Great Falls, Montana News, Politics, & Commentary
Great Falls City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Joe McKenney posted a video on Facebook over the weekend showing homeless camp next to a large mound of garbage under the Sun River bridge in Great Falls.
The situation was brought to the attention of the Great Falls city commission at their May 2 work session by a local citizen and described as a health, sanitation, and safety issue for the community.
You can view McKenney’s video post here.
Our weekly feature highlighting a few of the latest and most interesting local and national news items from various sources.
A deceased 29 year old man found outside in downtown Great Falls, from KRTV:
https://www.krtv.com/news/great-falls-news/mans-body-found-in-downtown-great-falls
Man arrested for Great Falls stabbing last week, from FOX NonStop Local:
https://www.montanarightnow.com/great-falls/man-in-stable-condition-after-stabbing-wednesday-night-in-great-falls/article_dc325e0c-e53e-11ed-8a2b-f3072cfe9c91.html
Great Falls Public Library threatens to take legal action against Cascade County over upcoming mil levy election, from The Electric:
https://theelectricgf.com/2023/05/05/library-board-votes-to-authorize-potential-legal-action-for-upcoming-levy-election/
‘Yellowstone’ ends it’s run this fall, from USA Today:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2023/05/05/yellowstone-ending-season-5-sequel-coming-kevin-costner/70186390007/
With a new fiscal year and budget for the City of Great Falls right around the corner, FY24 starts July 1, 2023, I thought it would be a good idea to present a brief refresher on local budget realities.
The Great Falls City Commission is very limited by state law when it comes to raising taxes at the local level and in my opinion this is a good thing. But it does present challenges when it comes to funding city services every year.
There are only three ways the city commission can raise local tax revenue for the general fund:
Generally speaking, the other revenue categories fall under special assessments – like Portage Meadows, boulevard districts, Park Maintenance District 1, etc., and enterprise funds that rely on fees, permits, and licenses.
For instance the Planning and Community Development Department funds itself, for the most part, through building permits, safety inspections etc.
An example of city services being paid for by fees would be your garbage collection rates or your water/sewer rates.
When you go to the store and a dozen eggs costs three times more than it did a year ago you understand the direct impact of inflation.
When you turn on your water faucet or take out your trash for City pick up the impact of inflation may not be as obvious, but it’s still there because the rising cost of EVERYTHING hits EVERYONE EVERYWHERE – even the City of Great Falls and it’s services and operations.
So the City has two choices, either raise the fees for services to cover rising costs or reduce the level of City services.
Each and every time the Great Falls City Commission deliberates on raising fees or taxes there is a fully transparent vetting process and ample opportunity for public input.
Allow me to close with a couple of observations.
First, I’m looking forward to hearing from local taxpayers during the upcoming City budget discussions. If we need to cut services or City expenditures in order to balance our budget and still provide the level of service citizens demand then please be specific and factual with your suggestions. I’m listening.
Finally, in 2020 and 2021 I voted with my fellow commissioners against any tax raises or fee increases. I would like to be able to vote that same way every budget year so that Phyllis and I, and all of our fellow Great Fallsians, would never have to see our local taxes and fees go up while keeping the same level of City services, but unfortunately that isn’t reality and we all know it.
In a Tweet on Thursday afternoon Montana Senator Steve Daines responded to the resurfaced accounts of a ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ for kids hosted by Malmstrom Air Force Base during Pride Week in 2021, calling the event “infuriating” and “distracting from the mission at Malmstrom”.
The story was originally reported on by The Western Journal in July, 2021.
The event at Malmstrom took place during the same approximate time period, Pride Week 2021, that the Great Falls Public Library hosted and promoted a ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ on their public YouTube Kids Place! channel.
Todays polls question is:
[poll id=”34″]
The Great Falls Tradition continues April 14-15 with three big rings and five big performances at the Pacific Steel and Recycling Arena at Montana ExpoPark.
This is a chance to see worldwide talents including Aerialists, Daredevils, Dig and Pony Acts, and Clowns (including a local performance by the Great Falls Jolly Rogues Clowns).
Every year the local Shrine Bagpipe Band puts on the Shrine Circus here in Great Falls to give families the opportunity to experience great family entertainment. Once again local businesses will be paying for children’s tickets which will be given away at both local Albertsons the week of the Shows. The Shrine Circus also helps by raising money for the Travel fund to get families to and from the Shrine Hospital.
There’s more to the Shrine Circus than meets the eye. For 72 years, the circus has come to town, entertaining and occupying residents of all ages. But looking beyond the acrobatics, animals, clowns and concessions, there is a rich tradition that touches everyone involved. Shriners, circus owners, performers, spectators, and local volunteers all play important roles in keeping this tradition alive. For many, it’s a role handed down over generations.
