Kalispell has a new city manager after the city council unanimously approved Jarod Nygren’s employment contract at Monday night’s council meeting. Nygren (pictured above) has worked for the city for the past 11 years and served as interim city manager since Doug Russell left the position for another job in August.
Nygren’s five-year contract comes with a $200,000 salary, $750 monthly vehicle allowance, paid health insurance for him and his family, and the potential for a wage increase based on the same average afforded to other city employees. Russell previously received a base salary of $204,490 in the 2025 fiscal budget, having served in the position for 13 years.
“I was very happy to see through the process of how this transpired where he came in with ranking,” Councilor Chad Graham said. “It didn’t surprise me, but it’s one thing I can go and grab onto moving forward after coming off this council that I have a large degree of support and hope in.”
Councilor and Mayor-elect Ryan Hunter noted the value of having someone in the position who’s “intimately familiar with our city government.”
“[I] just wanted to say thank you for the trust you’ve instilled in me,” Nygren said. “Obviously you’ve mentioned we’ve been together 11 years. Certainly, I feel like I’m only in this position because of the guidance and leadership I’ve seen from you and certainly looking forward to working with future councils as well.”
Councils also codified an ordinance amending city code to allow for the revocation of conditional use permits (CUPs). The proposed ordinance comes in the wake of a lawsuit the city had with the Flathead Warming Center after revoking its CUP last year.
While Tonya Horn, the center’s executive director, spoke in favor of amending the code to outline a process for CUP revocation and require a standard of proof, she warned the amendment did not prevent the process from becoming “extremely personal,” recalling having her own character questioned during hearings for the CUP revocation.
“Is this opening a future door for our history to repeat itself?” Horn said.
Graham recalled his own experience receiving some disparaging comments during the same time period, apologizing for his stance and acknowledging that it was a “hard time.” For the amendment, he pointed to a need for council to be able to hold CUP permit holders to the “higher standard of use or impact” that a CUP entails.
“You have to protect that zone use,” Graham said. “That’s why you have it as conditions of the application, conditions of approval.”
The ordinance’s second reading passed with council majority approval, save for Councilors Hunter and Jessica Dahlman who voted against the amendment. The new ordinance will go into effect in 30 days and applies only to CUPs granted after Jan. 15, 2026.
With several council members sitting for their last time behind the council’s dais desk on Monday night, the elected officials shared heartfelt well-wishes and gratitude for each other’s contributions in discussions over the years, reminiscing about the occasional controversy and the diversity of council opinion. (Come January, Hunter will take over for Mayor Mark Johnson, Wes Walker will replace incumbent Sandy Carlson, Lisa Blank will replace Graham, and Kyle Waterman, former councilor from 2018 to 2022, will replace Dahlman.)
“By and large we agree on an awful lot,” Johnson said. “But it is always interesting to listen to the different arguments.”
I’m reminded that for me, today marks a year of listening to said arguments, having started at the Beacon exactly a year ago covering city council. While next year is set to bring changes to the municipal government, I’ll still be here, breaking down the nuts and bolts of those discussions. I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s see what else is in story for today’s Daily Roundup.
Stakeholders Close Deal to Conserve 53,000 Acres of Timber Forests Near Libby
With both phases complete, the Montana Great Outdoors Project ensures working forests between Kalispell and Libby remain in timber production while allowing permanent public access
The Flathead Valley’s extensive range of dining options has planted this far-flung corner of Montana on the map as a pleasure center for foodies. As winter revs up our appetites, we revisit some of our favorite meals from the past year.
This holiday season, celebrate the spirit of our community by shopping local. Every purchase you make from a neighborhood business helps support local jobs, families, and the unique character that makes the Flathead Valley such a special place to call home. From thoughtful gifts to festive experiences, our local shops have everything you need to make the season bright. Here’s some information on how to keep it local this holiday season.
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