Seven firefighters to be laid off

The city of Kalispell plans to lay off seven of its 30 firefighters on May 15.

City Manager Jane Howington related the layoff news in a letter Tuesday to Kirk Pederson, president of the local firefighters' union.

"Unfortunately the financial obligations of the city under the terms of the new fire contract cannot be met without a reduction in force in the fire service," Howington wrote.

The layoffs follow an arbitration ruling that favored firefighters and led to a new three-year contract that Howington says will cost the city an extra $690,000.

On April 13, the firefighters' union and the city will meet for an "impact bargaining meeting" on April 13 to discuss ways to mitigate the layoffs, according to Howington's letter.

For more on this story, read Thursday's Daily Inter Lake.