Comments 5/13/24 from Dr Kyle SmalleyJudi Funk
From: Kalispell Vision Clinic <office@kalispellvisionclinic.com>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 11:46 AM
To: Kalispell Meetings Public Comment
Subject: EXTERNAL Comments 5/13/2024
Attachments: Council notes.pdf
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City Council members,
Please find attached comments from Dr Kyle Smalley owner and provider at Vision Clinic.
Michelle Davey
Vision Clinic
58o N Meridian Rd
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 755-5910 P
(406) 756-5701 f
The Kalispell Vision Clinic moved from its Meridian Avenue location at 100 Westview Park
Place to 580 North Meridian in July 2019. With our prior location also on Meridian, some of
the negative affects of the addition of the Warming Shelter have been undeniable. Our
number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of our staff and patients. Some of
memorable incidents we've experienced in the past few years that we feel have threatened
our staff and/or patient's safety include:
• A gentlemen being denied phone access after multiple prior
accommodations returned to threaten staff with a tire iron
• Many episodes of people sleeping, leaving trash, human feces around our
building
• Awoman sleeping in our dumpster during business hours
• Our staff witnessing vehicle break-ins and many attempted break-ins
• Loitering by staff vehicles
• One episode in which a lady fleeing from just stealing a gentleman's bag and
wallet at the Blue Cow got into an employee's spouse's running vehicle
attempting to overtake the driver
• Multiple episodes of verbal assault on our employees when asking people to
vacate our business's property
• Facilities being used by routinely by non -patients, left in rough condition, i.e.
bathingfrom the sink
While we do not have an answer for the increasing homeless struggles in the Flathead
Valley we do argue that the current location of the shelter is having a negative affect on
surrounding businesses. This can easily be demonstrated simply by our office's significant
increase in KPD calls over the past few years. These calls are unfortunately becoming very
commonplace for our staff. Our priority is in having a safe location for our staff and
patients.