Kalispell reiterates stand against white supremacist activity

Concerns about white supremacist activity in the city took center stage at the Kalispell City Council meeting on Dec. 2.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, five community members spoke out about swastikas that were found painted on the Community Spirit Monument in Woodland Park in late November.

“When swastikas show up around town, graffiti on signs and in our schools, they promote hatred and fear,” Rabbi Francine Roston said. “…You need to know that not everyone feels safe and is assured that they are welcome walking down Main Street.”

Council members spoke in support of these public comments, and Mayor Mark Johnson reiterated his statement from the Oct. 23 council meeting condemning white supremacy and upholding diversity. “We’re not a community of hate,” Johnson stated Monday night. “We’re a community of inclusion and openness and that’s how we should stay.”

During the public comment period of the meeting, Kalispell Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Unterreiner discussed a few personnel changes. He introduced Alyssa Cordova, the new director for the Hockaday Museum of Art. He also recognized Tom Jentz, who retired last week after serving as Kalispell planning director since 2005.

Following the public comment period, the council held a public hearing on the potential re-establishment of the Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District that expires at the end of this fiscal year. Diane Medler, the director of the Kalispell Convention and Visitor Bureau, spoke in favor of its re-establishment.

She listed some of the organization’s achievements since its founding in 2010, including the creation of “destination events like the Montana Pond Hockey Classic and the Montana Spartan Race, the sale of almost 4,000 room nights for business events and contact with over 77,000 people.

“TBID funds enable us to reach potential visitors through a comprehensive sales and marketing program, to increase the visitor dollars that are spent here in Kalispell and support the 19 hotels and motels in the district,” she pointed out.

The council also considered a few construction projects during the meeting, including the annexation of a 3.9-acre plot of land at 1702 South Woodland Drive for a 24-lot townhome subdivision known as Jaxon Ridge. Council members also approved R-4 zoning, which accounts for mainly single-family and duplex residences with public utilities, for the development.

The area was previously zoned R-2 by the county because the property didn’t have access to public water and sewer systems, but Jentz reported the new development will be able to hook up to the city utilities. Jentz and Eric Mulcahy from Sands Surveying answered the council’s questions about the project, such as inquiries about the proposed driveways for different units.

The council also passed a resolution of intent to consider a traffic project at the intersection of 18th Street and Airport Road. This Urban Renewal Agency project has previously been discussed by the council numerous times. The resolution also set a public hearing about the project for Dec. 18.

The council’s final agenda item was the approval of reimbursement for costs from the Four Mile Drive Water from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality State Revolving Fund. The project was previously approved, but City Attorney Charles Harball explained “it’s necessary to do some preliminary work.” They wanted to make sure to secure the funding for this work so that those funds aren’t used for something else.

An agenda item regarding the Gateway Center parking lot was removed from the meeting agenda because it needed further clarification.

At the end of the meeting, council member Rod Kuntz encouraged people who submit public comments to include relevant documentation to help the council understand their presentations.

Mayor Mark Johnson also announced an opening on the Downtown Business Improvement District board and recommended they appoint Jon Fetveit to the position for three months until the current term ends.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.