The local Shrine Circus will also offer a Commemorative Kids Program along with two FREE Plush Animal
Without an audience of area residents, the tradition of the Shrine Circus would not exist. Year after year the spectators come to see the show. For many, going to the circus is a family tradition. Shriners and the Circus—what a winning combination! A fraternity that is committed to children and families presenting the most complete form of family entertainment!
On behalf of all of the members of the local Shrine Circus, we thank all of you who have supported our circus through your advertising, your purchase of tickets, your encouragement year after year and your acceptance of our efforts throughout the communities in which we live, work and play with you—our friends, neighbors and co-workers. Without you, without the media support we get and without the effort of so many Shrine families and corporate supporters, we wouldn’t be here for our 61st consecutive Shrine Circus year.
For more information Contact Hope Good at (406) 868-9649
Or Bob Kampfer at (406) 788-1959.
At our Great Falls City Commission regular meeting on February 28 the Commission voted unanimously to put a levy request by the Great Falls Public Library on a June 6 special election ballot for Great Falls voters to decide.
During the meeting several citizens raised the issue of a ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ video promoted and sponsored by the GFPL.
In an article written by Jeni Dodd the video was referenced and a link provided. However no video appeared when the link was followed and it looked like the video had been deleted or was no longer available on the library’s YouTube channel.
It was subsequently discovered that the ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ video and other videos from the GFPL Kids’ Place ‘Family Pride Week 2021’ events and promotion were set to ‘private’ and not available for the public to see.
In her initial in 2/25 email response to a question from me about the timing and purpose of the videos being unavailable for public viewing on the library’s YouTube channel Director McIntyre wrote:
“I’ve been looking into the situation. The video was not removed. As with some other old Library videos, the 2021 Family Pride Week videos were set to private.
We are not exactly sure when that transition was made. They are set back to public for everyone to view if they wish.”
Consequently, because the library is a public resource and all of it’s online content, events, and promotions should be fully available for public viewing and scrutiny, I asked several other questions about the private settings place on the videos in question.
Here is the text of my emailed questions (in bold italics) and GFPL Director Susie McIntyre’s response:
Tryon: “Who originally authorized/requested that the Pride Week 2021 videos, including but not limited to the ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ video, be set to ‘private’? What is the library policy for setting the viewing status of it’s YouTube video content and who has administrative privileges?“
McIntyre: “The Pride Week 2021 were set to private after a miscommunication. Please see my answer to # 3. I take full responsibility for the videos being moved from public to private.
The Library follows the social media policy of the City of Great Falls (attached). All of the Library Staff who create and post Library videos have administrative privileges, including the privilege to place videos to private. Currently the staff with those administrative privileges are Aaron Kueffler, Sara Kegel, Susie McIntyre and Rae McFadden. We do not a formal policy for when videos should be set to private.
As required by City Ordinance, all Library social media, website content and email communication are archived and available for retrieval if needed.”
Tryon: “When were the videos set from public to private viewing?“
McIntyre: “The Library Pride Week videos were set from public to private viewing on January 27, 2023.
When I first asked staff when the videos were set to private, they couldn’t tell by looking at our YouTube channel when video status was changed. Lanni Klassner determined the exact date of the change by looking at the City’s social media archiving solution, Archive Social.”
Tryon: “Why were the videos set from public to private viewing?“
McIntyre: “After investigation, I determined that the videos were set from public to private after a miscommunication between myself and a staff person. I was invited to provide a presentation for the Great Falls Pachyderm club on January 26th, 2023. After that presentation, I had a conversation with a staff member about my experience at the meeting. I expressed concern about Pachyderm club member attacks on the Library regarding LGBTQ issues. The staff member and I had a conversation about the national trends of some libraries being closed and some librarians receiving death threats over culture war fights centered on LGBTQ+ issues. During the course of that conversation a miscommunication took place. The staff member left the conversation understanding that in the interest of protecting staff and volunteers from threats, I had given permission to set our online Pride materials to private. I left the conversation with the understanding that we were both concerned that a minority of people using national anti-LGBTQ rhetoric were looking to fan a culture war in Great Falls.
I take full responsibility for the videos being moved from public to private.
I was unaware that the videos were set to private until I received the email from Commissioner Tryon on Friday February 24th. As soon as it was brought to my attention that the videos had been set to private, I investigated the issue and then had staff set them back to public so that everyone could view them.”
Tryon: “Were there any other videos other than the Pride Week 2021 videos the set from public to private viewing or from private to public viewing? If so, which ones and why?“
McIntyre: “The Great Falls Public Library YouTube Channel has 7 total videos. They are all public.
