Cascade County

Big Local Pushback To Big Sky Country National Heritage Area Effort

ECB Staff on December 2, 2020

Editors note: the following is a press release from Montanans Opposing Big Sky Country National Heritage Area.

News Release

For Immediate Release:

Contact: December 2, 2020 Rae Grulkowski
Montanans Opposing Big Sky Country National Heritage Area
rae@3rivers.net
406.788.3204

Montanans Says NO to BSCNHA!

Great Falls, Cascade County, MT – On December 2, 2020, the thirteenth organization submitted their resolution of non-support for the federal designation of Montana land, by Big Sky Country National Heritage Area, (BSCNHA) Inc. More are expected as county residents become aware of the proposed NHA designation of their private property.

BSCNHA, Inc. is a private corporation initially formed in 2015 as the Upper Missouri River Heritage Area Planning Corporation. The purpose of the self-appointed, fourteen member board is to achieve federal designation of a substantial amount of private land within a boundary area desired by this board.

This current proposal engulfs all of Cascade county and a portion of Chouteau county. However, since the ultimate decision of the boundary is made by Congress, it could change again as it has twice since 2015. The proposal is made under the guise of boosting tourism and enhancing economic development. But the community is not buying it as evidenced by the list of city, county, state and federal organizations formally opposing the designation.

Date of Action and Organization

September 9, 2020 Chouteau County and Hill-Liberty-Blaine County Farm Bureaus

September 27, 2020 Cascade County Farm Bureau

October 6, 2020 Chouteau County Trailblazers

October 7, 2020 City of Belt, Montana

October 15, 2020 Town of Cascade, Montana

October 19, 2020 Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF, USA)

October 2020 Hilltop Hutterite Colony, Stockett, Montana

October 27, 2020 Great Falls Association of Realtors

October 28, 2020 Eden, Montana Community Hall

November 10, 2020 Montana Farm Bureau Federation

November 19, 2020 Montana Stockgrowers Association

November 24, 2020 Foothills Livestock Association, Great Falls, Montana

December 2, 2020 Montana Grain Growers Association

Additionally, over 3,000 signatures on petitions opposing the designation and an undetermined number of letters of opposition have been written to elected officials and National Park Service representatives.

Jane Weber, the chairperson of the BSCNHA is also Cascade County, District 3 Commissioner. Contrary to her constituents’ desires, she is spearheading BSCNHA’s pursuit of this federal designation. If the feasibility study is a true determination of the community’s desire to work together toward a federal designation, why does the resident voice continue to be ignored? The real question is: Why is this designation so important to this board?

Montana Red Tsunami, Cascade County Red Wave

Rick Tryon on November 5, 2020

As of today, the U.S. presidential election is undecided with four states, North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania, still counting ballots and their corresponding electoral votes still up for grabs.

One thing is certain though – the oft-predicted national blue wave sweeping Republicans from office didn’t happen.

There wasn’t even a blue splash. In fact the GOP appears certain to retain control of the U.S. Senate and they even picked up 5 seats in the House after many media prognosticators expected dozens of Republicans to be sent packing.

There was a wave in Montana however. In fact it was a tsunami at the statewide level. And it was all red.

Every Republican on the statewide ballot won. Every Democrat lost. Every single one.

Gianforte beat Cooney in the gubernatorial race by 12 percentage points.
Knudsen beat Graybill for AG by 16 points.
Downing beat Morigeau for Auditor by 16 points.
Bennett lost to Jacobsen for SOS by 20 points.
Romano lost to Arntzen by 12 points in the state School Superintendent race.

In addition, Rosendale won Montana’s lone House seat by beating Williams by 12 points and President Trump carried the state by 16 points.

Perhaps most surprising is the margin of Governor Bullock’s loss to Steve Daines in the Senate race – 10 points.

And the red wave also washed over Cascade County, which was once considered a Democrat stronghold.

