Electric City Weblog

Live Blogging-Gregg Smith (Gee Guy)

Over and out for now.

Questions were passed up that didn’t get asked, but Gary will try to get answers.

Closing Statements:

Burows:  Point of clarification: didn’t say anyone’s taxes have gone up by 44%. Regardless of where it comes from, it doesn’t matter.

Is he giving a closing statement?

Rosenbaum: Always an issue at election time: red-headed step child. We needed to change our image. It’s about good decision making. I don’t take it back.

Jones: Keep a positive attitude. We can resolve issues, need discussion with one another. Bring it to the public. I have a positive attitude.

Zook: I believe in a budget, and essential services. If I am elected I will really study the mess we are in. But I will look into it. Responsible and smart growth. Leader for renewable resources.

Bronson: Whether or not you’re happy, you have an obligation to know the issues and come forward with specific proposals and not generalities. I try to find solutions. Not just sit there and say we have a problem.

Will try to find solutions.

Winters: Briefly put. If we’re not happy with current line, the choice is obvious. And here I sit.

Eighth Question: Taxes increased by 44% in five years. Incumbents what are you doing? Newcomers?

Bronson: Mystified by the 44%. Confusion is because Burows is misreading the data. We have more residents and businesses that are paying taxes. That’s the main reason taxes are going up. We are limited in how we are able to raise taxes. Not going to sit here and listen to misinterpretation of budget.

Tell me where you’re going to cut and deprive the low income children of recreational opportunities? In working on two budgets as a commissioner, our City departments try to provide the services the public wants. (How about you cut the 500000 a year we’re losing on power?

Winters (7:50): Can’t address what taxes have been or what they’re going to be. It would behoove us to review the debts. Bring costs back into line.  Go to the general public and see what we want, rather than spending 59.6 on a consulting firm to tell us whether we should be in ECP. Forgett he consultants.

Burows: Has the budget. Annual tax levies. Reads them to the audience. 44%, City of Great Falls budget. My income didn’t go up 44%. Need to get back to “stop spending money.” (Quotes Walter Bruening) Might actually have to “cut programs or services” Tighten our belts. We can do it in government. City needs to take a lesson from its citizens. Can’t just ask for another 5 or 10 % every year.

Rosenbaum: Not sure where the 44% comes from. (Burows shows him right where it comes from) Uh, I don’t know about that. We’ve had the emergency in the health mill, inflation in health mill. The fuel expense. Basically the property tax so we couldn’t get the local option tax. I’ll have to look at the exact numbers. He has no idea.

Jones: Review a number of areas where we have been encumbered by debt. This debt cuts into other operations. Look at these and come up with a plan (Name them!…specifics!)

Zook:  Don’t spend on projects that are not worthwhile. Believes in having a budget. Not up to me to challenge or question what the police or fire deparment needs. Can’t have money from their budget for projects. Budgets have to be held for all areas. Not in favor of a tax hike. (Donna is surprisingly weak)

Seventh Question: How much time do you commit or will you commit to commission duties?

Winters: I don’t know. I would have to ask my wife. Not doing it for the revenue, that’s for sure. Learning experience. I would imagine if I were if you hold my toes to the coals, it would be in excess of 40 hours..week? Month? After the last exchange, which is it?

Commission should have hours at the Civic Center so that citizens can come in and don’t have to call you at home.

Burows: 30-40 hours a week. Rosenbaum corrects. 40 hours a month. (Good honest answer)

Rosenbaum:  40 hours a week. Committees, budget hearings (I could use a drink…that was Rosenbaum, not your writer!) …lots of committees, and committees…maybe a little more than 40. Gets lots of calls from contractors and developers who have issues with the city. He’s a mediator there.

Correction: 40 hours a MONTH.

Jones: No idea either. A great deal of time at the beginning trying to address these issues. Maybe after we get through some of these issues it will be less.

Zook: No idea. I will read every single document, every single page that comes across the desk of a commissioner. I will consider information from all sources, not just one (Just say it Donna: You won’t rely solely on staff!)

Bronson: 20-30 hours per week, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Sixth Question: Should City offer curbside recycling?

Burows:  No. The city shouldn’t be involved in it. We’re losing money in the City, and we pay enough taxes already. Stick with private industry. City can’t do it cost effectively. Enough money already. City taxes have increased 44% in five years, yet we’re losing money on everything we touch. Take a load off the taxpayers.

