Pre-release faces final council vote

The Daily Inter Lake

The Kalispell City Council will vote tonight on final approval for public zoning for a proposed 40-bed pre-release center for men at the old Montana Department of Health and Human Services building at 2282 U.S. 93 South.

The council gave preliminary approval to the rezoning two weeks ago.

At that time, the council also approved a conditional-use permit for the project.

Community, Counseling and Correctional Services - the Butte-based nonprofit that in December was awarded the state contract to operate the planned Kalispell facility - is prepared to spend $3 million to renovate the 12,750-square-foot building that formerly housed Department of Health and Human Services offices.

The firm plans to add a 4,750-square-foot outbuilding for shower, kitchen and laundry services.

The center's purpose is to help inmates prepare for the outside world toward the end of their sentences.

The center's inmates primarily would be Flathead County residents who have been screened by the state and a local committee.

Also at 7 p.m. today, the council is scheduled to:

n Vote on whether to grant a conditional-use permit to Premier Restaurants LLC to operate a casino on the site of the Sawbuck saloon.

Council members delayed a vote on April 6 because they wanted more information on the word "casino" on one or two signs.

Premier plans to tear down the saloon and replace it with an 8,700-square-foot Montana Club restaurant, bar and casino.

The demolition is tentatively planned in May.

n Vote on whether to rezone four lots on Second Avenue East owned by the Hockaday Museum of Art from residential use to public use.

If the rezoning is approved, the museum plans eventually to expand its 8,400-square-foot building by 13,000 square feet.

Currently, the Hockaday is on the northernmost two lots on the west side of Second Avenue East between Third and Fourth Streets East. The museum also owns two lots immediately to the south that currently hold houses.

The museum wants to tear down the two houses to build more museum space and a parking lot.

n Vote on an agreement to jointly operate a new 911 center with Flathead County, Whitefish and Columbia Falls. The other three governments have approved the agreement.

The new center is expected to be built in Northwest Kalispell by late this year.

n Hold a public hearing for a proposed update of the Kalispell Growth Policy about the west of town.

n Vote on whether to approve a final plat on four acres at the northwest corner of U.S. 93 and Northridge Drive.

The Cornerstone Community Church is at that location, and Valley Bank wants to build a branch on part of the site.