Montana Transparency Project Public Records Request Public Comment from Brad Wright1
Aimee Brunckhorst
From:Brad Wright <bradwright@bullittmail.com>
Sent:Monday, March 16, 2026 11:41 AM
To:Montana Transparency Project
Cc:Hon. Kristen Juras; Austin Knudsen; Montana Joint Legislative Audit Committee; Kalispell City
Council; Pete Melnick
Subject:EXTERNAL Montana Transparency Project Public Records Request
Attachments:MTP Public Records Request.pdf
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Hello,
Please see the attached MTP Public Records Request.
Thank you,
Brad Wright
To: Montana Transparency Project (MTP) Legal Team
From: Brad Wright
Date: March 16, 2026
Subject: REQUEST FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE: Public Records Request & Investigation into
Administrative Insulation (MT LAD Case # FY21HT1CBK)
1. Statement of Purpose I am requesting that the Montana Transparency Project assist in a
public records request and subsequent investigation into a potential pattern of "administrative
insulation" involving the Montana Legislative Audit Division (LAD) and a "closed loop" of local
and state officials, specifically by Dan Guzynski, or someone he assigned, rather than being
subjected to a standard investigative process. The goal is to uncover why Case #
FY21HT1CBK was resolved without public explanation and how that resolution relates to
current irregularities in the Kalispell Center Mall/Parkline District development.
2. Scope of Request Pursuant to the Montana Constitution, Article II, Section 9 ("Right to
Know"), I am seeking all records, investigative summaries, and referral letters related to:
● Glacier Rail Park/Core Area Development (2019- 2020): Allegations of diverted
CARES Act and TIGER Grant funding (supplemented by other fund sources) diverted
to FCEDA and BNSF deceptively.
● The "Kalispell Center Mall" Proposal (2025-2026): Infrastructure and scope
irregularities involving the Kalispell Center Mall and the Parkline Trail.
● All referral memos, closure justifications, and internal correspondence from the Montana
DOJ Prosecution Services Bureau regarding the decision to resolve Case #
FY21HT1CBK without further action.
3. Key Personnel & Entities To identify relevant "closed loop" communications, the search
should include correspondence between the LAD and:
● Dan Guzynski: Chief of Prosecution Services, MT DOJ; formerly Flathead County
Deputy Attorney.
● Johnna Preble: Kalispell City Attorney.
● Tara Fugina: Flathead County Attorney’s Office.
4. Date Range August 1, 2020 – March 16, 2026.
Thank you for your time and professional consideration of these matters.
Sincerely,
Brad Wright
cc:
● Honorable Kristen Juras, Lt. Governor of Montana
● Attorney General Austin Knudsen
● Montana Legislative Audit Committee
● Kalispell City Council
● Flathead County Commissioners
● Flathead Beacon / Daily Inter Lake
Appendix A: MASTER SUMMARY: Investigation File
Project Reference: Glacier Rail Park and Kalispell Core Area Development and Trail Project
Grant Identifiers: TIGER Grant (FR-TII-0046-17) | CARES Act (Local Govt. Reimbursement)
Case References: USDOT OIG (WB191113-01) | MT LAD (FY21HT1CBK) | GAO FraudNet
(COMP-20-000008)
I. Folder Overview
This collection of documents serves as a comprehensive record of a multi-year effort to expose
and remediate alleged grant fraud, financial mismanagement, and "administrative insulation"
within the City of Kalispell and its partner agencies (FCEDA, BNSF). The primary focus is the
Phase 2 "Complete Streets" and Trail component of the TIGER Grant project.
II. Core Allegations & Legal Framework
● Grant Fraud & Purpose Diversion: Allegations that the City and Project Team
fundamentally changed the scope of the project to eliminate required "Complete Street"
connectors while diverting public funds to benefit private corporations.
● CARES Act Misappropriation: Evidence suggesting nearly $1 million in federal
COVID-19 relief funds (complemented by local fund sources) were diverted to finance
the construction of the core area trail without proper City Council authorization or
state-level disclosure.
● Financial Deception (FCEDA/BNSF/Woodbury Corp):
○ FCEDA: $6.5 million financial obligation replaced by city taxpayer funds. Millions
more in other irregular transfers from city accounts.
○ BNSF: Financial benefits of over $1 million despite original feasibility studies
(Willdan) stating the land was to be donated at no cost.
○ Woodbury Corp: Allegations that infrastructure improvements (1st Ave WN)
were prioritized to benefit the Kalispell Center Mall rather than the public street
connectivity required by the grant.
● Regulatory Violations: Non-compliance with the National Trails System Act, Surface
Transportation Board (STB) abandonment rules, and 5 CFR § 2635.101 ethical
standards.
III. Critical Documents Index
1. Formal Complaint: The foundational 49-page document detailing grant fraud and
misappropriation.
2. GAO Notification: Initial report to the Federal Government regarding railbanking and
financial infractions.
3. State Referral: Evidence of the complaint submitted to the Montana Legislative Audit
Division (Case # FY21HT1CBK).
4. Regulatory Appeal: Details the FOIA appeal and concerns regarding STB Docket #AB
6 495 X.
5. Current Status: Formal request to the Lt. Governor to address the lack of transparency
in the MT LAD resolution.
IV. Key Entities Involved
● Federal: USDOT OIG, FRA, STB, GAO FraudNet, Montana Congressional Delegation
● State: Montana Dept. of Justice, MT Legislative Audit Division, MT Commissioner of
Political Practices (COPP).
● Local/Consulting: City of Kalispell (Doug Russell, Jarod Nygren, Tom Jentz, PJ
Sorensen, Nelson Loring, Johnna Preble), Kalispell Urban Renewal Board, FCEDA.
V. Status of Resolution
1. Federal Level: Complaints remain active but have faced "deliberative process privilege"
hurdles during FOIA requests.
2. State Level: Case FY21HT1CBK was referred by the MT LAD to the Montana DOJ
Prosecution Services Bureau. It was subsequently closed as 'Resolved' without a
public report or investigative findings, suggesting a failure of state-level oversight.
3. Recent Action: A Petition for Intervention has been filed with the Lt. Governor ’s office to
challenge the "closed loop" of local/state oversight and address current irregularities in
the "Library Mall" proposal.