Kalispell's growing pains expected to continue

Kalispell's 18,000 people might increase to 25,000 by 2015, one growth estimate says.

Or Kalispell might hit 33,000 people by 2015 if it keeps growing at the same 6 percent annual rate by which it currently is increasing.

That means the city's growing pains will continue for a long time.

On Saturday, the Kalispell City Council and government department leaders reviewed what types of issues that the city will face through 2015 and 2020.

"Growth keeps us going nuts," said council member Hank Olson.

Council member Tim Kluesner said: "Hank is saying that the tail is wagging the dog."

And council member Bob Herron added: "You either grow, or you die."

Complicating Kalispell's predicted growth picture is that, of Montana's seven mostpopulous counties, Flathead County is the only one in which the rural population significantly outnumbers the county seat's population.

"Kalispell's City Council has difficult decisions to make. Only 18,000 people vote for you. But you serve an area of 80,000. … There are 30,000 people who come in [to Kalispell] every day to use your cops, your roads, your sewers," said Matthew Fairholm, a professor of public administration at the University of South Dakota, who led Saturday's council study session. Herron said that possibly 800 people voted in Kalispell's last mostly uncontested City Council elections, while roughly 3,800 city residents voted in the last significantly contested council elections.

Fairholm also cautioned that though Kalispell's economy might grow for 10 or 15 years, there is no guarantee that surge won't bust eventually.

Mayor Pam Kennedy countered that though growth might slow down, she does not expect an eventual economic downturn.

However, she and other council members said Kalispell has to work on encouraging children to stay in Kalispell when they become adults, and the city needs to attract other young people to strengthen the economy and quality of life.

In general, council members want to nurture Kalispell as a cozy, picturesque and safe city with a strong economy and affordable housing, plus cultural and outdoors attractions.

Meanwhile, council members were briefed about the effects that recent years of booming growth have had on the city. These included:

. The Kalispell Fire Department went out on slightly more than 2,000 calls in 2001 and more than 4,000 calls in 2005. Fire and rescue calls remained somewhat steady at a little more than 300 during both years. But in-city ambulance calls increased from roughly 1,000 in 2001 to about 1,300 in 2005. Kalispell ambulance calls outside of the city limits jumped from roughly 900 in 2001 to about 1,100 in 2005.

. The city's water lines increased from 75 miles in 2000 to 94 miles in 2005.

. Kalispell's sewer lines increased from 68 miles in 2000 to 92 miles in 2005.

. The city's streets increased from slightly more than 60 miles in 2000 to 79 miles in 2005.

. U.S. 93 just north of Kalispell averaged 18,400 cars a day in 2000. The same spot averaged 22,100 cars a day in 2005.

. Three Mile Drive averaged roughly 4,400 cars a day in 2000. The same spot averaged slightly more than 6,000 cars a day in 2005. Olson predicted traffic counts on U.S. 93 North and Three Mile Drive will increase significantly when Glacier High School opens in northwestern Kalispell.

The study session ended with no decisions made.