FHS neighborhood survey results compiled

At a meeting on Thursday, the city of Kalispell will share the results of a survey done in the neighborhood around Flathead High School and ask if any residents want to form a neighborhood group.

“Folks had diverse comments,” Community and Economic Development Manager Katharine Thompson said about the surveys that were mailed out in January. “We’ll discuss those at this meeting and see what direction community members are interested in taking.”

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Flathead High School library. It will include officials from both the city and the high school.

Kalispell sent surveys to 288 property owners within a three-block radius of the high school, asking them about their neighborhood and its strengths and challenges. About 60 people returned the surveys and about 30 said they would be interested in forming a neighborhood group.

Some residents had contacted the city and high school officials with complaints about things such as litter, loud music, traffic and parking.

Kalispell city staffers saw that solutions to some of those complaints would require getting the neighborhood involved and decided to do the survey to see what, if any, concerns are widely shared.

The neighborhood surrounds a busy high school with more than 1,500 students. It also has a higher percentage of rental properties than other parts of Kalispell.

Whether residents decide to form a neighborhood group will be up to them at Thursday’s meeting.

“The role of the city is to facilitate that meeting,” Thompson said. 

“Once the committee has a chance to sort of come together, that neighborhood can lead the direction. It’s not intended to be a city-led effort.”

People who live in the area and did not receive or return a survey also are welcome to attend the public meeting.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.