Jarod Nygren is the sole finalist for Kalispell’s city manager position after several other candidates declined to move forward in the hiring process.  

Nygren, who is director of Development Services, was appointed interim city manager in August after Doug Russell departed the position, which oversees the day-to-day operations of a municipality with 244 full-time employees. The city hired GMP Consultants to spearhead the months-long recruitment process.  

Kalispell received 65 applications, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst told the Inter Lake. The consulting firm sifted through the applicants and invited five finalists in for interviews. All except Nygren declined, officials said Wednesday. 

“After thorough review of the applicant pool provided by GMP, the internal applicant was identified as a highly qualified candidate to advance in the process,” read a Nov. 26 statement issued by City Hall. 

Nygren will be subject to three rounds of interviews on Dec. 3 that will be closed to the public. In the morning, he will be questioned by a panel made up of City Councilors-elect Kyle Waterman, Wes Walker and Lisa Blank along with former Kalispell Chamber of Commerce President Joe Unterreiner. He will also meet a panel composed of several municipal department heads, including Public Works, Police, Fire, and Parks and Recreation, Brunckhorst said.  

City Council will interview Nygren later in the day, which will also be closed to the public.  

If both Council and Nygren choose to move forward, an open house will be scheduled for residents to field questions, Brunckhorst said.  

The public input will be taken into consideration when Council decides whether to appoint Nygren during one of its regular meetings, possibly in December. Residents will have another chance to provide comment at that meeting.  

The city allocated $35,000 from its fiscal year 2026 general fund budget for the recruitment of Russell’s replacement.  

Nygren has worked for the city for 11 years and holds a master’s degree in public administration and an undergraduate degree in public administration and city planning, according to officials. He is also a member of the American Planning Association. 

The starting salary for the position ranges from $195,000 to $207,000, according to GMP Consultants.  

The community is invited to share feedback about the finalist by emailing [email protected] or delivering comments to the city clerk at 201 First Ave. E. 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].