Cascade County Republican candidates for the state legislature completely swept the field and defeated every Democrat on the ballot.

The red wave in Great Falls/Cascade County even carried away three incumbent Democrat legislators including Jasmine Krotkov, Barbara Bessette, and surprisingly even Brad Hamlett. All three lost to relatively unknown local political newcomers.

This GOP sweep in Great Falls is unprecedented in the last 40 years or so.

In my opinion it can be explained, at least in part, by the extreme liberal positions of three of the Democrat local candidates: Melissa Smith, Jasmine Taylor and Helena Lovick.

These three were very outspoken and very public about items in their collective agenda, items which included defunding local police, climate change extremism, and anti-Second Amendment positions.

These ‘progressive’ positions and far-left policy ideas are well outside of the Great Falls/Cascade County political mainstream and I believe they hurt ALL of the local Democrat candidates by association.

Could that dynamic be extrapolated to the state and national election results as well? Maybe.

But I feel pretty certain that the very liberal and very public profiles of Smith, Taylor and Lovick pulled other local Democrats under with them as the red wave washed over this state and local election.

Lefty Blogger Mike Brown Calls Sheriff Slaughter ‘Dumb’ & ‘Rookie’

Rick Tryon on September 2, 2020

Local left wing blogger and Never Trumper, Mike ‘Jackie’ Brown, in his Western Word blog on Monday took some nasty and uncalled for shots at Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter.

Among other slurs against our hardworking and popular sheriff, Brown belched out the following:

“But then we have rookie Sheriff Jesse Slaughter ride into the scene. Of all things he could do, the Tribune reported he issued a news release Friday morning criticizing Larson for holding a Dupaul in contempt of court for refusing to wear a mask.”

Right on Sheriff Slaughter. You are exactly on point for criticizing Larson, and from everything I’ve seen and read you have a majority of the public behind you.

Brown sitting around on his arrogant butt, behind his keyboard criticizing a lifelong law enforcement professional like Sheriff Slaughter, calling him ‘rookie’, would be laughable if it weren’t so pathetic and inappropriate.

Jesse Slaughter ain’t no rookie when it comes to law enforcement, Jack, or Jackie, or whatever. Our sheriff has a very extensive law enforcement resume and a long list of accomplishments and experience.

Brown just comes off as an ignorant, lazy jackass for implying otherwise.

If Brown wants folks to take his little blog seriously, and no one I’ve talked to does, then he should do a little digging and research before he smears a dedicated public servant like Slaughter as a ‘rookie’ etc.

Brown’s hit piece on Slaughter paints Judge Larson’s actions as wrong for “…sentencing Dupaul to 24 hours in Cascade County’s coronavirus hotspot, instead of a stiff fine…”, and he’s right about that. But that’s just the set-up for Brown to go after Sheriff Slaughter.

Brown ends his condescending drivel with this – “In this situation Judge Larson is dumb and Sheriff Slaughter is dumber.”

Nah. But Brown did hit the hat trick; he’s dumb, dumber and dumbest for being a do-nothing, armchair critic of others who are actually on the front lines doing the hard work of public service while Brown smears them from afar, cluelessly believing he’s relevant.

Big Sky Country National Heritage Area – Boon Or Boondoggle? Part 2

Jeni Dodd on March 11, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two part series the effort to have Cascade County designated as a National Heritage Area. Here’s a link to Part 1.

NHA NEGATIVE IMPACTS

So you may wonder if and where negative impacts have occurred in conjunction with National Heritage Areas. If you ask the National Park Service or BSCNHA Inc, they will tell you there have been no negative impacts or complaints. That’s what was stated at the so-called public meeting I attended but it’s not true. Here are just a few of the examples I’ve found.

