Hello, Beacon readers! The Kalispell City Council will look a bit different in January with Mayor-elect Ryan Hunter taking over for long-time Mayor Mark Johnson, who opted not to run for reelection, and some new and familiar faces joining the council – Wes Walker replacing incumbent Sandy Carlson, Lisa Blank replacing Chad Graham, and Kyle Waterman (former councilor from 2018 to 2022) replacing Jessica Dahlman.

As the current council braces for changes, the city has also been on the hunt for a new city manager to replace Doug Russell, who left for another job in August. City staff hired GMP Consultants, a public-sector executive search firm, to lead the extensive recruitment process and councilors previously discussed whether it would be willing to let a strong candidate live outside of city limits.

Last week, as folks hurried to wrap up their business early on Wednesday to get home and prepare for Thanksgiving, city staff announced a lone finalist for the position, a familiar face – Jarod Nygren, the development services department director.

Nygren has worked for the city for over a decade and has acted as interim city manager since the end of August, overseeing the city’s 244 full-time employees and $180 million budget. He has a master’s degree in public administration and is certified as a city planner. As development services director, he’s supervised an average of $150 million in new construction over the past five years.

An executive interview process at city hall tomorrow will include a community panel, a director panel, and an interview with the mayor and council. Though the session is closed to the public, those looking to share their thoughts can email or deliver their comments in person to the city clerk at 201 First Avenue East. If the mayor and council decide to move forward with Nygren, they will schedule a public open house. A final decision will be voted on at a future council meeting.

I’m Zoë Buhrmaster. Let’s hop out of city government movings and into the rest of the Daily Roundup.

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.