Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Not The County Too
At yesterday's Commission meeting, the public heard Commissioner Olson make lofty pronouncements about transparency in County government. Perhaps you could please explain how those pronouncements square with the email below. Because of the posting of this email today, I did not have access to this information at yesterday's Commission meeting. Please note the accommodations I offered in my request letter and ask Mr. Hopkins for the email exchanges with me regarding access to the County's emails on SME/HGS; I believe you will see that I have outlined other methods of viewing County records without destroying the "50,000 trees" mentioned at yesterday's Commission meeting. I do appreciate the rank and file county employee efforts to provide the records received to date.
I am anxiously awaiting your response.
Ron Gessaman
The party cc'd in this e-mail appears to be a lawyer with a law firm in Missoula.
Gregori's Affidavit, Part 4
Visit Gregg to read about his questions regarding the assets of SME and the new entity established to build this thing.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Public Funding, Positions From Legislative Candidates
MSU – Great Falls announces the next installment of the Community Conversations will focus on public education funding at it relates to all levels here in the Great Falls area, to include the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind, K-12, and higher education. The event will take place in Room B101 on Tuesday, October 28th at 7 PM on the campus of MSU – Great Falls
Public education funding has been a contested issued in Montana over the last few legislative sessions and will undoubtedly be of great interest this coming January as the session reconvenes. What are the needs of our educational institutions here in Great Falls and how are local legislative candidates approaching this topic? These questions will be addressed as area administrators, local candidates, and the public offer their views.
Joining a panel to discuss this issue will be the Superintendents from the Great Falls Public Schools, Cheryl Crowley, and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind, Steve Gettel, as well as Joe Schaffer, Interim Dean of MSU – Great Falls. After these individuals share their perspectives as it relates to funding and their institutions, local legislative candidates will be invited to give their own outlook on education funding within a 1 to 2 minute time frame. Afterward, the floor will be open to questions and comments from the audience, which is the focal point of this series.
Community Conversations is a lecture series recently established by MSU - Great Falls to highlight important issues that affect the residents of Great Falls and Northcentral Montana. The aim of these events is to foster better understanding and knowledge amongst our citizenry as a means of advancing our community's future.
All of the Community Conversations take place in room B 101, a lecture hall located inside the south entrance of campus. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or for input on future conversation topics, contact Tom Figarelle at 771-4412.
Coal Plant Construction, Part 3 (Location Permit Granted)
Coal Plant Construction, Part 2 (Intent To Sue EPA)
Today CCE, MEIC, and Sierra Club filed two 60-day notices of intent to sue EPA under the federal Clean Air Act. (Things have progressed since this morning for those I’ve spoken with previously).
The law requires SME to have all permits under the federal Clean Air Act in place prior to commencing construction at a site. SME does not have either its MACT permit for hazardous air pollutants nor its prevention of significant deterioration permit (primary federal permit). Both of those permits cannot be issued until completion of the Nov. 5th public comment period. The law is clear and EPA should force SME to stop all construction activities.
While we have to wait 60 days before we can file suit in federal court, SME is liable for $25,000 per day for each day it is constructing without a permit. The purpose of having to wait 60 days before filing suit is to give the agency time to fix the problem. So we are calling upon EPA to make SME stop construction activities immediately until such time as it has complied with the law and received the proper permits.
AnneAnne HedgesProgram Director Montana Environmental Information Center
Coal Plant Construction, Part 1 (The Beginnings To Halt Construction)
On October 17, Roger Sullivan sent this memorandum to Brian Clifton, the Cascade County Zoning Administrator. I've been told the entire brief is at the County Planning Dept. for viewing:
On October 20, the following letter was written from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) addressed to Col. David C. Press, the Commander of the Corps of Engineers, Omaha District:
The following folder contains correspondence from EARTHJUSTICE, addressed to among others, the attorney for SME. The entire file is 57 pages, which includes the brief. If you would like the entire pdf file, e-mail me and I'll send it to you:
October 22, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
ECP Financial Information
Attached is FY 2008 info handed out at the ECP board meeting. I'm not an accountant, I don't play one on T.V., I didn't stay at holiday inn, Is this GAAP?