“In Wheeling, the legislature designated the downtown area as a National Heritage Area in October 2000 when it passed the Wheeling National Heritage Act (WNHAA). This act created the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation (WNHAC) to manage and redevelop the area. In 2002, The WHNAC proposed to convert 90 percent of downtown Wheeling into a ‘Victorian-themed outlet mall.’ This plan would have condemned properties and transferred them from their present owners to private retail businesses chosen by City officials (Berliner 2003). Fortunately, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled the financing of the plan unconstitutional in May 2003.” Unleashing Capitalism:Why Prosperity Stops at the West Virginia Border and How to Fix It, Russell S. Sobel, Ph.D. Editor, Chapter 7, Edward J. López, Carrie B. Kerekes, George D. Johnson.

“When Augusta Canal NHA was undergoing initial approval, the National Park Service urged the House Resources Committee to withhold federal funds from Augusta Canal until a commitment was shown by those overseeing the creation of the NHA to implement stricter zoning laws and even create a state park.” Great National Land Grab, Peyton Knight, 2003

(Former) Deputy director of the National Park Service, Donald Murphy, testified before the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks that one of the things the Park Service does when administering National Heritage Areas is survey land that would be suitable for future National Parks or National Park expansions. National Heritage Areas, The Land Grab Continues, Tom DeWeese, October 2012

As a first step, each of the jurisdictions within the Heritage Area that has not already done so will need to recognize the JTHG National Heritage Area and related parks, trails and sites in its comprehensive plan and identify its resources and qualities as a priority for conservation and preservation in the county. The JTHG Partnership will work to ensure that all counties participate in NHA initiatives and recognize the NHA in their plans. Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area Management Plan, July 2012

“A few years ago, Lee Ott was driving around his vegetable farm in Yuma, Ariz., when he spotted a crew of surveyors putting stakes in his land. “I stopped and asked them what was going on,” he recalls. It turned out they were marking the boundaries of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. Ott’s farm fell entirely within its 22 square miles, and nobody had bothered to tell him.

“I became worried because I wanted to build a new house and a shop on the farm,” he says. “I didn’t need anybody to give me a bunch of rules about how they should look or whether I could even build them.”

So he decided to fight back. He met with the Yuma County Farm Bureau, which then contacted all of the landowners within the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. “About 600 people came to our meeting,” says Harold Maxwell, a farm-equipment distributor. “When I asked for a show of hands from those who knew they were in the NHA, only one hand went up.”” The Nation, An Ugly Heritage—The Poor Man’s National Park, John J. Miller, January 28, 2008

“When the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area was authorized in 2000, the public in Yuma County did not understand the scope of the project and was surprised by the size of the designation. Concerns were raised by citizens about the size of the designation and the potential for additional federal oversight. The fear of adverse impacts on private property rights were realized when local government agencies began to use the immense heritage area boundary to determine zoning restrictions.” Report 109-294 attached to H.R. 326, Representative Richard Pombo, Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, 109th Congress.

“National heritage areas are preservation zones where land use and property rights can be restricted. They give the National Park Service and preservation interest groups (many with histories of hostility toward property rights) substantial influence by giving them the authority to create land use “management plans” and then the authority to disburse federal money to local governments to promote their plans.” National Center for Public Policy Research, “Coalition Letter Detailing Risks of National Heritage Area Designation,” September 4, 2007, www.nationalcenter.org/NHACoalitionLetter0907.pdf.

CONCERNS ABOUT NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS

PROPERTY RIGHTS CONCERNS

Despite language in an NHA designation supposedly designed to protect private property rights, local government officials are pressured by the NHA management group to pass zoning laws and regulations not otherwise needed in order to support the NHA management plan. Private property owners can lose the right to use and enjoy their properties as they see fit.

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

Private land is included within the NHA boundaries without the owner’s consent. No notification is given to landowners of NHA management actions.

NO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

A private group or organization will manage the NHA. They not accountable to the public for their management actions. They are not elected and therefore, if you don’t like what they do, you can’t vote them out.

MORE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY

The National Park Service oversight for the NHA adds another layer of government bureaucracy.

SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM

Local, state and federal regulations and programs and private nonprofits already exist to promote the economy and preserve the history and heritage of Central Montana. NHA designation duplicates those efforts.

CONTINUOUS DRAIN ON TAXPAYERS

None of the National Heritage Areas in existence have become self-sufficient and are chronically dependent upon additional federal funding at taxpayer expense.

FIX OUR NATIONAL PARKS FIRST

National Heritage Areas funnel resources away from the National Park Service’s main mission of taking care of already existing national parks. NPS money is better spend toward backlogs of over $131 million and $585 million in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks respectively.

NHA—THE ANTITHESIS OF FREE MARKET, LOCAL INITIATIVE AND CONTROL

The initial push for a NHA is fueled by the desires of a special interest group or groups or a federal agency. It is sold as a community benefit to facilitate “economic development” but the NHA’s “economic development” is promoting businesses that fit their management plan.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO OPPOSE BIG SKY COUNTRY NHA?
Write, call or email Montana’s Congressional Delegation, as the NHA designation would require their action. Tell them—no National Heritage Area!

Capitol Switchboard : (202) 224-3121

Senator Steve Daines
320 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
202- 224-2651
www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve

Senator Jon Tester
311 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
www.tester.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

Rep, Greg Gianforte
1222 Longworth HOB
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-3211
https://gianforte.house.gov/

Big Sky Country National Heritage Area – Boon Or Boondoggle? Part 1

Jeni Dodd on March 9, 2020

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two part series the effort to have Cascade County designated as a National Heritage Area

When I first learned of a plan to create a National Heritage Area (NHA) in Central Montana, I initially wasn’t opposed to it. At that time, I heard inklings that the proposed area was mainly located along the river in Cascade and Chouteau counties and perhaps into Lewis and Clark County to the Gates of the Mountains. The NHA would supposedly create economic development through historic and cultural tourism and would showcase our historic sites. That didn’t sound concerning.

But I felt I didn’t have enough information one way or the other about National Heritage Areas to make an informed decision. I decided to do some research. What I found on National Heritage Areas was alarming, to say the least.

I discovered that National Heritage Areas are pork-barrel programs, managed by non-elected groups under the auspices and guidance of the National Park Service, with the very real potential of impacting the private property rights of those landowners located within the NHA boundaries.

During my initial research, I also discovered the proposed NHA area here in Central Montana had expanded from a narrow river corridor in two or perhaps three counties, to include ALL OF CASCADE COUNTY and parts of Chouteau and Fergus counties.

I found it difficult to get information and straight answers from the group promoting the NHA—Upper Missouri River National Heritage Area Inc. That group has since changed it’s name to Big Sky Country National Heritage Area Inc (BSCNHA).

Most people that I’ve talked to know nothing about this proposed NHA, or have even heard of it. I attended what I thought was a public meeting in early 2019 in Black Eagle about the NHA, only to find that the public wouldn’t be allowed to comment or ask questions at the meeting for all in attendance to hear. Friends who attended the NHA meeting in Belt last Fall reported the same.

The chair of BSCNHA Inc is Cascade County Commissioner Jane Weber and the group’s attorney is former Great Falls City Commissioner Bill Bronson. Other current board members can be found here: https://www.bigskycountrynha.org/about.html, and include Bret Doney, President of Great Falls Development Authority.

WHAT ARE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS?

According to the National Park Service, “National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape….NPS partners with, provides technical assistance, and distributes matching federal funds from Congress to NHA entities. NPS does not assume ownership of land inside heritage areas or impose land use controls” National Park Service website.

The first NHA. the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor located in Illinois, was signed established in 1984. There are currently 55 National Heritage Areas scattered throughout the country. Each NHA receives funding under the National Park Service.

H.R.1049 – National Heritage Area Act of 2019 would allow appropriations of up to $700,000 per NHA per fiscal year, which is typical. For example, the National Heritage Areas Act of 2006 established ten new National Heritage Areas, each authorized to receive millions of dollars (ten million was common) over a ten or fifteen year period, depending on the enabling legislation.

