Kalispell airport going on ballot for voters
A future course of action for the Kalispell City Airport will be decided by city voters this November.
A motion to put the issue on the upcoming general election ballot passed 5-4 at Monday's Kalispell City Council meeting.
It was originated by council member Bob Hafferman and supported by Phil Guiffrida III, Tim Kluesner, Wayne Saverud and Mayor Tammi Fisher.
Council members Jim Atkinson, Kari Gabriel, Randy Kenyon and Jeff Zauner voted against it.
"I believe the owners of this property should have a say in how they want it run," Hafferman said of his motion. "We've got a council that is divided on this issue and I don't see any give or take. The only way to get it is to put it to a vote of the people."
A previous motion by Kluesner to rehabilitate the airport, using money from the airport tax increment finance district, failed 5-4. It was also supported by Hafferman, Guiffrida and Fisher.
Saverud was the swing vote in both motions.
After the meeting, Saverud said he voted against the motion to rehabilitate the 83-year-old airport because of long-term funding concerns about using a tax increment finance district that sunsets in 2020 to maintain the airport.
“It’s not just get it over the hurdle and we’ve got it made,” Saverud said of the airport issue.
His reason for supporting a move to put the airport on the ballot: “I can be sarcastic and say I would like everyone to have the privilege of scouring these reports and trying to figure out what’s the best way to go ... It’s not an easy black-and-white situation, there are many shades of gray. This way we can make everyone unhappy.”
The exact ballot language will be ironed out in the coming month.
Something likely will be brought before the Kalispell City Council for consideration at the June 18 meeting, said Charles Harball, city attorney and interim city manager.
The ballot language proposed by Hafferman would focus on whether voters want to proceed with an expansion and upgrade to B-II design standards using federal Airport Improvement Program funds, or rehabilitate the airport as is with airport tax increment finance district money.
Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.