More Tribune Problems

So much for printing the backlog of city election letters to the editor. Today, there are seven letters to the editor and not a one of them has anything to do with the election.

On the opposite side of the editorial page, is a sample ballot along with the names of those running for Neighborhood Councils.

According to the NC list, these folks running for Neighborhood Councils are "write-in" candidates. No, they are not. These people went down and filed and their names actually appear on the ballot. There is only one "declared write-in" for any Neighborhood Council; me, Sandra Guynn, NC4. (Since I filed for mayor, I could not also file for NC). Declared write-in names do not appear on the ballot.

And what's with the November 6, 2007 date?

Letters To The Editor

In today's Tribune, the editors said they can no longer accept city election letters, because of a backlog.

If there's such a backlog, why not begin to print them? Ballots are due in less than a week.

"Good Bang For Their Buck"

That's outgoing City Commissioner Bill Beecher's take on the financial picture of the city.

In today's paper, his opinion concerning the "facts" was printed. (See below). As always, the city is in "good" financial shape, because the audits are always clean and the budget department always gets an annual award for their ability to prepare the budget according to the rules.

As my tax accountant told me, it is strictly a fluke to find evidence of wrongdoing in a normal, run of the mill audit.

By the way, according to Beecher, taxes have only gone up 3% annually in the past five years.

UPDATE: Do you think Beecher and his cronies could even begin to give coherent answers to the pop quiz? Me either.

South Arterial Study

Here you can find a copy of the latest South Arterial Alignment study.

Here is the city's planning department press release concerning this project.

Neighborhood Councils - Week of October 26, 2009

This week, there is only the Council of Council meeting.

When: Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00pm

Where: Gibson Room at the Civic Center

Agenda:

* Info. on the Leadership Great Falls visioning process
* Ongoing problems with RV's, trailers and other vehicles permanently parking on city streets

* How technology could involve youth in city issues

* How to increase awareness and involvement in Neighborhood Councils

* Updates from each Council

The Great One Has Spoken Once Again

According to Tim Gregori, there is "justifiable optimism" that he will obtain funding for his gas plant. He claims that financing is "nearly within reach". Does this admission mean he is finally through misrepresenting the financing he never had?

Honestly. What's it going to take? A majority of the coops and the City of Great Falls going bankrupt? How many times does Gregori have to be proven wrong before these knotheads wake up? By his own admission, he's finally had to admit that he was not telling the truth when he told everybody that financing was not a problem. And yet here they are, still hanging on every word he says, as though he walks on water.

This also seems to include the reporter from the Billings Gazette.

According to this article, a BBB bond rating is considered "medium-quality investment grade". Oh really? According to here and here, it's one step above junk and that basically, it would be a financing entity living in the twilight zone who would even consider bankrolling a project with this rating.

But...No worries. Be happy. The Great One has spoken and "financing is nearly within reach".

H/T: R.L.

Letter To The Editor

In today's paper is a letter to the editor by Greg Jergeson, the chair of the Public Service Commission, concerning his opinion on SME/ECP. Mr. Jergeson has endorsed Fred Burow and Donna Zook for City Commission:

Special City Commission Meeting

When: Today, Friday, Oct. 23 at noon

Where: Commission Chambers

Agenda:

Declare Bay Drive Force Main Repair Project an Emergency and Award Construction Contract

Not Happy. Not Surprised.

Evidently, incumbent John Rosenbaum and retired city police chief, Bob Jones, are not happy that the chair of the Public Service Commission, Greg Jergeson, has endorsed Fred Burow and Donna Zook in the city's commission race.

Rosenbaum went so far as to say the endorsement is "highly irregular" and Jones thinks it's "pretty inappropriate".

In my book, the fact that another elected official, which our elected and appointed (ECP) officials seem to forget that he is, has come to the defense of his constituents (since they won't), indicates just how "highly irregular" this boondoggle really is.

(I could not find the article I quoted from on the online version of the Tribune. See KRTV for a similar story).

Last Night's Forum

As a member (chair) of Neighborhood Council #4, I was pleased with last night's Commission Candidate forum. About 35 people attended, which was about the same number who attended the Tribune forum, which included the mayoral candidates. (Both mayoral candidates had scheduling conflicts which kept them from attending last night).

We deliberately set out to ensure that this forum could not be construed as biased in any way. Questions by Neighborhood Council members and members of the public were submitted in advance to our moderator, Aaron Weissman. He then gave those questions to the GF High Debate Team members, who decided which questions would be asked. Audience members were encouraged to submit questions as the forum progressed. I handed those off to the debate team members, who once again, determined which ones would be asked.

