As many may know Mayor Ryan Hunter loves non-profit organizations and so much so that recently at a Kalispell City Council meeting, he suggested setting up a “committee” to invite non-profit organizations to come and speak before council.

However, this is not a bright idea as it would pose numerous problems.

1. Would every non-profit in the city be invited?
2. This would take up valuable time for already lengthy council meetings as each group would be allotted about 15-20 minutes presentation time.
3. If council should spend all this time allowing non-profits to speak who gets invited and who doesn’t? Would some be excluded altogether?
   
4. If council allows one group, shouldn’t it be allowed for all NGO’s (non-profits) to have a chance to come speak? And why should they come speak? Does this really pertain to the city matters or is it just a way for organizations to “pitch” themselves and their mission?
5. And what about businesses? Shouldn’t they be able to come speak and share their businesses as well?
6. The Kalispell City Council has enough on their plate as they will soon be tackling the city’s budget so why heap on more outside presentations? Most folks don’t want to be at meetings for hours on end.

And when non-profits find out about this can’t you just imagine the frenzy? Will some get a private invite?

Quite frankly this appears to be a conflict of interest.

It’s Hunter’s goal to bring in or allow his ‘pet projects’ to speak (meaning housing, he’s all about housing); that’s an unaccountable and poor move on his part. The city needs to remain neutral in the case of businesses or non-profit organizations. Furthermore, Hunter wants these NGO’s to “present” during regular council meetings (not work sessions when very few folks from the public come to council meetings).

Why not set up a special time outside of regular council meetings where ALL non-profits and businesses can come speak or rather omit it altogether? This reeks of favoritism and that has no place in weekly council meetings.

Everything a city allows much be related to city government. The city needs to remain neutral in the case of businesses and non-profit organizations.

Mayor Hunter ultimately wants a housing authority (meaning using taxpayer funds) to house the homeless. So, it’s obvious anything housing related he’s all for.

Keep your eyes open Kalispell and attend City Council meetings because Kalispell is changing before your very eyes and definitely not for the better.