Unknown/Kalispell City AirportJanuary 27, 2010
Kalispell Mayor & City Council Members
Subject: Kalispell City Airport
Now is the perfect opportunity for the City Council to show that you are indeed "business
friendly." The business community is watching to see what decision you will make on the
Kalispell City Airport.
Realtors, loggers, attorneys, engineers, and many State and Federal agencies use the City Airport
along with the flight training and other business that go on there. It is a proven fact that the City
Airport does provide a huge economic stimulus to this community, and you as civic leaders need
to always remember that.
The problem with the airport now is that it is in dire need of an upgrade to a more modern facility.
I understand as a businessman that it costs money to rebuild and modernize a facility, but in this
case the City of Kalispell has a willing partner in the Federal Government (FAA) who wants to
see this facility upgraded to meet today's standards and at the same time make it safer. The City
of Kalispell should look very seriously at accepting the government's offer to pay 95% of the
upgrade of this airport and get on with the proposed upgrade. This is not much different than
accepting funds to build a new highway in or around the City. This is a part of our transportation
system in this country that brings thousands of visitors to our community each year. These
visitors may only stay overnight or may stay for weeks, but what we have to remember is, we can
not shut off the mode of transportation they use to come to our community.
When you decide how and when to move forward, you need to recognize the business interests
involved on and around the airport and weigh them against those of the people who voluntarily
bought and moved next to the airport.
I understand by just moving the runway a short distance to the south you can make the airport
safer and quieter. That would seem to be a solution that takes all interests into consideration. It
is time to stop tabling this matter and move on with it.