Category Archives: Great Falls Public Library

Library levy approved

Updated at 11 p.m. The library levy has passed, according to preliminary results. As of the 10:53 p.m. preliminary county, there were 7,223 votes for the levy and 6,604 against. It’s unclear how many ballots are left to count, but election staff said they didn’t believe it was enough to change the results. Cascade County elections officials are counting ballots

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Key things to know for the June 6 library election

The library levy election is on June 6. Here’s key things to know. What is the library asking voters to approve? It’s a special election for city voters to decide if they want to amend the city charter to increase the levy for the Great Falls Public Library from the current maximum of two mills to 17 mills. Court hears

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Court hears updates on library levy election

District Court Judge Brenda Gilbert called a hearing on June 1 in the library board’s lawsuit against Sandra Merchant, Cascade County clerk and recorder, over their upcoming levy election. Gilbert said she had scheduled the hearing due to an objection filed on May 31 by the county’s attorney regarding an email sent by the library board’s attorneys on guidance to

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Library launching summer reading June 2

The Great Falls Public Library is launching their summer reading program on June 2. “Summer slide” is a decline in reading ability and other academic skills that can occur over the summer months when school isn’t in session, according to the library. “The best way to prevent summer slide and improve school success is to keep kids reading and participating

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Court appoints monitor for June 6 library levy election

District Court Judge Brenda Gilbert said during a May 18 hearing that she is appointing a monitor to oversee the Great Falls Public Library levy election that is set for June 6. The library board asked the county earlier this month to appoint a monitor to ensure the election was conducted properly given issues raised of irregularities. Sandra Merchant, the

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Library election lawsuit hearing moved up to May 18

The court hearing on the Great Falls Public Library’s request for an election monitor has been moved to 3 p.m. May 18. On May 10, the library’s attorney filed for an emergency injunction asking the court to appoint an election monitor for their June 6 levy election based. On May 11, Judge Brenda Gilbert, a district court judge out of

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Court orders Merchant to mail library levy ballots by May 17; sets hearing on library request for monitor

A Livingston judge has assumed the case against Sandra Merchant and Cascade County over the library levy election. Local judges recused themselves from the case, which is common when a case is filed against Cascade County and local officials. Judge Brenda Gilbert, a district court judge out of Livingston, has assumed the case and set a hearing for 1 p.m.

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Library files suit against Merchant over elections

The Great Falls Public Library board has filed suit against Sandra Merchant, in her official capacity as the county clerk and recorder, requesting the court to appoint an election monitor. Raph Graybill, the board’s lawyer on issues related to its June levy election, said that the County Commission did not respond to the board’s request to appoint a monitor. He

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Library requests election monitor; commission debates public comment on elections

The Great Falls Public Library board has requested that the County Commission appoint a monitor for their June 6 levy election to avoid taking the matter to court. In the May 8 letter, Raph Graybill, the attorney representing the board for the levy election on a pro bono basis, wrote to the County Commission, County Attorney Josh Racki and Clerk

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Library board requests election monitor

The Great Falls Public Library Board sent a letter May 8 asking Cascade County commissioners to appoint a mutually agreeable monitor to oversee the process, advise the election office and monitor the June 6 library levy itself. The library board’s request would have the appointed monitor report to the commission, according to Susie McIntyre, library director. On May 5, the

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