This week’s wrap up of local news from the last week.

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Great Falls agencies concerned about rising juvenile crime, gang related activity: A March social media post from the city asking citizens to report graffiti obscured a more serious problem that’s been developing in Great Falls — gang like activity carried out by local juveniles. More concerning, multiple officials said, is some of these juveniles have access to weapons and are emboldened by a system failing to hold them accountable.

MDT beginning 6th Street Northwest, Southwest rehabilitation project: The Montana Department of Transportation and it’s contractor Ti-Zack Concrete will begin work this month to rehabilitate 6th Street Northwest and 6th Street Southwest.

Temporary Belt dump site open as county continues work on permanent site: Cascade County opened its temporary dump site in Belt on April 8. The county opened a section of its new solid waste dump site at 2298 Tiger Butte Road while the new full site is being constructed. Containers have been placed on the ground allowing residents to back up next to a container and dispose of their household waste.

Book of Mormon not rescheduling this season; Sturniolo Triplets coming April 23:

The Book of Mormon is not returning to Great Falls this season after canceling its Feb. 11 show. At the time, the presented, Innovation Arts and Entertainment, said in a statement that, “unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances” the show was canceled. “We understand the disappointment and frustration likely felt by ticket purchasers and we apologize for the cancellation. We are working to reschedule the date, and if we are unable to reschedule, any ticket purchased for the show will be refunded. Ticket purchasers have been contacted by the Mansfield Box Office with this information.” On April 11, Owen Grubenhoff, Civic Center events manager, told The Electric that the box office had started the refund process.

City delays setting new utility rates, discussing how to fund infrastructure for development: City staff walked City Commissioners through their annual review of water, sewer and stormwater systems during their April 1 work session. Staff annually reviews the program’s resources and needs to determine if rate adjustments are needed. In recent years, staff has reviewed the utility systems and rates with commissioner in the spring to then conduct the public hearings and have new rates in place for the budget, which begins July 1.

City Commission votes 4-1 to apply for $2.5 million loan to fund GFFR training center: Great Falls City Commissioners voted 4-1 during their April 15 meeting to apply for a $2.5 million Montana Board of Investments intercap loan to finance Great Falls Fire Rescue’s training center renovations. GFFR’s training center on 9th Street South is largely unusable, limiting firefighter training, risking their safety and by extension their ability to respond to all potential emergencies in the community.

GFFR responds to fire, year after another fire, at same address; proposing code changes to recoup costs from nuisance structures: Great Falls Fire Rescue responded at 1:46 a.m. on April 14 to a fire at 321 1st Ave. S.W. The 911 call came in as a generator on fire outside of the house.

GFFR is proposing an addition to city code addressing the abatement of fire hazard nuisances caused by structures and states: “any and all buildings, ruins, chimneys, flues, boilers, walls, remains of burned buildings or other constructions within the city limits which, by reason of their construction or condition, are in danger of being set on fire shall be found to be in violation of Title 16 of the City of Great Falls. The owner or owners of properties that are found to be in violation of Title 16 shall be notified to abate such violations forthwith.”