Letter to Council from Courtenay Sprunger, State Rep., House District 7�� n;�a tea✓ia fe'zK3 lac lr��e
MONTANA DOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Representative Courtenay Sprunger
Local Government Vice Chair
House District 7
DURING THE SESSION
COMMITTEES
HOME ADDRESS
State Capitol Building
Business and Labor
470 Riverside Rd
PO Box 200400
Local Government
Kalispell MT 59901
Helena MT 59620-0400
Transportation
(406) 270-2949
Phone: (406) 444-4800
Rules
Courtenay.Sprunger@legmt.gov
Web: legmt.gov
June 9, 2025
Dear Councilor Carlson,
I write today on behalf of two fully disabled veterans —Mr. Dustin Young and Mr. Jonathan Crutchfield —
residents of House District 7 and constituents I have had the honor to serve. These men live in the only
home on their street without off-street parking, located adjacent to Legends Field, which serves as the
football and track facility for our local high schools.
On event days, the area in front of their home is frequently overwhelmed with general parking or
blocked off entirely to make way for school buses. As a result, these two men —who rely on canes for
mobility and manage serious conditions such as seizures —are routinely left without any accessible place
to park near their own front door.
Over the past six months, I have worked extensively to help find a solution. This has included facilitating
multiple meetings with City staff, working with council members, and supporting these veterans in
exploring options with their landlord. I appreciate that the City has made some attempts to address the
situation, and I acknowledge that, in an ideal world, the property owner would be able to provide off-
street parking. Unfortunately, none of these paths have yielded a workable outcome.
That leaves us at a decision point. While the situation may not fit a preexisting template, I believe public
service calls us to do more —especially when the people affected have already given so much for our
country and our community. Mr. Young and Mr. Crutchfield are simply asking for reasonable, consistent
access to their home so they can continue to live safely and independently. Mr. Crutchfield is available
via phone for discussion at (210) 306-0146.
I urge the City to re-engage with this issue and work toward a creative, compassionate solution. These
men deserve our best efforts —not because policy demands it, but because it is the right thing to do.
Courtenay Sprunger
State Representative, House District 7