Kalispell City Council Approves Casino in New Downtown Steakhouse
The Kalispell City Council approved the installation of an accessory casino at a new steakhouse, the Mountain Prime Steakhouse, which will open in the former Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana building located at 214 S. Main St. The restaurant is owned by Tuyen Tran, who also operates Blue Samurai Sushi Bar and Grill and other businesses in the Kalispell area.
While the overall response was positive, Councilor Ryan Hunter expressed his reservations about issuing the conditional use permit necessary for the casino’s establishment. “I don’t like casinos. I don’t believe they benefit our community or society at large. They seem to target low-income individuals,” he stated.
In contrast, some council members felt that assessing the ethics of gambling was outside of their responsibilities. “It’s not our job to determine what’s right or wrong,” remarked Councilor Sid Daoud. Councilor Chad Graham supported this view, asserting that individuals are capable of making their own decisions and that casinos do not inherently target the impoverished.
According to Assistant Development Services Director PJ Sorensen, many restaurants and bars incorporate casinos to offset the hefty costs associated with obtaining a state-issued liquor license, which currently stands around $1.5 million. Councilor Hunter commented on the difficult situation, attributing it to the state’s flawed liquor laws.
Although outright bans on casinos aren’t possible, Sorensen noted that the Council could impose regulations regarding where casinos are allowed within the city, although this proposal did not gain much support. Councilor Sam Nunnally expressed his concerns about conditional use permits, suggesting a claw-back provision, but the existing terms already mandated compliance with the application conditions.
Community Feedback and Budget Discussions
During a public hearing about the city’s proposed $182 million budget for fiscal year 2026, only one resident, Gracie Stocksdale, voiced her concerns. She criticized the Council’s decision to transition to mail-in voting for the upcoming municipal election on November 4, branding it as “lazy” and a potential opening for fraud. Stocksdale urged the council to enhance public awareness regarding upcoming elections.
Impact Fee Decisions and Future Leadership
The Council opted not to raise police and fire impact fees, maintaining the current rates set in 2015, despite proposed increases to accommodate growth and capital improvements for local departments. Councilor Hunter advocated for the fee increase, emphasizing that developers should bear the costs associated with community impacts, while other councilors believed it could result in higher costs for residents.
Several councilors expressed interest in serving on a subcommittee to search for a new city manager following Doug Russell’s departure next month. Russell, who has served the community for 13 years, acknowledged the support from both current and past councils. Additionally, the Council unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with local firefighters, which includes market-based wage adjustments and an increase in paramedic pay to address national shortages.
Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or [email protected].
