City holds meet-and-greet for planning director finalists

The Kalispell Planning Department is hosting an informal meet and greet event with the two finalists for the city’s planning director position at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, in the City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E. The event precedes the City Council’s work session in the same location at 7 p.m.

Longtime Kalispell Planning Director Tom Jentz retired from his role on Dec. 5. After an open application period, the applicants have been narrowed down to two finalists: Jarod Nygren, Kalispell senior planner, and BJ Grieve, planning director for Southern Pines, North Carolina, and former planning director for Flathead County.

Grieve took over as the interim county planning director in 2010 and served as planning director for Flathead County until 2015. In 2017, he became senior planner of the community of Southern Pines, North Carolina, a town with a population of about 12,000 as of the 2010 census. In July, he took on the role of planning director there.

Nygren currently serves as the senior planner for the city of Kalispell.

“Both applicants have a strong background in planning activities and are familiar with the local area, culture of the region and current initiatives,” City Manager Doug Russell said in a press release.

The finalists will reportedly participate in interviews throughout the week. The position is expected to be filled by the end of the year.