Council to review residency requirements

The Daily Inter Lake

Kalispell's new police chief might be allowed to live outside city limits if the City Council votes to change that rule.

The council told City Manager Jim Patrick on Monday to prepare that proposal for a formal vote later this month.

This action is prompted by police Chief Frank Garner's decision to retire in December after 21 years with the Kalispell force.

City regulations and state case law hold gray areas on whether the council can order government department leaders to live within Kalispell.

Right now, only Garner and fire Chief Randy Brodehl have been given ironclad orders to live within the city limits. Patrick also is required to live within the city by his contract. Currently, some department leaders live in Kalispell, and some don't.

Brodehl and Garner recommended Monday that the police chief be held only to a requirement that he or she must be able to reach the police station from home within a specific time, or live within a specific distance from the city. Each said he likely would have chosen to live outside city limits if allowed to when appointed.

A factor in this discussion is that some council members lean toward giving in-house candidates the first chances at interviewing for the chief's job - and some strong potential nominees live outside of Kalispell, but within one mile of city limits.

If the in-house candidates don't measure up, then the search for a chief may expand, those council members suggested.