicated volunteer firefighters,' Russel Stukey, fire chief of Riley County Fire District #1 and director of Riley County Emergency Management said. 'Their quick action kept a bad situation from getting worse.' Firefighters continue to monitor the situation on Tuesday, April 8 to ensure the fire doesn't start up again. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell City Council to discuss creating city code enforcement program
Mar. 24—Kalispell City Council on Monday will consider hiring code enforcement personnel to oversee several areas of municipal code. A code enforcement program would have jurisdiction over zoning regulations, boulevards, community decay, sidewalks, junk vehicles, landscaping, snow removal, weeds, street visibility, commercial signs and right-of-way encroachment. Council meets at 7 p.m., March 24 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. Unlike the other large cities in Montana, Kalispell does not have any dedicated code enforcement personnel. Billings has seven, Helena has two and Bozeman has four, according to city officials. Talks over creating a code enforcement program emerged as Council amended the municipal fire code to allow the city to abate vacant and unsafe buildings. While the amendment was passed, City Manager Doug Russell warned that enforcing the code will take resources that the city lacks, leaving the responsibility to the Fire or Planning departments. The amendment was a response to the former Outlaw Inn property, which sat in disrepair for two years after being bought by Oregon-based real estate enterprise Fortify Holdings in 2022. Originally intended to be multi-family apartments, the property instead turned into a hotspot for vandalism and vagrants, posing a safety risk to neighbors and nearby businesses. In January, Columbia Falls developer Mick Ruis bought the promissory note and deed of trust on the south Kalispell property, which is in foreclosure. Ruis lined the property with a chain-link fence and scaffolding after buying the note. The limited liability company, Outlaw Apartments, was assigned as the new lender for the land from Western Security Bank, according to documents filed in Flathead County detailing the arrangement. Outlaw Apartments is seeking the sale of the land to satisfy the property owner's debts. The property owner has until the May 5 trustee sale date to pay the more than $6 million owed. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire season: how you can make an impact this year
TOPEKA (KSNT) – With wildfire season around the corner, there are plenty of ways non-firefighters can make a difference ahead of the heat. Riley County District 1 Deputy Fire Chief Doug Russell joined the 27 News Morning crew with some tips for homeowners, advice for controlled burnings and insight into the volunteer program. Topeka Zoo says goodbye, animals leaving for conservation effort For more information watch the interview above, or head to the District 1 website here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
