City Commissioners approved a $67,042.50 contract during their Dec. 3 meeting for a project to improve security at the Great Falls Police Department’s front desk.

The project is being funded with state and city funds.

Commissioners approved the contract to Guy Tobacco Construction unanimously.

The project includes demolition of the front desk and adjacent walls, installing bullet resistant paneling and transaction windows, providing one ADA accessible transaction window and providing new countertops and cabinetry on the inside of the transaction window, according to city staff.

City approves projects for new state funding

The project is part of a package of projects the city is funding through the State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act that the Montana Legislature approved in 2023

The bill allocated about $20 million from the state general fund to the Montana Department of Commerce to be distributed to cities and towns to help them fund the maintenance or repair of local government facilities on a partnership basis, with local governments supplying a cash match.

Great Falls was allocated $755,461 of SLIPA funds.

Commissioners approved the package of projects for SLIPA funding in March and ratified contracts with Commerce in September for each project.

City proposes to use new state funds for improvement project

SLIPA funding was approved for up to $63,750 with a 25 percent match of $21,250 coming from the GFPD building maintenance fund for a project total of $85,000, according to city staff.

The construction cost is $67,042.50 with $12,500 for design.

SLIPA will cover $59,656.88 and the GFPD building maintenance fund will cover $19,885.62, according to staff for an estimated total cost of $79,542.50.

City staff worked with LPW Architecture for design and a bid documents and the city received four bids for the project in November.

Bids ranged from $137,530.75 to $67,042.50, with Guy Tobacco being the lowest bid.

SLIPA funds must be obligated by Dec. 31.

City receives $8.4 million in state ARPA funds [2023]

Tom Hazen, city grants manager, said in March that only existing infrastructure can be maintained or repaired, the funds can’t be used to expand or build new and can’t be used on private property, such as to support the replacement of lead water lines for homeowners.

Water systems, fire suppression systems, roads, street lights, airports, public buildings and grounds are among the eligible projects.

Local governments must provide a 25 percent match to the total project cost.

City using ARPA funds for broadband expansion, cattery [2023]

Hazen said the law wasn’t clear in the application process for the funds, but during an informational session with Commerce, it was clarified that cities and towns were to request that city departments submit proposed projects by Dec. 31, 2023.

Hazen said his office sent a memo to city department heads outlining eligible projects, the match requirements and submit their proposals by Dec. 15, 2023.

Seven departments submitted a total of 23 projects for a combined $8.4 million.

City approves $2.88 million in community ARPA grants [2022]

Hazen reviewed the proposals for eligibility, then with the criteria for recommendation, then discussed them with the finance director and city manager.

The criteria for recommendations, Hazen said, was whether the projects were previously recommended for funding, specifically American Rescue Plan Act, or federal COVID relief, funds.

He said city staff had vetted dozens of projects for ARPA funds and identified several as tier one projects, but some of those got eliminated as other priority projects had higher costs, or were among the tier two projects, to be done if there were remaining ARPA funds after the tier one projects were completed.

Those projects were considered priorities for the new state funding program, Hazen said.

City awards GFPD evidence building construction contract to Wadsworth

Other criteria included whether other funding was available for the project and if the proposing department was willing to provide the match out of its own budget.