National Heritage Areas have sunset provisions, meaning they are to become self-sustaining and no longer dependent on federal funds. So far, none of the 55 NHAs have become self-sustaining and instead are a perpetual drain on the federal budget, with the older NHAs receiving reauthorization for more years-worth of our tax dollars.

National Heritage Areas are created through Congressional designation, so Senators Tester and Daines, and Representative Gianforte would be responsible for introducing and supporting this in Congress.

“National Heritage Area designation follows a two-step process: completion of a feasibility study (rather than an application) and introduction of authorizing legislation in the U.S. Congress…

National Heritage Area legislation typically requires the development of a management plan within three years of designation….The NPS provides assistance to Heritage Area entities on the development of management plans to ensure that they address all Federal requirements” National Park Service website.

Most, if not all, NHA enabling documents contains language that, according to proponents, is designed to protect private property rights by allowing property owners to refrain from participating in any planned project or activity within the heritage areas, not requiring any owner to permit public access to property and not altering any existing land use regulation, approved land use plan, or other regulatory authority.

In practice however, local government officials can and are pressured by the NHA management group to pass zoning laws and regulations not otherwise needed in order to support the NHA management plan. This is called regulatory taking. In some ways, it’s more insidious than eminent domain. In regulatory taking, you still own the property and pay taxes on it, but you aren’t reimbursed for any loss of use through restrictive zoning and ordinances passed to support the NHA management plan.

“National heritage areas are preservation zones where land use and property rights can be restricted. They give the National Park Service and preservation interest groups (many with histories of hostility toward property rights) substantial influence by giving them the authority to create land use “management plans” and then the authority to disburse federal money to local governments to promote their plans.” National Center for Public Policy Research, 2007 letter sent to congressional leaders and pertinent committee members.

One astute Chouteau County rancher I spoke with pointed out to me that even though landowners aren’t required to allow public access to their private land within the NHA, once the border for the NHA is drawn on a map and your land is included within that border, it is realistic to think that a tourist, not knowing any better, would think the whole area within that border is open to them. I had to agree with him.

I also learned that Fergus County at one time was included in the BSCNHA, but due to public outcry over concerns about bureaucratic overreach and private property rights, the county commissioners unanimously voted to oppose inclusion in BSCNHA and the county was removed.

Watch for Part Two of this series this week.

2019 State Fair Numbers Are In

ECB Staff on August 15, 2019

According to a press release from Kim Lander at Montana Expo Park concerning the state fair, “…was a strong year with revenues in excess of $1,670,000.”

Here’s a recap from the press release:

“The Food Concessionaires grossed $725,788 a slight dip of 1.09% from 2018. The Food Concessionaires busiest day was the first Saturday of fair, grossing $116,033.”
“The Mighty Thomas Carnival set a record on both Saturdays during the fair. Saturday, July 27 hitting triple digits with revenue at $114,440 and $95,919 on the last Saturday. Over the course of the nine-day event, The Mighty Thomas Carnival grossed $645,468 which is up $3,302 from 2018.”
“Total paid guests at the 2019 Montana State Fair was 76,077 compared to 74,580 in 2018. The total revenue was $388,500. Fair Gate Admission was off by $4,470 from the 2018 Fair which was $392,970…”
“There were 5,223 exhibits to view brought to you by 700 exhibitors. The Junior Livestock Show and Sale continues to grow and this year the Junior Livestock Sale grossed $31,860.”
“There were 43 vendors from the state of Montana and a total of 43 vendors from out of state…Total booth spaces filled by the vendors exceeded 179 booth spaces.”
“Attendance for the 4-night event was 6,673 which was up from the 2018 attendance of 6,504. The total payoff for the PRCA Big Sky Pro Rodeo was $128,968.”
“Night shows produced $479,223.”

