Kalispell OKs new study of airport

The Kalispell City Council accepted a $92,910 grant Monday from the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct another airport study.

After much discussion, the vote was 6-3 with Mayor Tammi Fisher joining council members Tim Kluesner and Bob Hafferman in voting no.

City Manager Jane Howington said the money will be used to conduct a noise study and determine what capital improvements are needed if the city decides not to expand Kalispell City Airport.

The study also will include public scoping sessions and a random survey of area residents.

The city’s contribution to the study will be $4,890.

Approval appeared to be in doubt after Fisher sided with Hafferman and Kluesner as council discussed the issue. However, Duane Larson, Jeff Zauner and Wayne Saverud then sided with Jim Atkinson, Randy Kenyon and Kari Gabriel in favor.

Saverud joined Kluesner in supporting a radar that would be placed at the end of the runway. “Some of the usage figures we’ve seen are almost unbelievable,” Saverud said.

Jeff Walla from Stelling Engineers said noise levels will be measured in affected areas by using noise contours.

Zauner cited the benefit of the noise study, but Fisher disagreed.

“I don’t need a noise study to tell me” there need to be quiet hours between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., she said. “This grant is not a good use of taxpayer dollars.”

She then referred to several property owners on the southern edge of the airport who are unwilling to sell to the city to expand the airport. “Prior council made the decision on the premise the southern land was available. It’s not, it wasn’t, and who knows if it will ever be?” she said.

Larson said the city doesn’t need a noise study because it already knows that noise is a problem. However, he supports updating the aviation forecast in regard to the number of takeoffs and landings a day along with the public outreach provision.

Zauner said it was a “tough subject” with “good arguments in both directions. I just don’t see the harm” in going through with the study, he said.

Hafferman cited an unscientific online poll on the Daily Inter Lake’s website last December. In that poll, 10 percent wanted to move the airport, 24 percent supported closing it, 32 percent wanted to expand it and 34 percent favored leaving it as it is.

During the public-comment period, Kalispell resident and Quiet Skies representative Scott Davis said he had mixed feelings. “I was impressed with the questions of council to staff” about the study, he said.

Scott Richardson said the “two major issues are safety and noise. It’s an important part of the process. It’s good for the public in terms of transparency and education.”

Kluesner tried to amend the engineering service contract that was attached to the grant to include a survey of all Kalispell residents as opposed to a random survey, but council deemed that unworkable.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.