A group of residents have gathered one-third of the signatures needed to place a referendum on the 2013 November ballot that would allow city voters to decide the fate of the municipal airport, according to the person spearheading the effort.
Chad Graham told the Kalispell City Council Monday that the first wave of signature gathering was a success despite being conducted on a weekend when many residents were away from home.
Ninety percent of the people surveyed were enthusiastic about placing the referendum on the city election ballot, Graham said. In order to submit a referendum to city and election officials for approval, signatures are needed from 15 percent of Kalispell’s population, or 1,759 residents, according to the Flathead County Election Department. The county election department as well as the county and city attorneys recently approved the referendum’s language if it made the ballot.
The purpose of the referendum is to repeal city resolution 5572, according to the statement of purpose on Graham’s petition to the election department. Residents within city limits would be able to vote for or against a repeal.
The council approved resolution 5572 on July 16, voting 5-4 to follow the latest airport master plan’s recommendation and develop the site to B-II aviation standards in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration. This followed council’s reversal of an earlier decision that would have allowed residents to decide what to do with the airport.
Graham, who ran unsuccessfully for a Ward 2 council seat in last year’s election, picked up the cause of reinstating the citywide vote and has been spreading signs and stickers across town as well as championing the movement on local radio stations.
Graham emphasized to the council the importance of letting residents have the final say on developing larger public projects. As examples he used the 911 Center and Glacier High School.
For more information about Referendum 103, email [email protected] or visit the group’s Facebook page, “Kalispell City Airport Petition Drive.”