Actions Scream. Words Whisper. Intentions Are Mute.

 

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In a recent article posted in The Electric there’s a quote from Great Falls Mayor Bob Kelly that I found to be interesting…and very revealing.

‘Kelly said some people think the city discourages development.

“When people say we don’t encourage, of course we do, of course we want development,” Kelly said. “We don’t tell Olive Garden not to come here.” ‘

(CITY 101 LAUNCHES, COVERS ROLE OF COMMISSION, ANIMAL SHELTER, MANSFIELD CENTER – July 30, 2018 – The Electric)

What’s so revealing here is that Kelly is actually equating economic development with an Olive Garden locating here. Wow, add a Red Lobster and we’d be a boom town!

Could it be that one of the reasons that Great Falls is struggling to remain stagnant is that we have a mayor who thinks that because he’s not telling a chain restaurant “not to come here” he’s encouraging economic development? Do the folks who are supposed to be leading the way and articulating a vision for our city really think that an Olive Garden is the key to prosperity? Don’t they understand that trendy restaurants are the result of prosperity and growth, not the cause?

Could it be that one of the reasons that Great Falls is struggling to remain stagnant is that we have a mayor who thinks that because he’s not telling a chain restaurant “not to come here” he’s encouraging economic development? Do the folks who are supposed to be leading the way and articulating a vision for our city really think that an Olive Garden is the key to prosperity? Don’t they understand that trendy restaurants are the result of prosperity and growth, not the cause?

But what’s even more troubling here is Mayor Kelly’s statement that when it comes to our city commissioners and mayor encouraging development “…of course we do, of course we want development” when in fact they have by their actions done just the opposite.

In January of this year the Great Falls City Commission unanimously voted to deny a Conditional Use Permit to M&D Construction, an established Great Falls business which employs 30 folks here.

Even though the city planning staff, Neighborhood Council #7, and the planning/zoning board ALL recommended approval of the CUP.

Even though Rhett Hulett, owner of M&D Construction, said the following at the January 2nd meeting:

“I want to be a good neighbor”

“We want to be a positive part of that part of town.”

“We look forward to staying there.”

But no, every one of our city commissioners, including Mayor Kelly, voted to deny the CUP in spite of the overwhelming majority of staff and citizen input encouraging approval. When you look at the details surrounding why they voted to deny the permit it becomes obvious that the good ol’ boys and gals club brand of cronyism was on full display. You can read the shameful details in full here: Cronyism And Great Falls’ No-Growth Policy.

So what’s the result? M&D Construction is moving outside the city limits.

So now a pretty good sized business with it’s 30-plus employees will be gone from the downtown area in the heart of Great Falls. Those employees no doubt ate lunch and bought coffee, snacks and gas etc. from locally owned and operated businesses in the area while working at and on their way to and from a business that will no longer be there.

Why should we believe Mayor Kelly when he proclaims that he wants development but votes against it? Actions scream. Words whisper. Intentions are mute.

But the worst part of this is the message it sends – Great Falls is not very business friendly to it’s own people so don’t expect an Olive Garden to be knocking on our door any time soon.

But the worst part of this is the message it sends – Great Falls is not very business friendly to it’s own people so don’t expect an Olive Garden to be knocking on our door any time soon.

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• Category: Economic Development