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The Main Street Safety Action Plan saw the spotlight last night during the Kalispell City Council meeting where a handful of residents showed up to share their opposition to the proposal to redesign and make safety additions to Main Street (pictured above), which includes reducing the number of lanes. One local couple posed alternatives to boost downtown activity, including to “modernize liquor license practices” because “at the current cost people aren’t going to be sitting outside without something to keep them warm.” Ken Yachechak, the owner of Depot Park Square, was concerned about a proposal that only benefits downtown, ending his public comment questioning why Kalispell parades fail to reach the north side of the city. A Coram resident, who said that as a Flathead Valley resident he also considers Kalispell his city, questioned the “fundamental purpose of Main Street.”
Later in the evening councilors approved an official public hearing date for the plan to be held May 19, encouraging the public to attend and comment on the project, with a prerequisite from Councilor Kari Gabriel.
“I really want to encourage all of you here and everyone watching to please go back to our meeting last week where the consultants were here and presented that plan. A number of things were addressed that there were questions on tonight – snow removal was addressed, the sidewalks were addressed, diagonal parking was addressed … Just my two cents to make it more understandable so that people can get their questions answered.”
The city council recording is accessible online at the city’s website or via Youtube.
The council also approved junk vehicle and community decay ordinances, with an amendment to add “landscaping” into the list of exceptions to community decay. The new laws are set to go into effect in 30 days.The council also approved a resolution to increase park and recreation fees 8% across the board. Councilor Sid Daoud was hesitant to raise fees, though ultimately voting to approve the resolution.
“These are like one of the only programs that the city runs that we actually get compliments on. So definitely worth saving what we have.”
Gabriel pointed out that the council is required to have a balanced budget. “Unlike Congress,” Mayor Mark Johnson added.
I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s get to the rest of the Daily Roundup by taking a look at some of today’s top stories from northwest Montana and beyond …
City of Whitefish Defends Immigration Enforcement Policy After Venezuelan Man’s Detention
The April 24 arrest of Beker Rengifo-Del Castillo, who was transferred from Whitefish to an out-of-state detention facility until his April 30 release, prompted public demonstrations and raised questions about enforcement overreach by local authorities. On Monday, Whitefish city officials addressed those concerns.
High Water Prompts Emergency Closure of Blankenship Bridge
Seasonal runoff have raised water levels on the Flathead River, which has submerged the access road to the Blankenship Bridge gravel bar southwest of Blankenship Road
As the city’s population grows and major developments within the municipality come to fruition, officials are working to upgrade Kalispell’s road infrastructure to bring connectivity and safety to motorists, pedestrians and cyclists
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