Kalispell mayor calls on county commissioners to consider affordable housing program

Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson on Monday urged Flathead County commissioners to decide whether to adopt House Bill 819 before millions in funding for affordable housing is swept away.  

“I challenge the commissioners to put this on the agenda, look at people in the eye and cast your vote,” Johnson said. “We didn’t elect you to avoid issues or to sit on the sidelines.” 

The 2023 state Legislature set aside $50 million in state funding to be doled out to counties through Community Reinvestment Organizations with an eye to addressing work force housing. House Bill 819 allocates the funds for housing initiatives and low-interest loans to developers building deed-restricted apartments. 

Flathead County is eligible for $4.5 million through the program and county commissioners have until Dec. 31 to partner with a community reinvestment organization. If not, the money will be dispersed to the other counties that adopted the bill. 

Commissioner Randy Brodehl previously told the Inter Lake he was hung up on the legislation, calling it a socialized program funded by taxpayers and regulated by government. Commissioner Pam Holmquist said she was still gathering information on the bill.    

Ian Flemming, the Montana organizer for nonprofit United Today Stronger Tomorrow, urged Council to pressure the county to put the bill on their agenda. 

“It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a start toward more people being in homes,” Flemming said.  He said that the program will provide support for those getting pushed out by the Flathead Valley’s high housing costs.  

JOHNSON REPEATED concerns Monday with the state Legislature for usurping power from local governments.   

One such authority he blamed the 2023 state Legislature of stripping was the ability for Kalispell City Hall to address the dilapidated former Outlaw Inn property located off U.S. 93 on the south end of town.  

Senate Bill 245, which was signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte in May 2023, states that a city with 5,000 or more residents must allow apartment-style housing in areas zoned for commercial use.  

Oregon-based real estate firm Fortify Holdings acquired a conditional use permit from Council in February 2022 to convert the former hotel into multi-family housing with up to 250 studio units.   

Johnson said the law nulled the company’s permit, stripping tools from Council that it could use to renew the permit and enforce stricter guidelines. 

The property remains unfenced and unsecured, and the Kalispell Police Department has mounted increased patrols in the area at the request of neighbors.  

“Once again, Helena decided we don’t need to make decisions of what’s best for our own community,” Johnson said of the situation.   

City Manager Doug Russell said that Council will discuss amending the city’s property maintenance code during a January work session to address the property.  

THE MAYOR also thanked members of the Bibler family who attended Monday’s meeting for the planned Ashley Creek Park. 

Council adopted a memorandum of understanding with the Bibler Legacy Foundation, which generally outlines the public-private partnership in developing the property.  

“I’m so glad that the Biblers are here with this [memorandum] because what it does is it gives me hope that we can still shape things at the local level and within our own communities to be what we want, what we want for our future generations,” Johnson said. 

Several councilors thanked the Biblers for the forthcoming park, which eventually will be handed over to the city.   

“What this family has done for this community, second to none,” Councilor Jed Fisher said.  

Carol Bibler told the Inter Lake she was excited about moving forward and working with the city on the project. 

The Bibler Legacy Foundation has begun landscaping the 20 acres of property at the intersection of the Parkline Trail and Great Northern Historical Trail along U.S. 93 Bypass.  

Bibler said completion is not expected until 2026.  

Council also unanimously passed the consent agenda to buy a used front load solid waste truck from Toms Truck Sales for $205,000 and for Standard Drain Cleaning to rehabilitate 8,000 feet of sanitary sewer main for $430,000.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.