Public Safety Levy Poll 2

Thank you to those of you who voted in my second poll on the public safety levy.

7 of you think police and fire should be listed separately on the ballot;

3 of you think it should be combined;

1 is not sure and would like more info.;

23 of you do not plan to vote for the levy.

The city has not decided yet if they are going to list fire and police separately on the ballot. If my very unofficial poll is a harbinger of things to come, it won't make a difference.

Census 2010 Meeting

What: Community Meeting with US Census officials

When: Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30pm

Where: County Annex, County Commission Chamber Room

Dear Community Members,

The Cascade County Census Complete Count Committee would like to invite you to a community meeting with the U.S. Census Officials regarding the 2010 Census. Representatives of the U.S. Census will be meeting with the local Cascade County Census Complete Count Committee and members of its sub-committees on March 17th at 5:30 p.m. at the County Annex, County Commission Chambers Meeting Room.

The Census Crews will start address canvassing in the Great Falls area April 20. This operation ensures that all addresses will be in the Census database when the questionnaire is delivered or mailed in March 2010.

The Cascade County Census Complete Count Committee will be establishing sub-committees. Sub-committees will be created based on categories of Business, Education, Military, Ministerial, Rural Communities, Social Services, and more. These sub-committees will be important in regards to publicizing the importance of the Census to the community.

Additionally, the Census is planning on posting job announcements for the management team that they want to recruit for the Great Falls Local Census Office that should open in the Fall of 2009. They hope to recruit a diverse staff and the jobs that would be included are the Local Census Office Manager, Assistant Manager for Recruiting. Assistant Manager for Administration, Assistant Manager for Field Operations, Assistant Manager for Quality Assurance, and Assistant Manager for Technology.

Community members interested in serving on a sub-committee, or just wanting more information on how the census will be conducted or positions available, are invited to attend this public meeting. Also, if you know of any one that would be interested in serving, please feel free to invite them.

Please feel free to contact James Parker Shield or myself with any questions regarding the Census and/or the March 17th meeting.

Sincerely,

Luke Walawander

James Parker Shield
Chairman
Cascade County Census Complete Count Committee
1-406-590-1745 jpshield@hotmail.com

Luke Walawander1-406-529-8222luke.walawander@gmail.com

Section 106

Section 106 deals with the effect that certain projects can have on historic properties. This review process has not been completed with regard to HGS. And now, even though SME has decided to move forward with a gasification plant and put HGS on the back burner, it does not mean this review process is over.

See here for the latest correspondence with regard to this issue.

(Click here and here for previous details regarding this situation).

More Secrets

Very recently, more documents, 59 to be exact, have been added to the "secret box". (You can also view the previous submitted logs in this same folder). According to an affidavit of the City Clerk, these e-mails were overlooked when the initial privilege logs were submitted.

These records go as far back as January 2006 with the most recent being July 2008. A few involve communications with Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op.

Obviously, these e-mails were not produced initially when the judge ruled that citizens had the right to view public documents.

I'd like to know how these were discovered, who found them and how many more are still lurking around city hall.

Counterfeit $100s In Great Falls

An alert from the Chamber of Commerce:

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

ALERT!

The Secret Service Office in Billings, MT has confirmed numerous reports of counterfeit hundreds in the Great Falls and Helena areas.

These bills have the following characteristics:
* Series - 1999
* Check Letter and Face Plate Number- G24
* Back Plate Number - 29
* Check Letter and Quadrant Number - G1

The paper is texturized, but has no red and blue fibers.

These counterfeit notes are pretty sophisticated and still have a hologram and a security strip. They will also test "normal" with a counterfeit pen (don't rely solely on those).

Click Here to view a PDF of Know Your Money.

Revitalizing Downtown

Join in a meeting to discuss how we can revitalize downtown Great Falls using the Main Street Approach:

What: Downtown Development & Revitalization meeting

When: Thursday, March 19 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

For more info., click here.

Don't forget to complete the downtown survey. Link is found on the flyer.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of Mar. 9, 2009

UPDATE: See council #9

Four councils are meeting this week:

NC#7
When: Monday, March 9 at 7:00pm

Where: NeighborWorks, 509 1st Ave. So.

Agenda:

See here.

NC#1

When: Tuesday, March 10 at 7:00pm

Where: Meadow Lark School library

Agenda:

Update on West Hill airport noise reduction project
Bicycle trails - John Juras
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#2
When: Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00pm

Where: West Elementary, 1205 1st Ave. N.W.

Agenda:

Update on the southwest Great Falls noise reduction project
Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC9

When: Thursday, March 19 at 7:00pm (rescheduled from March 12)

Where: Great Falls High South Campus, Room 105

Agenda:

Info. on the Beautiful Minds walk

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#s 5 and 8 are still looking for qualified members to fill vacancies. You must be a registered voter and live within the respective neighborhoods. Interested parties should contact Patty Cadwell at 455-8496 or pcadwell@greatfallsmt.net

No Sunshine In Cut Bank Either

After reading this article in today's Tribune and more info. from Gregg, it seems Cut Bank is also having problems with a mayor/city council that doesn't like to give its citizens the right to be recognized and heard at public meetings either.