Item	2019	2018	2017	2016	Variance	% +/-
Total Fair Revenue	$1,670,049	$1,650,443	$1,758,463	$1,551,364	$19,606	+1.18%
Fair Gate Admission ($)	$388,500	$392,970	$393,741	$361,561	$(4,470)	-1.13%
Fair Gate Attendance (#)	76,077	74,580	71,388	65,906	1,497	+2.00%
Food Concessionaires – Gross Sales	$725,788	$733,819	$721,119	$665,771	$(8,031)	-1.09%
The Mighty Thomas Carnival – Gross Sales	$645,468	$642,166	$622,879	$612,187	$3,302	+0.51%

“Gag me”, Local United Way Coordinator Says About GOP Candidates

ECB Staff on June 19, 2019

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We applaud and appreciate the great work United Way of Cascade County does for our community yearly in raising money for important local organizations and causes. Kudos to them, their work is vital.

But we have to wonder why one of their top paid employees, Volunteer Program Coordinator Lynette Scriver-Colburn, would jeopardize opportunities to raise funds from potential donors by being so blatantly partisan in a public forum.

If you’re one of the thousands of Gianforte or Stapleton voters/supporters and you see the Volunteer Program Coordinator for United Way of Cascade County responding publicly to your candidate, saying “Gag me”, would you be inclined to donate to United Way? Or would you find another charity to give to?

Does Scriver-Colburn have the right as a private citizen to express her partisan opinions publicly? Of course. Is it wise to do so when you’re name is known and you are a paid representative of a non-profit trying to raise money?

This isn’t the first time Scriver-Coburn has allowed her personal political views to be displayed publicly in a way that seems counterproductive to her employers interests. Last year she attempted to intimidate a local business owner and discourage him from advertising with another local business – E-City Beat. You can find the details here.

We encourage folks to donate to worthy causes like United Way of Cascade County, you can find out how to do that here. We also encourage non-profits like United Way and their employees to exercise a little more wisdom and a little less partisan vitriol in their public statements.

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Cascade County 0.4% Growth Too Cold

Rick Tryon on April 24, 2019

Last week the U.S. Census Bureau report revealed some surprising information about county population growth in Montana between 2010 and 2018. It’s not only surprising, but for Cascade County it’s troubling.

Looking at this data I’m reminded of the story of the Three Bears.

TOO HOT! – Gallatin County (Bozeman/Belgrade area) grew by 22,363 people, or 25%.

TOO COLD! – Cascade County (Great Falls area) grew by 320 people, or 0.4%.

JUST RIGHT? – The Helena, Missoula and Billings areas grew by a little over 8% each.

I think most of us Great Fallsians would agree that we don’t want 25% growth or the rapid boom development Bozeman is experiencing, even though it has real advantages. But I don’t think we should be celebrating, or even accepting, a measly 0.4% percent growth rate either.

In fact we should be alarmed that we grew by only 320 people since 2010. Very alarmed. Heck, even the Butte area more than doubled our population growth.

We need more people and “new blood” in Great Falls/Cascade County. It’s that simple. Here’s why:

Adding population means we grow our workforce – something almost every local economic development analyst and civic leader recognizes as the number one need for Great Falls.
New people are new customers for local businesses.
An expanding population results in an expanding tax base which results in more revenue for infrastructure, schools, and parks.
A stagnant population means higher local taxes because of the rising costs of infrastructure, schools, and parks.

So, why are people flocking to the other counties and cities in Montana but not ours?

Please don’t try to palm off the oft-heard, phony answer that “It’s because we a have a negative narrative and we’re not thinking positively enough in Great Falls”. No, that’s not the reason.

We need to address the reasons behind the “negative narrative” and lack of enthusiasm and optimism for our community. Here are a few goals that we should bring a sense of urgency to achieving and that speak directly to the reasons Great Falls/Cascade County continues to struggle to remain stagnant.

