The city of Kalispell’s request for public funding to build a new equipment garage will move forward to City Council despite the advisory board responsible for reviewing such projects not making a recommendation.  

When the Urban Renewal Agency met on Sept. 17, not enough members attended to establish a quorum. This left the board unable to vote on whether to support the project that drew scrutiny at a previous meeting.  

Council on Sept. 28 will decide the city’s request for $10.4 million in tax increment financing funds to construct a new equipment storage and maintenance garage.

The three Urban Renewal Agency board members who attended last week’s meeting asked city officials why a new garage is needed and what would happen to the current one. Those who questioned the project’s funding during an August work session were not present. 

During the August meeting, some members raised concern that because the land would be owned by the city and tax-exempt, the project would not generate revenue to flow back into the tax increment financing fund, one of its core purposes. 

They also argued that while the entire city would benefit from a new garage, only taxpayers in the district will bear the burden of paying for it.  

While the proposal qualifies as a public infrastructure project eligible for tax increment financing funding under state law, members still appeared reluctant to pass a positive recommendation to Council. 

During the agency’s September meeting, newly appointed member Pete Melnick asked how a new garage would benefit the community.  

Road and Fleet Superintendent Gene Corne responded that it will ensure the city can continue maintaining its same level of service.  

The existing garage, located south of Legends Stadium, allows city workers to perform the majority of maintenance work, such as fixing headlights and overhauling engines. But as the city expands, so does the fleet of vehicles needed to maintain it. 

Fire engines can’t fit into the structure, storage space is nearly exhausted and maintenance demands continue to increase. A new facility with a welding bay, taller ceilings and longer service bays are needed, according to the city’s funding application.  

The Public Works Department is eyeing county-owned property at 815 W. Wyoming St., directly north of the fairgrounds, for a new facility. The city’s $10.4 million ask covers the cost to purchase the property, construct the building, and make site improvements and street frontage upgrades. 

The new garage is expected to satisfy Kalispell’s needs for the next 30 years, according to a memo from Community Development Manager Nelson Loring.  

The West Side Core Area tax increment financing fund — the pool the city is looking to draw from — totals roughly $10.8 million. However, Loring said the money would be doled out in phases, allowing the fund to be replenished.  

The existing garage would be reassigned to the city’s sewer department, which also needs additional space to maintain more than 40 lift stations that transport sewage throughout the system, according to Corne.  

The Urban Renewal Agency board expanded from five to seven members after a change in state law required the city to add representatives from the county and school district. Melnick, the Flathead County administrator, was appointed earlier this month. The city is still waiting for an application from Kalispell Public Schools. 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.