Kalispell council to vote on core trail bid

Selecting a contractor for the Kalispell Parkline Trail installation is among several agenda items before the Kalispell City Council tonight.

The council will decide whether to award a bid of $5,993,677 to Sandry Construction to build the multi-use trail.

The council originally budgeted $4,768,540 to complete the trail installation. However, Sandry’s base bid is the lower of two proposals the city received for the project. LHC Inc. submitted the other bid for $7,057,266.

The base bid covers essential work but no additional features of the trail, like irrigation, water fountains and benches.

The council is also considering a request from Samaritan House homeless shelter to apply for a Community Block Development Grant fund of $50,000 to plan an expansion of the group’s facility.

Samaritan House would use the funds to add four multifamily residential buildings totaling 14 units at 1110 Second St. W., along with other renovations at the former U.S. Army Reserve Center. The council will decide whether to set a public hearing on May 17 to gather input for the grant application.

Another decision includes a series of four land-use map amendments in South Kalispell along Airport Road.

The proposed amendments cover an area of about 75 acres along Airport Road between Begg Park and the intersection of Airport Road and the U.S. 93 bypass.

Full details of each amendment are available in the agenda for the meeting at https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05032021-617.

THE AGENDA also includes requests from two property owners: Patrick Jentz is requesting a conditional-use permit to build a second dwelling unit at 469 First Ave. EN, and Manpreet Singh is requesting the city annex the Woodland Qwik Stop and zone the property B-1 (Neighborhood Business). Both of these items were discussed and recommended for approval by the Kalispell Planning Board on April 13.

The final two agenda items for Monday pertain to stormwater management in the city.

One of the issues is a bond to finance a new stormwater facility in Northwest Kalispell. The resolution would authorize the issuance and fixing of terms and conditions relating to a $2.46 million sewer system revenue Series 2021A Bond to finance a regional stormwater facility in the area north of Quarter Horse Estates, south of Reserve Drive, and bounded by West Spring Creek Road and Stillwater Road to the west and east,” according to the agenda.

The other matter is the distribution of state Bridge and Road Safety and Accountability Program funds. Kalispell is looking to use the funds for a reconstruction project on Center Street. The project would include reconstructing four blocks of Center Street from Seventh Avenue West to Meridian Road, including stormwater runoff improvements, new curb and gutter, new sub-base material where necessary, and new asphalt surfacing.

The also includes a public hearing for the council’s proposal to apply to the Montana Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Grant Program to add sidewalks along Four Mile Drive, where there is a gap of approximately 815 feet from the multi-use trail and the Kidsports complex.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 3, via Zoom videoconference. To register, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IKBc7qQ8TGGi8o1Nu_Z4dw.

Public comment can also be provided via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com.

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