Each candidate was also allowed to ask a question of each of the other candidates. Rosenbaum didn't even ask a question. He made some comment about levies that made no sense. Aaron tried to get a question out of it, but to no avail. Fred Burow reiterated his take on the budget numbers and Jones didn't even want to discuss it. Donna Zook said she couldn't respond because she didn't understand what he said.

Travis was there for the entire event. See his posting of it here.

Spot Zoning Case Going To State Supreme Court

According to an article in today's Tribune, the landowners spot zoning case against Cascade County and SME is scheduled for a state Supreme Court hearing on November 18.

A year ago, District Judge Wayne Phillips ruled in favor of the county and SME when he ruled that rezoning the land for the HGS was not considered spot zoning. Opponents indicated they would appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Bronson Elected To Board

Mayoral candidate and current City Commissioner, Bill Bronson, was elected as third vice-president of the Montana League of Cities and Towns at its annual convention held recently in Great Falls.

According to his press release, "Through service in the league's leadership, I'm better positioned to work for Great Falls, both through contacts with elected officials in other Montana communities, as well as in helping develop a legislative program that benefits our city as well as other Montana cities and towns".

(I couldn't find this story on today's online version of the Tribune).

Youth Council Meeting

The Youth Council is also meeting this week:

When: Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7:00pm

Where: Community Rec Center

Agenda:

Membership applications

Upcoming poetry reading at Hastings

Additional space for Youth Council activities

Neighborhood Councils - Week of October 19, 2009

For the third time in a month, the Tribune has not published notice of the Neighborhood Council meetings in their Monday papers.

It's not like they don't get notice of them. Emails are sent to 3 people at the Tribune, one being a managing editor, and they still can't get it done. Oh sure, they'll print them on Tuesday when they've been notified of their blunder, but that doesn't help the councils who meet on a Monday.

Come on Trib. This is grassroots involvement. Get it together.

NC#5

When: Monday, Oct. 19 at 7:00pm

Where: GF Clinic Specialty Center, main floor conference room

Agenda:
Information on the Russell Park fundraising efforts for playground equipment
Committee Reports
Neighborhood concerns

NC#4
When: Thursday, Oct. 22 at 6:30pm
Where: Heritage Baptist Church, 900 52nd Street North

Agenda:

County Planning Dept. -property code enforcement, Jim Schillinberg

Update on various problem properties

Committee reports

Neighborhood concerns

Learn About Mountaintop Removal

A lot is going on this week. Another presentation is also on tap for Thursday, Oct. 22nd:

What: Presentation on mountaintop removal in the Appalachians

When: Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7-8:30pm in Room B101 at MSU-COT

Word has it that a company from Canada is proposing to do mountaintop removal on a mountain North of Glacier Park.

Oct. 20, 2009 Work Session

When: Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 5:45pm

Where: Gibson Room, Civic Center

Agenda:

1.Public/Private Partnership for Tennis Facilities –Marty Basta, Dave Crum, and Ben Rangel
2.Cascade County Conservation District Update – Toni Neslen

Local Government Roundtable

When: Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6-8:00pm

Where: McLaughlin Center, Providence Forum

Gas Plant Gets Air Permit

The DEQ has authorized an air permit for Gregori's proposed gas plant. It becomes effective November 1. Appeals will be taken until November 16.

Construction can commence on November 1, but Gregori would not comment on when he would get started. (Probably because he doesn't have the money he said he had and which doesn't look very probable he will get).

Great Falls Trivia

In celebration of Great Falls' 125th anniversary, the second volume of Great Falls Memories has just been released. This is a photo album depicting life and events in Great Falls from 1940-1980. (The first volume highlighted the city from 1884 thru 1939).

According to a picture description submitted for this latest volume, this structure in Great Falls was the tallest building in Montana in 1956. Can you name it? Hint: It still stands.

Commissioner Candidate Forum

Neighborhood Councils are sponsoring a Commissioner Candidate Forum on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00pm in the Gibson Room at the Civic Center.

The rules for this forum are being written by the GF High School debate team.

Questions will be taken from Neighborhood Councils and the public. Candidates will also have the opportunity to ask a question directed to each of the other candidates.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
Great Falls’ Neighborhood Councils have combined to host a City Commission Candidate Forum on October 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gibson Room at the Civic Center.

Commissioner candidates Fred Burrow, Robert Jones, John Rosenbaum and Donna Zook will answer questions written by the Neighborhood Council members and by the public. There will also be an opportunity for candidates to ask and answer questions of each other.

The Great Falls High School Debate Team has written rules specifically for this forum. Those rules will be enacted by forum moderator and Neighborhood Council member Aaron Weissman.

The public and media are encouraged to attend.

For further information, call Neighborhood Council Coordinator Patty Cadwell at 455-8496.