At least the folks in Cut Bank aren't being kept in the dark (no pun intended) about their mushroom status at city hall.

Neighborhood Council 7-March Meeting

AGENDA
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Monday, March 9, 2008
NeighborWorks Great Falls, 509 1st Avenue South
7:00 p.m.

Please note: This agenda format allows citizens to speak on each issue prior to Council discussion. We encourage your participation. In the interest that all parties can be heard, please limit your comments.


CALL TO ORDER

APPROVAL OF February Minutes

REPORTS
Police Advisory Board
City Commission
Other Reports

NEW BUSINESS
Beautiful Minds walk—Greg Hall
Mr. Jaason Goad—traffic problems
Proposed public safety levy--discussion
Neighborhood Concerns

OLD BUSINESS
Downtown Police Officer petition
Problem Properties
Other Old Business

OTHER BUSINESS
Council of Councils meeting—Tuesday, March 31, 2009, Gibson Room

ADJOURN

Next meeting April 13, 2009—Community Rec Center, 801 2nd Ave. N

Bad Bills Update

At the beginning of the legislative session, Badbills.com had a few that I mentioned here:

State Pancake - #LC0162 - missed deadline, probably dead.

State dog - #LC1194 - missed deadline, probably dead.

Juneteenth National Freedom Day - #LC1406 - missed deadline, probably dead.

State insect - #LC1890 - missed deadline, probably dead.

State love song - #HB184 - missed deadline, probably dead.

Revise stop requirements for bicycles - HB68 - missed deadline, probably dead.

It looks like the folks at badbills.com knew what they were talking about. But how much time and money was wasted on these that could have been spent on much more productive issues?

Maybe there should be a law....

Daylight Savings Time

How quickly time flies. This weekend is daylight savings time. We "spring" forward. The older I'm getting, the less I like it.

I was hoping SB177 would pass, but it missed its general bill transmittal deadline and is probably dead. Darn.

Be Afraid

At Tuesday night's City Commission meeting, I mentioned that Commissioner Rosenbaum responded that the reason he thought a poll vote to take the Public Service Commission to court was OK was because the issue was "ongoing".

After attending many City Commission meetings, I can tell you that a lot of what the Commission decides is from some "ongoing" matter. It may be listed as "New Buisness" on the agenda, but the core issue was from before. Think Animal Shelter, ECP, Water Rights, SME, HGS and now a gasification plant. And this list doesn't include the core functions of a city such as roads, sewers, water lines, public safety, etc.

So according to Rosenbaum's very telling statement, there are all kinds of decisions that could be made by a poll vote and one can't help but wonder how many have.

We can't always rely on Commissioner Jolley to know. She has said more than once that she doesn't always know what is going on, because she is kept "out of the loop". Heck. She wasn't even told how her fellow commissioners voted on the PSC suit. (We still don't know about Bronson).

As Mr. Liebert questioned the commission, why even have these meetings at all?

Rosenbaum didn't even try to redeem himself and Stebbins and Bronson made no comment. (Beecher was absent).

Small Victory

I've been advised that it was City Manger Doyon who directed one of the officers to don his uniform at the City Commission meeting Tuesday night.

Good call Mr. Doyon. But it's too bad it had to take a judge's ruling to enforce the people's will.

Public Safety Levy - Poll 2

For all intent purposes, the city will be holding a public safety levy vote in August.

It's still up in the air though if the fire and police will be listed as separate items on the ballot.

I conducted an earlier poll whereby the majority of you did not think the levy will pass. The Tribune conducted a poll too, and their numbers were against it passing as well.

Do you think separating the departments on the ballot will make a difference?

Let us know by participating in my second poll on this issue. I'm trying Polldaddy.com, which gives voters the opportunity to comment once they vote. Please share with us why you voted the way you did. And remember, I don't know who you are unless you tell me (us)!!

What Irony

Last night's work session focused solely on the public safety levy and the police department. Chief Grove did a good job outlining his department's needs, although his presentation did not mention costs and manpower associated with the animal shelter.

City Manager Doyon asked the commissioners what they were hearing from the public regarding the levy. Commissioner Jolley, as reported in today's paper, has heard that folks think the levy is only necessary because the city wasted money on energy ventures. The other commissioners and the mayor have heard positive things.