We have an unused channel labeled Dewey Falls. We attempted to upload a drone video to YouTube and had many complications. It was set to private and never moved to a promoted Library YouTube Channel.
The GFPL Kids Place YouTube Chanel has 239 videos.
Editors note: in response to recent news and controversy concerning the Great Falls Public Library’s requested mill levy, Molly Beck, Chair of “VoteYes For Our Library”, submitted the following information to E-City Beat. We will be presenting all sides of the library mill issue.
The Great Falls Public Library is at a crossroads. The library is operating at the minimum Montana State Library Association standards and yet continues to be in a financial deficit. The community values the library, but it is not adequately supported to provide the quality library services that our growing community deserves.
The Library Provides Access: Libraries level the playing field. As a cornerstone democratic institution, people of every age, income, location, ethnicity, and physical ability are provided the full range of information resources needed to live, learn, govern, and work.
The Library Builds Community: Libraries are community hubs. They connect people to information and connect people to people. They are safe havens for kids and families. They offer computers and internet, allowing everyone to stay engaged in a digital world. Library bookmobiles and community outreach programs help those living in remote areas and those who are homebound to remain connected to the world.
The Library Promotes Literacy: Libraries are committed to helping children and adults develop the skills needed to survive and thrive in a global information society. Access to reading and resources improves the quality of life for everyone.
The Library Protects Our Freedoms: Libraries are advocates for everyone’s rights to read and think. Libraries protect the right to privacy and free speech.
Continuing and expanding early literacy and after-school programs for children and parents: This will result in more children starting school ready to read and more parents empowered to be their child’s first teacher.
Expanding homebound services and programming for people who are disabled and seniors: This will result in decreased isolation and loneliness for seniors and persons with disabilities, increased access to social and recreational resources for those most in need, and improved health for seniors and persons with disabilities.
Providing computer and technology classes and expanding support for job seekers: This will result in increased workforce participation and improved placement for job seekers.
Providing a college readiness program for teens that includes literacy programs, test preparation, and application assistance: This will result in improved graduation rates and college acceptance rates.
To accomplish the above goals and allow for sustainable services, the Great Falls Public Library Board has requested an increase of 15 mills. If passed, this levy will increase the annual tax on a $100,000 home by approximately $20.25 ($1.68 a month), or $40.50 on a $200,000 home ($3.38 a month).
Great Falls Public Library is currently funded at $19 per capita. Median library funding in Montana is $31 per capita, with a high end over $50. The proposed mill levy funding would bring the library to a state average level of $32.
This afternoon E-City Beat received the following message from one of our readers:
“Your article about the library drag queen video said the video had been removed but when I clicked on the link it went to the video…”
When we published Jeni Dodds article last Friday we confirmed that the video appeared to have been removed and was no longer available, as Dodd stated. After receiving the above message from a reader we checked again and the video is now available for some reason.
Here is the video of local drag queens the Mister Sisters reading stories to children for Pride Week 2021 via a video sponsored and promoted by the Great Falls Public Library “Kids’ Place!” and hosted on their web site and YouTube channel.
The Electric article (here) covering the Great Falls Public Library levy which
the City Commission voted to put on the ballot in June, is far from
balanced and fair and shows an obvious lack of research.
I was at that commission meeting and I wish to set the record straight
and give my perspective. The Electric quotes are italicized with
quotation marks, followed by my responses in plain text.
“The proposed special election would cost about $48,000, according to
city staff, and the library will use the library fund to pay that expense.”
Conveniently left out of the article is the fact that the library fund is
taxpayer dollars. Library Director McIntyre’s repeated claims “the
library would be paying for it” from the library fund were a bit
disingenuous, as she wasn’t forthcoming when questioned about the
origins of the library fund by Commissioners Hinebauch and Tryon.
Commissioner Tryon finally asked Melissa Kinzler, City Finance
Director, who confirmed it is our taxpayer dollars.
“Initially, library staff planned to put the library levy question on the
May school ballot, but legal staff determined that wasn’t an option under
state law.”
City legal staff, both of whom were in attendance at the commission
meeting, didn’t speak up to confirm this with any type of legal citation.
I’ve since seen the city attorney’s legal determination. But before that, I
had called the MT Secretary of State/Elections and they stated that the
library levy could be added to the May ballot. Conflicting information
but at this point it doesn’t matter. The city commission has voted to put
the library levy to the people in June.
“It would have cost the city roughly the same amount to put the question
on the May ballot and the election cost for the city will likely be similar
in November, but that will include the mayor and commission election
and potentially the public safety levy.”