Rosenbaum: Everyone is in favor of it. Montana Waste Systems doing it right now. (There goes Jess O’Hara…at least that is one audience member who is not asleep!) If we want to use tax money, use a bond issue to vote.

Jones: Yes, he agrees. Good discussion. Need to talk with Pacific Steel. Important, likes “this route” other than taxing everybody. Individual decision right now.

Zook: Agree with everyone else. Fits her vision for GF. Would like to see us a hub like an airport for renewable evidence. Lots of windmills. Wind, solar, thermal and biofuels.

We  have to market the recycling. We need to “listen to the children, and I am very much in favor of that.)  (Mrs. Mitchell’s kindergarten for city commission! Yay!)

Bronson: If it is my preference, yes. Need to take a look at it, an appropriate value for our community. Need to explore it.

Winters: Yes. If we do it right, the City can profit.  Have to come up with a program that “has to be where we all want to be.”

Fifth Question: Should the City be involved in the marketing and transmission of electricity?

Rosenbaum: Throat clears. Throat clears. Environment at the time. NWE was bad. Being a major consumer of an essential service, ranks right up there with sewer, water, police, and fire. Doesn’t want public and private sectors to cross tracks in business interests, but essential services are different. NWE monopoly is all-controlling. No chance for choice. Should be able to pick up phone and change suppliers. (Are we married to SME?)

Jones: City cannot just step aside and not be involved. We play a role in economic development. Doesn’t question Bronson’s point, can’t take this incident and say we shouldn’t be involved.

Zook: Against it.

Bronson(7:22):Transmission is off the table from the outset. As far as the City’s involvement in marketing power, we have to remember the environment back in 2003 (we’re in 2009, now, Bill), and NWE walked away from its contractual obligations. What are you supposed to do? We saw that a lot of cities have done this.

Lots of things have changed since then. Whether we should continue ECP is the question we posed to Burns and MacDonnell, our CONSULTANTS. I don’t think that past commissioners should be faulted for trying to come up with a solution that would benefit not only businesses and consumers (consumers? Since ‘04?)

Winters (7:21):ECW is supported by a few, to benefit a few, at the expense of many. No, he doesn’t support it. (He’s right on the money!) Doesn’t seem designed to benefit the whole community.

Burows: No, private business is private. Government shouldn’t compete with private industry.

Fourth Question: Foreclosed properties becoming a blight on the original townsite. Do you agree and what would you do?

Donna Zook: Agrees with Commissioner Bronson…would like to see City, Banks, Neighborworks, and Commissioner Rosenbaum working together to refurbish these homes and maintain the original architecture.

Bronson: “If I understand the question correctly we are talking about the original townsite of Great Falls.” Um, yes. That’s the question.

Points out that this is private property. We can only enforce codes and enforce health and safety.  Have organizations in town that work with City to “step up to the plate” and improve these properties. Again, a pretty good answer.

Winters (7:16): There are houses for sale in Great Falls. Some of these older homes are being refurbished.

Burows (7:15): Doesn’t know this is a problem. Then again, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Look at them case by case.

Rosenbaum: Disagrees that this is a huge problem. Has a list at Neighborworks. They follow this. No huge issue. (I agree with John)

Third Question: If power plant is built, should the City annex it?

Donna Zook: No. Doesn’t know what the benefits to the City will be. If the plant built, we will have more power than we need, and will have to continue to buy the power that no one is using. Money, money, money into the power plant. She’s right.

How serious is SME about paying for the amenities? Already reduced fire protection fee.

Doesn’t really answer the question, but good points.

Bill Bronson(7:10): City has an annexation policy. Fair question, but ultimately the decision whether to annex requires a public process mandated by law, and taking public opinion and facts into account. We have to promise that if we are confronted we need to keep an open mind in accordance with state law.

If SME wants to get annexed, they have the right to ask. Can’t answer right now.

This actually is the right answer. Bill is not necessarily my favorite commission, but he is right about a lot of things. Good answer, Bill.

Michael Winters (7:09): What benefits will the city realize. Spot annexation? What will you do in between there? Is the City going to receive the tax base or the County? (Does he know what annexation is?)

Not pratical unless all of City will receive benefit.

Fred Burows (7:07): Was possible due to the Missouri River, that ties it to the City of Great Falls. It would give a tax base boost. Does the tax boost justify the expenses we’re going to put into it? How much more development will there really be? We already have an industrial park north of town, has been much of a surge of industry there. More input from the community. Not opposed to business.

