Kalispell to assist with building inspections

The city of Whitefish will get assistance from the city of Kalispell with its commercial building inspections.

Whitefish’s chief building official Virgil Bench is out on a long-term illness and the city needed a way to handle plan review for commercial building projects, according to City Manager Chuck Stearns.

Whitefish City Council Oct. 19 authorized an interlocal agreement between the two cities for the temporary agreement.

“I’m very pleased that we looked around the valley for help,” Councilor Frank Sweeney said.

Kalispell City Council also approved the interlocal agreement. Kalispell said it could handle the additional workload as it currently has a lull for a few months before new commercial project building applications are expected.

Stearns said the city’s other two building inspectors can perform residential plan reviews, while a third inspector is also temporarily out for a health issue.

Projects to be reviewed include the new City Hall and parking structure downtown and a possible Marriott Hotel.

Kalispell will receive 50 percent of Whitefish’s total building application fee and be reimbursed for time and materials for additional services. The cost of the work is not to exceed $100,000.

In addition, Kalispell will provide commercial building inspections for Columbia Falls should the need arise. Columbia Falls contracts with Whitefish to perform its building inspections.