Flathead County Library trustees are re-negotiating the purchase of property at the Kalispell Center Mall for a future Kalispell branch.

A new letter of intent is being drafted, but there’s no timeline for when it will be ready, said David Ingram, chair of the Board of Trustees. Negotiations will focus on determining a new price and added flexibility on a construction timeline.  

“We can’t afford to give them as much money as they wanted in the original [letter of intent],” said Trustee Jane Wheeler. “I think they’re accommodating to that.” 

Trustees last year offered $2.5 million to buy less than 2 acres of property in the northwest corner of the mall property, which is owned by SHOP Companies. The owners made a counteroffer, and in a draft buy/sell agreement released in May 2025 the purchase price was listed as $2.9 million with a $200,000 downpayment.  

But nothing legally binding was signed, Ingram said.  

Trustees told the Inter Lake they’re still determining a price to put in the new letter of intent. 

The Flathead County Library is also preparing to meet with LSW Architects to discuss conceptual predesign plans. A design plan is proposed to be finalized in June.  

AT THE meeting, trustees also discussed complaints submitted by resident Brad Wright to the Montana State Library Commission earlier in March. Wright accused Wheeler and Library Director Teri Dugan of violating open meeting laws and trustees of deceiving taxpayers.  

During a board meeting on Feb. 26, Wheeler reported meeting with Dugan, Kalispell Mayor Ryan Hunter and members of the Flathead Library Foundation, the library’s main fundraising arm, on Feb. 25. They discussed potential funding, parking allocations and Hunter’s support for a new Kalispell branch, she said.  

But the meeting was informational only, she wrote in response to Wright’s complaint, and it failed to meet a quorum. Wheeler’s response was included in the agenda packet for the trustees’ Thursday meeting. 

“It is my duty as a library trustee to explore any and all legal funding options and advantageous partnerships that could help Flathead County get its new library,” Wheeler wrote. “This meeting was an opportunity to do so.” 

Wright also accused trustees of hoodwinking taxpayers in a “deceptive land proposal.” A letter of intent signed in April 2025 offered $3 million for up to 2 acres of land. The May 2025 draft buy/sell agreement, which was never signed, looked to purchase 1.71 acres, since a portion of property contained an unbuildable easement.  

The final amount of land trustees looked to purchase “was never discussed” in public ahead of the drafted buy/sell agreement, Wright said during public comment on Thursday.  

He thirdly accused Wheeler and Dugan of being manipulated by a real estate agent, who he said appeared to act as a dual agent for the library and the Texas-based firm that is redeveloping the mall property.  

Trustees refuted all three claims, both in Wheeler’s response letter, and during the March 26 meeting.  

“I think it’s great when people have a concern, and they bring it to our attention,” said Trustee Doug Adams. “I don’t understand the need to do it antagonistically.” 

Nothing has been set in stone, and negotiations are still ongoing, several members said during the meeting. After discussion, the board voted to make a formal statement to address Wright’s complaint.  

“We appreciate community members’ input and communications,” Wheeler read aloud, “but we have investigated and found these accusations of unethical behavior to be without merit.” 

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.