I gotta wonder why The Electric revisits the May ballot toward the end
when earlier in the article, it states city staff claims the May ballot isn’t
even an option under state law. But if the library levy would or could
have been added to the May ballot, the cost for that May election would
not be the same as in November. It would have been split between the
city and the school district, resulting in a cost savings for both,
according to the Cascade County Elections Office, whom I spoke with
on February 22.
“She said the library would probably go down to being open five days a
week and below the minimum of 50 operating hours per week required
by the Montana State Library standards and would result in a loss of
$30,000 of state funding.”
$1.5 million in additional taxes to preserve $30,000 in state funding
doesn’t sound like a good deal for the taxpayers.
“Without the levy, the library is projecting a $120,000 shortfall for the
next fiscal year, which begins July 1. In that case, McIntyre said they’d
have to cut staff, hours and services.”
If the shortfall is $120,000 why is the library asking for $1.5 million?
This obviously is not a levy to save a library in dire straits, as McIntyre
seems to want us to believe when she speaks. A shortfall of $120,000 is
not $1.5 million.
The following bullet points in the article show a dramatic expansion of
the library’s hours and function:
“If passed, the levy would, according to staff:
• expand library hours to be open seven days a week
• expand Bookmobile services to six days a week providing more
services to daycares, schools and seniors
• expand youth services programs including early literacy outreach,
school age programming, and college and life preparedness for
teens
• provide more lifelong learning opportunities including expanded
collections, electronic resources and adult and senior programing
• restart and expand outreach services including the homebound
program”
McIntyre doesn’t just want to solve a shortfall—she wants to build an
empire.
Also, why did the article fail to mention the impact of the levy on
property taxes? The increased in taxes for a $100,000 property valuation
is $20.25 and $40.50 for $200,000 valuation.
I would opine that many of us in this city are opposed to the ever-increasing woke policies and practices of the Great Falls Public Library. We remember a library that was not political, but sadly, that library is gone.
“McIntyre said the library has not hosted a drag queen story hour nor do
they have plans to do so.”
Yes, she did say that and it is a bald-faced lie. The Great Falls Public
Library did indeed host a drag queen story hour, on June 12, 2021. The
library removed the YouTube video but here is the link from their Facebook page as well as screen shot proof:
“One of the things included in the proposed levy that has some
opponents upset is a mental health counselor.”
The actual proposal indicates hiring a social worker, not a mental health
counselor. There’s a huge difference. Either way, this is not a normal and
traditional function of a library. But the American Library Association,
of which the Great Falls Public Library is a member, has initiated a
nationwide push for social workers in libraries, likely in an effort to
remain relevant in a time when information and resources are readily
available by computer in the comfort of our homes.
“McIntyre said there’s a process for patrons to submit concerns over
materials in the library collection that are reviewed by staff and if
needed, the library board. She said in her nearly 18 years working at the
library, no complaints had risen to the library board level and they’d
had maybe five complaints submitted overall.”
I would be willing to bet most folks in Great Falls haven’t searched the
library for concerning materials nor are they aware of a process to
request review of them. So McIntyre’s insistence that complaints are rare
doesn’t prove anything.
My comments at the meeting included two books I had concerns with,
Gender Queer and This Book is Gay. McIntyre claimed Gender Queer
was in the adult section, but a search of the GFPL online catalog reveals
it is classified as “comic book.”
She claimed to not know whether This Book is Gay in the library, but a
quick search of the online catalog reveals it is there and is classified as a
“juvenile literature.”
My concerns aren’t based on the LGBTQ theme. I’m concerned about
any explicit sexual content that is accessible to children in the library. If
anyone questions the inappropriateness of these books for children, I
would direct them to these links, which include excerpts from the books.
https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen4/21d/WY-MR-Library-Books-more/5-Gender-Queer.html
https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen4/21c/WY-MR-Library-Books/1-Gay-book.html
“Some of those who spoke in opposition were active last year in
claiming that local elections had been fraudulent, despite no evidence of
those claims locally, and advocated for eliminating mail ballots and
counting all ballots by hand.”
How is this relevant to the library levy? It isn’t. It is a patronizing,
condescending example of faulty logic and insinuation—and certainly
not news.
Retired Great Falls police officer and former Cascade County Undersheriff Cory Reeves announced Sunday on his Facebook page that he will “run for the City of Great Falls Mayoral seat this November”.
The seat is currently held by Mayor Bob Kelly who has not yet announced whether he will run for another term. The mayors seat and two city commission seats are up for election every two years.
Filing for the 2023 municipal election opens on April 20 and closes on June 19. Election Day 2023 is Tuesday, November 7.
Here is the text of Reeves announcement from his Facebook page:
“I proudly announce that I will run for the City of Great Falls Mayoral seat this November. I have spent most of my life serving the City of Great Falls and Cascade County, and I am excited at the prospect of this new endeavor!“
