City interviews police chief candidates

The search for a new Columbia Falls police chief could be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks. On Monday, a city committee which included Mayor Don Barnhart, City Manager Susan Nicosia, Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset, and city police commission member Larry Wilson interviewed three finalists.

Nicosia said two of the three candidates were from Montana and the other was from out of state, but since they were all still employed, she declined to name them.

Council will likely approve a new chief by its Oct. 24 meeting. The city has been without a chief since July, when longtime Chief Dave Perry was fired following the May escape of an inmate from the city’s jail.

Perry has since filed a wrongful discharge suit against the city.

Sgt. Sean Murphy has been running the department since, with help from Whitefish Assistant Chief Mike Ferda, who is working a few hours a week on a contract basis.

In other news:

• The city approved a $144,970 contract with engineering firm Robert Peccia and Associates to complete engineering work on the Riverwood Drive project. The city is planning on rebuilding the street and adding sewer and water lines to homes there. The project was slated to start in 2008, but the Great Recession stalled it. The city is working on an equitable special improvement district to make the project affordable for homeowners. A neighborhood meeting is planned for Nov. 1. The city hopes to start on the project late next spring and have it completed by next August.

• The city received a letter from Ken and Carol Bell. The Bells are selling eight of the 10 acres they own adjacent to River’s Edge Park and were inquiring whether the city would be interested in buying the land. Council referred the matter to the parks committee and will invite the Bells to the meeting for further discussions. The Bells didn’t name a price in their letter. River’s Edge Park is the largest Park the city owns at 27.5 acres and it gets a lot of use.