The Statement of Revenues,Expenses and charges shows Purchased services- energy & Transmission $1,752,918; Charges for Services $1,641,369
Operating Income (loss) $ (118,924)
Looking at the spreadsheet handed for FY2008 showsSum of SME total (same as purchased services) 9,414,428.62
Sum of ECP total (same as charges for services) 8,697,838.88
Subtracting the two you get a loss of (716,589.74)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Park And Recreation Survey
The City of Great Falls Park and Recreation Department is releasing a survey on how the community of Great Falls views and uses its recreational opportunities and trees, landscaped areas and parks. This survey will consist of questions covering issues about “barriers” to community recreation, structured and non-structured recreational opportunities, and any needs not being met for both youth and adults to ensure a high quality of life.
A nation wide trend shows that with American citizens, three-fourths give very high marks to public park and recreation resources and three-fifths perceive parks as being “necessary” or “essential” to their community’s quality of life. The Park and Recreation Department is using this opportunity to assess our community and use the results to better understand what is needed for residents and to develop a recreation plan.
The survey is posted on the City of Great Falls web page and will be available in paper format at all City facilities, ( i.e. Park and Recreation Office, Recreation Center, Natatorium, Civic Center and Library). The web address to locate the survey is www.visionwestmt.com/recreation.htm.
The Park and Recreation Department would like to thank everyone in advance for helping with this endeavor to continue to ensure the quality of life for the citizens of Great Falls.
Rebecca E. Bogden- Richards
Community Recreation Center Supervisor
801 2nd. Ave. North
406-727-6099 office phone
406-781-8964 cell phone
Parks and Recreation
City of Great Falls
Please note new email address
http://us.mc458.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=rrichards@greatfallsmt.net
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Letters From A Concerned Taxpayer
As a taxpayer in Cascade County I am very concerned that our planning department is moving too swiftly to satisfy SME's requests for a "land conformance permit". This apparently even before the legal process on the HGS land rezoning issue is resolved. It was SME whom recently pleaded in court for a quick response from the district court and was granted same by judge Phillips. Now we see them (SME) beginning construction before the judge can even get his early ruling out.
I would think that a project of this size ($900,000,000 plus) should logically require some sort of financial guarantees to insure it is completed once construction begins. Has that occurred to your satisfactions? Has all permits from state and federal agencies been secured before the county issues the "land conformance permit"? My understanding is that this is not the case. You must be aware of the need to have a completed Section Ten permit from the Army Corp of Engineers in order for the HGS to obtain raw cooling water from the Missouri River without which it can never come on line. The air quality permitting process is not yet completed and is under litigation. Also, there is the matter of complying with the federal 106 process which has also not been completed. There are many unanswered questions and I would hope you take very adequate precautions to protect the taxpayers of this county.
I am including below a possible scenario of what I believe could happen if Mr. Clifton acts in haste in issuing the "land conformance permit" to satisfy SME requests before the rezoning litigation is completed. I have also sent this to the Tribune as a "Letter To The Editor".
Sincerely,
Neil J. (Jerry) Taylor
Taxpayer
This is Mr. Taylor's letter to the editor which appeared in today's Tribune:
Will Cascade County be bankrupted? Here’s a possible scary scenario:
The county issues Southern Montana Electric (SME) a “location/conformance permit” allowing construction to begin on the Highwood Generation Station (HGS). The county does this, prematurely, before the court rules on the landowner’s lawsuit against the county’s rezoning of the HGS site to heavy industrial; this lawsuit is presently making its way through the court system. SME then has a county permit allowing it to commence meaningful construction at the site investing money, resources, time, and effort.
If the court later rules in favor of the landowners, the land reverts back to agricultural zoning and the HGS cannot be built there. Does SME then have legal grounds against the county? They were issued a county permit to begin construction and have proceeded on that premise. A judgment in favor of SME could amount to millions of dollars of loss to taxpayers and bankrupt Cascade County for many years.
Please contact your commissioners (406-454-6810) and tell them to not unwisely issue a location/conformance permit for the HGS until the court renders its final decision on the rezoning lawsuit. To do otherwise would be irresponsible on the part of our County Planning Department and our County Commission.
Political Action Group
Bronson's Ideas
Monday, October 20, 2008
Neighborhood Councils - Week of Oct. 20, 2008
Agenda:
Agenda:
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Compressed Air Power Plants
Here's a story published in the Billings Gazette about a Dublin, Ireland based company with an office in Great Falls. I didn't see an article about this in the print version of Tribune and didn't find it on the Trib's online version either.
