Outgoing Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson on Monday thanked his fellow councilors and the past leaders he shared the dais with during his 12 years in office.  

“This is where the sausage is made,” he said from the mayor's chair, which he occupied for the last time Jan. 5.  

Johnson and the three outgoing councilors bid farewell before the new leadership assumed their seats at the Monday evening Council meeting. 

“I feel like it’s time to turn my tassel to the right side of my hat and throw my hat in the air because after 12 years, I am ready to graduate and move on with life,” Johnson said.  

Johnson said he will miss advocating for Kalispell but not having to make tie-breaking policy votes.  

“Because you know in that audience, half the people are going to be really upset with you, and half are gonna be really happy. And you know in another month, you’ll have another decision like that and it’s gonna flip flop,” he said. “I won’t miss that, but I will miss making policy and watching out for my city.” 

“I think we’ve laid a great groundwork for the next Council to move forward on. And I look forward to watching this Council, the new mayor, step forward and fill the shoes, because you will have feet big enough to fill these shoes,” he added.  

Chad Graham thanked his constituents in Ward 2 for trusting him over the past 12 years.  

“I’m happy to go, in my mind, and leave this office feeling that I held true to my values, that my integrity remains intact,” Graham said. “It is my honor to be able to represent Ward 2 and to represent their concerns to the Council, and that’s something I would never apologize for even though sometimes it was hard to do.”  

Sandy Carlson represented Ward 1 from 2014 until losing the November election to incoming Councilor Wes Walker. 

“Twelve years ago, I didn’t know what an impact fee was, but now if anyone wants to know about impact fees, I think I could tell you,” Carlson said. “It’s been an honor to serve Kalispell in the last 12 years, and it did go very quickly.” 

Outgoing Councilor Jessica Dahlman, who served one term that began in 2022, encouraged Kalispell's citizenry to run for office and participate in local government.  

“Thank you to the citizens of Kalispell, I couldn’t be here without you. I’m excited for all the new Council members, I’m excited for Ryan [Hunter] to be mayor,” she said.  

The outgoing councilors received a standing ovation from the packed City Hall as they vacated their seats. Mayor Ryan Hunter, incumbent Councilor Jed Fisher and the new councilors, Lisa Blank and Kyle Waterman and Walker, were sworn in before assuming their seats behind the dais.  

Hunter’s ascension to the mayor’s chair leaves a vacancy on Council. The five applicants for his former Ward 3 seat are expected to provide a brief presentation at Council’s Jan. 12 meeting before one is appointed.   

FOLLOWING THE revelry of the leadership transition, Council approved a conditional use permit to allow for a condominium project in North Kalispell.  

Developer Neil Johnson plans to erect two multi-family residential buildings, totaling 36 units, at 95 Village Loop. City staff will consider installing a crosswalk across Whitefish Stage Road, which would create a pedestrian connection to nearby Edgerton Elementary School.  

Council also gave the green light to Fatt Boys Bar and Grille’s expansion of its gambling area. The granted conditional use permit allows for a 155-square-foot expansion of the restaurant's casino within the existing building located at 1307 U.S. 2 W.  

The permit also requires a sidewalk to be installed along the frontage of the property, which would bridge the existing paths on either side.  

Council also OK’d NorthWestern Energy’s plan to expand its utility building on North Meridian Road and authorized a preliminary plat extension to the upcoming Creekside Subdivision that will see 29 detached single-family and 37 attached single-family lots off Farm to Market Road.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].