Lapp/Zone Change/Pre-Release Center4-20-09
Mayor Kennedy and City Council Members:
An article which appeared in the April 16th issue of the Daily Interlake
told of how the Kalispell Planning Board rejected a conditional use
permit for a 4-plex apartment building in the Three Mile Views
subdivision and will recommend the Council deny it also. Six people
protested the application for the CUP with one of the elements of
argument being the devaluation of property.
At the April 6th meeting before you the council, you heard over 2 hours
of public testimony from a capacity filled room of good, articulate
people with valid, legitimate concerns one of them being the devaluation
of property should the proposed pre-release center be allowed in the
south Kalispell business district. With the exception of Mr. Kluesner
and Mr. Hafferman, the majority of you completely dismissed that public
comment and voted in favor of the zone change request.
In today's Interlake, the front page story is all about how the
resources of our already overburdened child welfare program, will
continue to be taxed largely due to the increase in child neglect cases,
citing the faltering economy as a major factor. With that in mind I
would again ask you, where are 40 new convicts going to find jobs in
Kalispell? Our own out of work law-abiding citizens should not have to
compete with convicted felons for jobs.
The proposed location generated a total of $7918 tax dollars for state
and local education for the calendar year 2008. A similar amount will be
lost annually when/if the property becomes non-profit.
$1,903 goes to Flathead High School District
$2,769 goes to Kalispell City Elementary
$302 goes to FVCC
$118 goes to the state’s university system
$783 goes to the state for school aid for equalization
$2,043 goes to county for school transportation and
retirement and approx. 1/2 goes to state for equalization.
While you're attempting to cover for the city's current financial
shortfall, everyone else who benefits from that $7918 is getting the
shaft.
One has to wonder if you have really given careful thought to how far
reaching this proposed pre-release center issue really is, or have you
simply taken the word of Mr. Jentz, as a substitute for due diligence.
If one were to judge your actions on April 6th (and prior to April 6th,
re: Kohl's, Petsmart, Glacier Center, et al.), it is clear you are not
interested in commerce in the City of Kalispell. One might also conclude
by your dismissiveness, that you do not fully understand just how much
of the tax base is made up of business owners. Instead, you seem
consumed with imposing crippling impact fees to any potential new
business wishing to set up shop within the city limits.
Being an election year, your constituency will surely take a long look
at your record and whether or not they feel they are still being
represented by their City Council. I urge you to rethink your positions
on the zone change request for the location of the proposed pre-release
center.
Sincerely Yours,
Mickey Lapp
160 Kelly Rd.
Kalispell, Mt. 59901
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