An Irish wind power company with offices in Great Falls outlined a new technology Thursday that could make wind energy more marketable: "compressed air" power plants.Keith McGrane, head of offshore energy and electricity storage for Gaelectric, said the compressed-air plant offers a way to use cheap wind power at night and then reproduce additional power in the day, to fill in the inevitable gaps when the wind isn't blowing."The wind can blow stronger at night than it does during the day," he said. "If you're able to store that energy, it would be a much more economical way" to offer power to the system.Gaelectric, which is based in Dublin and is looking at potential wind power sites in Montana, has identified two spots in the state that could serve as compressed-air power plants.
But more "modeling" has to occur before the company knows whether a compressed-air plant will work as planned and provide the power needed to augment power coming from a wind farm, McGrane said.McGrane and other Gaelectric officials explained the technology at a meeting Thursday at the state Capitol, at the invitation of state and regulatory officials.A compressed-air energy storage (CAES) system would use low-cost, "off-peak" power, such as wind power generated at night, to operate motor-driven compressors, which compress air into large, underground storage caverns.During times of high electricity use in the daytime, the air is withdrawn and combines with natural gas to fire a turbine, which produces electricity. The relatively low-cost power can be used to balance an electrical system that has intermittent wind, thus making wind a better fit for the system.McGrane said the company isn't revealing the exact location of the two Montana sites, but geologist Mike King said they are in the eastern two-thirds of the state. Each site needs an underground storage cavern or formation that can hold 5 billion cubic feet of air, King said.The plant itself is fairly small, covering only a few acres, King added. A CAES plant would cost about $105 million for a 140-megawatt plant, McGrane estimated.A wind power developer like Gaelectric could use power from the plant to augment its wind projects, offering "firmed up" or steady power to a utility, instead of intermittent wind that has to be augmented with power from another source, he said.Gaelectric, which is developing some wind power projects in Ireland, is looking for partners in financing the expensive process of finding and assessing sites for CAES plants, he said. Any financial incentives from the state would be helpful, he said.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Presidential Poll
Since the last of the presidential debates is history, who do you think will be the next president?
SME Breaks Ground
According to County Commissioner Joe Briggs, they cannot erect structures but they can do earth-moving activities.
Tim Gregori claims that "SME has arranged a significant piece of financing from commercial banks for the initial work, but the financial package for the entire project is being put together in phases". Of course, he would not elaborate as to which banks are involved.
He also indicated that the city of Great Falls is not directly involved in the construction of the plant, but "they may move in as they so desire".
Considering that the city evidently has no more money to squander on this debacle, it doesn't seem logical to think that they will be "moving in" any time soon.
But then again, it wasn't a logical deal to begin with.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Flu Shot Clinic
Please find the attached and feel free to distribute- this is not just a clinic, but an exercise for our staff and volunteers to distribute vaccine in an emergency, like a pandemic. I invite all of you to attend and provide us feedback for improvements to our plan. AND if you are looking to help out and volunteer your services, please let me know!
Thanks-
Kate
Kate Marone
Emergency Response Planner
Cascade City-County Health Department
Direct: 406.791.9278
Fax: 406.454.6959
kmarone@co.cascade.mt.us
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Make A Difference Day
Another Neighborhood Council 7 Meeting
As you know, we had to postpone a few urgent items from our meeting last night in order to give the GFPD the opportunity to give their briefing on gang activity in Great Falls. I certainly found the presentation eye-opening, and think that was a worthwhile use of our time.
However, there are a number of items we need to address. Accordingly, we will have a second meeting in October, as we discussed last night. The pre-release center has confirmed that we can use their meeting room, so we have booked the space. Our agenda for this meeting is below.
