Kalispell City Council OKs private school construction

Kalispell Meeting Hall, Inc. got the go-ahead for construction of a private school on Glenwood Drive during the June 19 Kalispell City Council meeting.

Council voted unanimously to award the conditional use permit for the school, following an amendment made to the city zoning ordinance in May that allows for private schools within a business/residential zone.

The will be a 5,300-square-foot, 2-story building on an undeveloped lot next to a church.

Currently the K-12 school has fewer than a dozen students, but hopes to add more as they grow into their new facility.

IN OTHER business, council approved the limited expenditure of city funds for the purpose of paying for salaries, maintenance, operations and projects prior to the final approval of the 2018 budget. According to council, a gap in funding will occur between the end of the current budgeted year and the approval of next year’s budget, requiring council to use funding for 2018 to cover the costs before the budget is officially adopted. A public hearing is scheduled for July 3, at which time the public will have the opportunity to comment on the budget for fiscal year 2018 before it moves before council for final approval.

A 2.8 percent salary was approved for all non-union workers, not including elected officials such as city council members. According to the city manager’s report, this is the first year all affected groups are on the same percentage increase. The recommended $80,000 needed to implement the pay increase is included in the 2018 budget.

One person stepped up to comment on the growth policy “Plan It 2035” during a public hearing to discuss the update. The man, a member of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of the update.

For more information on the city council agenda and minutes, visit Kalispell.com.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.