We will earn the reputation of having the most honest, ethical and transparent city/county government and public officials in the state.
We will become known as the most business and jobs friendly community in the state, with a motto of “How Can We Help You Succeed”, not “You Can’t Do That”.
We will be the safest community in the state.
We will have a consensus vision and a plan of action for measured growth and prosperity over time.
We will encourage new ideas, innovation and full participation by ALL of our citizens.

Stay tuned as I and others begin to flesh out some of these ideas and goals. We can do it, we can achieve JUST RIGHT!

Score One For Transparency

Rick Tryon on March 22, 2019

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As most local folks in Cascade County are now aware, former Cascade County Sheriff’s Office undersheriff John Stevens has been charged with felony theft related to public property, firearms, he allegedly absconded from the sheriffs office and traded for a four wheeler.

Of course Stevens is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.

I would like to focus on something other than the details of this particular story and look at a broader issue and some possible lessons we can learn here.

We often wonder why Great Falls/Cascade County seems to be struggling to remain stagnant while other state and regional cities are growing and prospering.

I have long maintained that part of the reason for our economic and cultural stupor is a general anti-business and development attitude, and policies that go along with that from our local public officials.

But another factor contributing to our failure to progress and grow here is a longtime culture of cronyism and a lack of transparency as it relates to public officials and employees and the processes involved in our local government and public institutions.

Some examples:

For years, maybe decades, there were major conflicts of interest in the Great Falls city commission and city advisory boards surrounding the Community Development Block Grant money allocation. The public knew little if anything about these shenanigans until very recently and only because citizens starting speaking up and demanding change.
The Great Falls Public School District covered up the theft of public property by a district employee several years ago and also tried to sweep some very disturbing rape allegations at Great Falls High School under the rug. (I’m told to stay tuned for a more detailed reference to the rape allegation in an upcoming piece.)
Remember Electric City Power? The details of that fiasco and the incompetence and possible dirty dealings of those involved with it were largely unknown to the general public until it was too late.
Even now there are lots of questions about how transparent Cascade County officials have been in the Madison Food Park (slaughterhouse) development.

Enough said.

Okay, now for the good news – I am very impressed with Sheriff Jesse Slaughter and Undersheriff Cory Reeves and how they have conducted the peoples business over the last 3 months. As soon as the states DCI investigation into Stevens, and possibly others, was concluded Sheriff Slaughter sent out a press release and conducted a press conference fully open to the public with the details.

The law enforcement community is a very tight knit group and they take care of their own, sometimes possibly at the expense of honesty, transparency and fairness.

How easy it would have been for Slaughter to minimize and try to cover up, as much as possible, the charges against a fellow law enforcement officer. But he didn’t.

Back during the 2018 campaign for sheriff, Slaughter and Reeves reached out to me and asked to meet for a cup of coffee. I was a little surprised by the invitation and asked why. I was told that since I am known as a vocal opponent of the local good ol’ boys & gals club they wanted to assure me that they were running on a platform of transparency and zero tolerance for cronyism.

So far so good in my opinion. I hope the example being set by the new sheriff and his administration will be an example and the start of a new way of doing business in Cascade County and Great Falls.

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Local GOP Response To Hagan Press Release Too Personal

ECB Staff on March 20, 2019

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Yesterday we received a letter from Michael Polaske, Chairman of the Cascade County Republican Central Committee Nominating Committee, in response to the press release we published on Monday from Roger Hagan.

We will not be publishing Polaske’s response at this time due to the nature of the content of the letter. Almost every other sentence is a personal attack on Mr. Hagan rather than a reasoned and logical response to the facts and content of Hagan’s press release, which did not mention any individual in the CCRCC by name.

We strive to be fair and will be happy to publish a response from Mr. Polaske or anyone else from the CCRCC as long as it isn’t a thinly veiled personal attack on Hagan, or anyone else, but addresses the issues.

We are not adverse to criticisms of public officials or elected representatives, Hagan is neither.

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