The meeting started at 5:30pm and was over by 6:30pm. There was still nearly a 1/2 hour to hear from the PUBLIC, the very people they said they wanted to hear from. Mayor Dona was ready to adjourn the meeting when Mr. Gessaman asked if she was going to allow public comment. She barked out yes at which time he asked if SB486 would have a bearing on Great Falls' levy. City staff didn't think so since that bill focuses on how a city spends public safety mill levies. (The Billings Gazette has an interesting article concerning the Billings city council voting no to support this bill).

I think it would be a very good idea to have another work session devoted entirely to public comment, because contrary to what some of the commissioners are saying, not everyone is hearing positive comments.

And after all, getting this levy passed or not has everything to do with the public.

Highlights of Tonight's City Commission Meeting

At tonight's meeting, one of the officers was in uniform. This is no doubt due to the very recent ruling by Judge Macek. A couple of citizens remarked on the positive change. During the Commissioner comment time at the end of the meeting, Commissioner Bronson made it clear that "this body" (City Commission) is not in charge of the dress code. If people wanted to say something about it, they should have spoken to the officer.

Mr. Richard Liebert, an advocate of open government, asked the Commission why they didn't hold a public hearing before they decided, by poll, to file suit against the Public Service Commission. Commissioner Jolley said she agreed with the statements Mr. Liebert made and was not in favor of the way it was decided. Mr. Liebert, well within his five minutes, continued to wait for the others to answer. After several seconds, the mayor piped up and asked Mr. Liebert if he understood what representative government meant. He said yes. He also said that he understands what an open, transparent government is. Mr. Liebert was still within his five minutes, so he continued to wait. Finally, Commissioner Rosenbaum spoke up and said that in his mind it was an ongoing thing and he didn't think there needed to be a meeting. The mayor agreed with him. Conspicuously quiet was Commissioner Bronson. He said nary a word on this issue tonight or here. (Commissioner Beecher was absent).

At the Commission work session on Feb. 17, City Manager Doyon said that "several funds are bleeding". He did not elaborate. Tonight, Mr. Ron Gessaman asked for a list of those "bleeding funds". I'll post them as soon as they are made available.

At the ECP board meeting last night, Coleen said she would be in Helena today to hear discussion at the Public Service Commission meeting. Commissioner Jolley asked her what they decided to do. They are going to respond to the complaint.

And so it goes.

Community Legislative Forum

When: Friday, March 6 at Noon

Where: Campus of MSU-COT, Room B-133

Plan on joining fellow Great Falls residents March 6th, at noon, for the next Community Legislative Forum. Visit ‘face to face’ with our area legislative delegation via METNET interactive television system to discuss the issues affecting Northcentral Montana.

Also plan on joining us for the following dates:

March 16th
March 30th

Forum times are at 12 PM and will run approximately to 12:45 PM.

Please call 771-4412 for any questions or additional information.

All sessions are broadcast as a public service free of charge by METNET Interactive Television System.

Brought to you as a community service by:
METNET
Interactive Television System
Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Great Falls Tribune
AAF—Great Falls (Ad Club)
City of Great Falls
Great Falls Development Authority

ECP Power Board Meeting - March 2009

When: Monday, March 2 at 5:30pm

Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:

Call to Order 5:30 PM

Roll Call

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Financial Reports
Blended Rate Status Update
Cogeneration Billing Procedure
Year to Date Financials
Energy Consumption Charts
HGS Status Update
Miscellaneous Reports
YVEC vs. SME, et al. (Cause No. DV 08-1797)
The City of Great Falls, et al. vs. The Montana Dept. of Public Service Commission and NorthWestern Energy (Cause No. CDV 2009-127)

OLD BUSINESS
Pilot Program

NEW BUSINESS
Accept Board Meeting Minutes from February 2, 2009

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
COMMUNICATIONS
Public Comment

NEXT ECP BOARD MEETING
April 6, 2009

ADJOURN

Neighborhood Councils - Week of March 2, 2009

Two meetings are scheduled this week:

NC#6
When: Wednesday, March 4 at 7:00pm
Where: Sunnyside School music room, 1800 19th Ave. So.

Agenda:
Beautiful Minds Walk

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

NC#3
When: Thursday, March 5 at 7:00pm

Where: Westgate Mall conference room

Agenda:

Beautiful Minds Walk

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Councils 5 and 8 are each looking for a resident to fill vacancies. To qualify, you must live be a qualified voter and live in the respective neighborhood. For more information, contact Neighborhood Council coordinator, Patty Cadwell at 455-8496 or by e-mail at pcadwell@greatfallsmt.net

Learn About Your Property

Property tax appraisals are conducted by the Montana Department of Revenue. Currently, the legislature is working on this issue.

To find out what the Dept. of Revenue knows about your property, follow these steps:

1. Go to mt.gov

2. On right side of screen, under state government, click on state agencies

3. Scroll down to Revenue, Department of

4. Scroll down to Online Services, click on Montana Cadastral Mapping

5. Click parcel search

6. Click owner. You must choose a county and entering just your last name will work.