Great Falls' Independent News Source
The proposal to raise parking meter rates in downtown Great Falls last fall was essentially dead on arrival and the Parking Advisory Commission voted Thursday afternoon to make a more modest increase. They’re planning to take that proposal to a City Commission work session in April, meaning it will be at least May before the commission would take any action
Read more
The city finance office has created interactive budget tools to help the public see where their tax dollars go. Kirsten Myre, city budget analyst, found a software system and entered all of the city’s data to develop the interactive, colorful tools. [USE THE BUDGET TOOLS] The hope, Myre said, is that the tools will get the public more engaged and
Read more
The Cascade County planning board conducted the first public hearing in what will be a multi-month process to update the county zoning regulations. At least 50 people attended the meeting and expressed frustration with the meeting time, the cramped room, the limited information available on the reasons for the changes, the limited time residents had to review the proposed changes
Read more
The county planning board will hold an initial public hearing on the proposed changes to Cascade County zoning regulations on Feb. 19 at 9 .m. at the Courthouse Annex. County staff is proposing substantial changes to the current zoning regulations and this will be the first public meeting on the proposed changes. Staff will present the proposed changes to the
Read more
Little Athens Nicholas Geranios has purchased the former Bert and Ernie’s location at 300 1st Ave. S. The Geranios family operates Little Athens in Holiday Village Mall and will be opening a restaurant in the former Bert and Ernie’s space though details are in flux. Bert and Ernie’s closed suddenly in August and has been vacant since. Bert and Ernie’s
Read more
This week, the City Commission will hold a public hearing and consider renewing the Business Improvement District for another 10 years. The goal of the BID is to maintain, beautify, and stimulate development in Great Falls’ historic downtown district. Downtown business improvement district reaches renewal threshold The Great Falls BID was originally created in May 1989, recreated in July 1999
Read more
The city is considering donating fire engines to the Vaughn Volunteer Fire Department. Jason McAllister, Vaugh VFD chief, told the city that his department had a critical need for a fire engine but the volunteer department didn’t the means of purchasing a new or used vehicle. City approves tax abatement, Civic Center contract, TIF funding, fire engine donation and more
Read more
City of Great Falls offices, including the Great Falls Animal Shelter, will be closed on Feb. 18 for Presidents Day. The Great Falls Public Library will be closed on Feb. 17, in recognition of the holiday since the library is not currently open on Mondays. There will be no changes to the residential or commercial sanitation collection schedule next week.
Read more
10th Alley South from 34th Street to 36th Street South will be closed to through traffic until about May 1 for the demolition and reconstruction process of the Ace Hardware store. The project was approved by the city’s Design Review board a year ago and the Board of Adjustment approved a variance to reduce the minimum number of parking spaces.
Read more
The Cascade County Zoning Board of Adjustment will consider a special use permit for a hemp processing facility during their Feb. 14 meeting at 9 a.m. Paul Leach of Venture Property and Leasing, LLC has applied for a SUP to allow a value-added agricultural commodity processing facility on this nine acre property. Leach wrote in the application that the facility
Read more