The city of Kalispell is on the lookout for citizens interested in public service to fill a variety of open seats on committee and advisory boards.
A slew of positions expire on April 30, and during Monday night’s council meeting Mayor Ryan Hunter appointed a list of applicants to opening seats with the council’s approval.
“This is actually a difficult part of being mayor is when you have applicants, you know a lot of them we don’t have applicants for positions or just enough for positions, but there were a few this evening where we had more applicants than there were positions,” Hunter said. “I really appreciate people going to volunteer their time to sit on a board and provide input to the city.”
Hunter appointed Diane Medler to the Conrad Mansion Board; Todd Hachmann to the Economic Revolving Loan Fund Committee; Brandon Theis to the Impact Fee Committee; Robert Macek to the Parking Advisory Board; Cody Hunter, Emmet Van Allen, Brett Huff, and Councilor Dustin Leftridge to the Planning Commission; Wade Rademacher and Arthur Fretheim to the Police Commission; Zachary Maassen to the Technical Advisory Committee; Zac Ford and Britta Joy to the Tourism Business Improvement District; Bette Albright, Emma Merdovic, and April Vomfell to the Urban Forestry Committee; Catherine Potter to the Urban Renewal Agency Board; and former mayor Mark Johnson to the Flathead County Water District Board #1 in Evergreen.
Of the 18 candidates selected, 12 were reapplying for their position.
Still, the city has 13 spots open on various boards and committees, including some ongoing vacancies. With the city’s recent discussion and mandated changes as required by the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA), Councilor Kyle Waterman questioned whether significant changes in the city’s process for things like development made it more confusing for residents to understand the role of certain boards.
“Just seeing that we’ve had a couple of these applications for a while, it’s just a concern that I have,” Waterman said. “I would just like to make sure that we think about that, and find those applicants, but also consider whether we have too many boards.”
Citizens can apply and be hired anytime throughout the year, and councilors encouraged interested residents to review the unique requirements for each position. Terms range from two to four years, depending on the board or committee. More information about each board can be found using the links below.
Montana GOP Weighs In on Primaries, Bypassing Flathead Incumbents
The state party's "Honor Roll" endorsements align with the local GOP's picks, and put an exclamation point on Republican infighting that came to a head during the 2025 legislative session
As State Regulators Weigh Public Input on Wastewater Facility Overhaul, A Tale of Two Treatment Systems Emerges
Flathead County officials say the decision to partner with a local water and sewer district was born of a mutual need to upgrade outmoded systems and serve the region’s growing population. Meanwhile, a water-quality watchdog group says disposal of wastewater into an aquifer near Flathead Lake deserves a higher level of scrutiny.
Whether you’ve been here for decades, or you’re new to the Flathead Valley, our reporting is here to help you feel smarter and in the loop about the issues most important to Northwest Montana. With your support, we can build a more engaged, informed community.
