The Kalispell City Council tonight considers a resolution urging the Montana Transportation Commission to finish the U.S. 93 Alternate Route and let the city complete Four Mile Drive with its yearly allocations of federal urban highway money.

At their meeting in July, transportation commission members refused to approve Kalispell’s plan to complete Four Mile Drive. 

The project would extend the road half a mile to Stillwater Road with a bridge over the planned path of the Kalispell bypass. 

The commission’s chairman, Kevin Howlett of Arlee, said he had concerns about the Four Mile Drive project and the Kalispell bypass and questions about whether they should be transportation priorities in Northwest Montana.

Local leaders are trying to build a strong show of need and support for both road projects in time for the Montana Transportation Commission’s next meeting on Sept. 26.

“Staff is recommending that formal resolutions be adopted by both the city council and the board of county commissioners,” Kalispell Planning Director Tom Jentz wrote in a memo to the city council. 

Meanwhile, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is undertaking a letter-writing campaign and plans to charter a bus to Helena for people to testify in favor of the projects directly to the transportation commission.

“It is our goal to bring as many people as possible to the next highway commission meeting to make our concerns known and voice support for these projects,” Jentz said.

IN OTHER BUSINESS tonight, the city council will consider awarding a $238,350 contract to Schellinger Construction for stormwater drainage improvements in The Willows subdivision. 

The company was low bidder for a project estimated to cost $346,600.

The project will bring The Willows’ stormwater drainage system up to city standards — a requirement for city ownership and maintenance. 

It will install two stormwater treatment devices, 1,250 feet of stormwater lines, six manholes, a new outlet in the Stillwater River and improves the neighborhood’s stormwater detention pond.

The work would be paid for with money from a special improvement district homeowners agreed to form and pay additional taxes for, a Montana State Revolving Fund loan, storm sewer impact fees and the city’s annual storm sewer special assessments.

ALSO ON TONIGHT’S City Council agenda are:

• A preliminary plat for Bright View Professional. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation wants to subdivide 32 acres of Section 36 school trust land into three lots for a professional office center. Glacier Eye Clinic is building a 22,000-square-foot clinic on one of the lots along Reserve Loop.

• A zoning change for two lots at 1252 N. Meridian Rd. Cooke Thompson requested the change. The lots would be rezoned from R-4 residential to B-1 neighborhood business.

• A 2.5 percent salary increase for Kalispell’s non-union employees, as planned for in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

Tonight’s City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. It is open to the public. The meeting date was moved from Monday because of the Labor Day holiday.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.