Thank you again for your time and commitment to making the lower North and South sides of Great Falls a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Yours,
Aaron Weissman
AGENDA
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Monday, October 22, 2008
Great Falls Pre-Release Center Meeting Room, 1019 15th Street N
6:30 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 OCTOBER 13 MINUTES
NEW BUSINESS
Request to conduct worship services at 525 1st Ave N; Heartland Community Fellowship
Discussion on reassignment of downtown police officer and BID petition
Discussion on downtown parking
Community Concerns
OLD BUSINESS
Gibson Park Lighting
Weed and Seed Project
Report on rally in support of downtown grocery store
Community questions on admission of sex offenders to Great Falls Pre-release Center
Other Old Business
REPORTS
Council of Councils
Other Reports
OTHER BUSINESS
ADJOURN
Next meeting November 10, 2008—Longfellow Elementary Cafeteria
Monday, October 13, 2008
Parking Advisory Commission
Advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Community Development Staff on matters related to parking issues within the Parking Districts.
At last week's City Commission meeting, we heard many comments from folks who do not want the parking fees increased downtown and who have problems with parking meters period. Some folks went so far as to blame all of downtown's problems on the meter issue, which Commissioner Bronson disputed.
We also heard from a member of the Parking Advisory Commission, who, from the looks of it, is the only member left who was appointed by the city. The terms of the others have expired.
According to this member, this commission has not met on a regular basis for quite some time and the problems didn't just start after April 2008.
Here we have an issue that for as long as I can remember has always been a sore spot and the committee that should be helping hasn't been meeting on a regular basis and currently doesn't even have enough members to form a quorum.
I checked the City Commission agendas since January 2008 (just to be safe) and there was not any mention of appointing anyone to this commission to fill the vacancies that occurred after April 2008. Why not?
I commend downtown businessman Phil Kiser (whom I do not know) and a few others who came to the meeting with some ideas rather than just criticisms.
Because of the budget, Commissioners Jolley, Bronson and Rosenbaum voted in favor of the increase, but they are all willing to give downtown 30 days to come up with an alternative plan for their review.
Let's hope the plan includes a working Parking Advisory Commission.
ECP October 2008 Meeting
Neighborhood Councils - Week of Oct. 13, 2008
Agenda:
Agenda:
NC#8
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Update to Neighborhood Council 7 Meeting
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Neighborhood Council 7 - October Meeting
Attached is the agenda for the Neighborhood Council 7 meeting this coming Monday, October 13. You may notice that I have moved New Business above Old Business; this is an attempt to allow guests and presentations to come earlier in the meeting.
We have a marathon agenda scheduled for this meeting. We are talking about a lot of very important issues and I would like to ensure that we are able to have a good discussion on each issue, and that we don't finish in the wee hours of the night. While I would like to make sure that we maintain the informality of our meetings, please limit your comments to allow all participants to speak.
Thank you,
Aaron Weissman, Chairman
AGENDA
NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
DISTRICT 7
Monday, October 13, 2008
Great Falls Recreation Center, 801 2nd Avenue North
6:30 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
Northside Neighborhood Watch
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER MINUTES
NEW BUSINESS
Candidates to fill open seat at Neighborhood Council 7
Presentation on Gang Awareness; Great Falls Police Department
Presentation on admission of sex offenders to Great Falls Pre-release Center proposal; Pre-release board member
Discussion on reassignment of downtown police officer and BID petition
Discussion on downtown parking
OLD BUSINESS
Gibson Park Lighting
Weed and Seed Project
Report on rally in support of downtown grocery store
Other Old Business
REPORTS
Council of Councils
Other Reports
OTHER BUSINESS
ADJOURN
Next meeting November 10, 2008—Longfellow Elementary Cafeteria
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Political Action Group Being Formed
1) seek people to run for public offices.
2) support people who are willing to run.
3) help out with public education, election processes, and fundraising.
When: Saturday, Oct. 18 at 9:00am
Parking Fees To Increase
Even though the increase was approved, the Commission told opponents that they are willing to hear other suggestions. They acknowledged that they had heard several good ideas during the public hearing and told folks to get together and present an alternative program as soon as possible.
New rates will take effect in 30 days unless another program is approved.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Power Payments To SME
Neighborhood Councils - Week of Oct. 6, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Meeting Times Changed
Friday, October 3, 2008
Celebrate The New Downtown IGA!
Registry For Stolen Bikes
$100 Million Increase
Why didn't the Tribune report this "new" amount in their article about the hearing?
I think a $100 million increase to a project the city is still committed to is worth noting.
ECP Audit Update
According to Mr. Doyon, "people have asked questions that I think need to be answered".
Thank you Mr. Doyon for listening and taking action.