Rosenbaum (7:05):Contract we have with SME includes sewer and water if they pay for it and secure the easements. And they also have a contract on fire service. 8.5 miles of sewer and water line would definitely open up other opportunities.

Development on the east-end. Want to get growth going that way. Decision matrix that we or I made. Huh? A lot more merit than just having the cost of electricity for the City and the customers.

Jones: It depends on whether City will provide sewer, water. If the City is going to provide this stuff, we should annex it.

Gary Moseman: Just referenced the two livebloggers. Two wise ass comments about Travis and Gary’s hair. Who has less? I think Gary, but that isn’t age-adjusted! Mike Winters wants to see us.

Second Question: Is it a good idea for the City to own street lights instead of NWE? (What kind of question is this? This is an important issue?)

Mike Winters: Comebank: Only incumbents would have an answer. Great Point!

Bronson: Echo John Rosenbaum. If developers wnat lights, the City should own them. Some developers are choosing no lighting districts. (The City lighting districts are waaaay more expensive than the NWE situation. That’s why many new developments don’t have street lights.) Good answer, though. He put it well.

Michael Winter: This is above his paygrade. He has a rented light. Good. No we know who rents their lights in their yards, and who buys their own. This is a good reason to vote for Winters. He rents his lights. He’ll research it and come up with the right answer.

Should city own them? An “uneducated guess:” Yes.

Fred Burows:  Can have NWE put up a light on his yard and pay monthly, or he can put up his own light.

Rosenbaum (6:55): I have the answer. Started before ECP. Poles and wires are amortized by lighting districts. As they are amortized down to zero, we kept getting the bill. NWE wouldn’t maintain the lights. And the City took over the lights. It’s successful. 2500 public power entities…of course they all don’t own their own streetlights. (This question was clearly designed to give an advantage to the incumbents. No newcomer could reasonably be expected to know the downside of the City’s streetlight issue)

Bob Jones (6:55): Tough question. May be some benefits to the City. I don’t have the answer.

Donna Zook (6:54): I don’t know. Some stuff about we would own them. “If I was commissioner I would find out the answer.”

First Question: Lots of recreational activities. What are top priorities.

Michael Winters (6:52): What’s left to say? Character of a community is reflected in its essential services: fire, police and recreation. Parks and rec have done an excellent job (Checked the pool and golf budgets lately?)

Grew up in NY where it cost a nickel to go to the pool. Free swimming for anyone under 12. Wants to rent the Mitchell out every night for a reasonable fee. (Has he checked lately?) Used to rent it at $400.00, now it’s $800.00

Burow (6:50): Do need a certain amount, but need to keep cost in mind. Government can’t provide everything. Will prioritize the things that will be used the most. What is getting used. Some of the things that aren’t getting used, might need user fees. Can’t just afford to provide everything everyone wants. Aren’t he and Donna Zook on the same “ticket?” I like Fred Burow’s answer much better. No “blanket checks.” Need some volunteer boards as to priorities…Like the park and rec board?

Rosenbaum (6:48): Lots of people told him that this is important. Tried to put together a motor sports park. Died on the vine. All of this is important. For young people it’s an amenity substitution for other behaviors. Something about a “nuisance fee” so people don’t hang around. I am not sure what he means.  Actually said he worked with Tim Ryan!

Bob Jones (6:47): “Reasonable obligation” but what is the cost? Can’t take away from the basics…police and fire.

Donna Zook (6:46): All of the activities are important. Lots of people here with diverse interests. “Obligation of the city to provide diverse recreational activities for our citizens. Must have programs for lower income and senior citizens. City is obligated to pay for these programs just as in her personal budget she has to pay rent. Puts these on the par of a necessity. Responsibility of the City to offer and supply these programs.

Bill Bronson: If I understand the question? Huh? What are his priorities. All are important for low income children. When we provide these, we cannot simply expect government to provide the answer. Look at public/private partnerships. In other cases, swimming pools, only the public sector is in a position to provide the service at a price that doesn’t turn people away because of their income and “standing in the community.” Huh? Might want to check the price of the water park.

GGS/6:41: Fred Burow, came here of his own free will. Been here twenty five years. Negativity? It’s not about GF or the people, it’s a land of opportunity. Frustration comes from City Government, delaing with them is a challenge at times. They don’t think outside the box. We need to have some change.

Bill Bronson: Missed him earlier. Easiest the most professional sounding of the introductions.

GGS/6:40: Rosenbaum, came here via Vietnam. Been involved ever since. On Board of Neighborworks. Spent his time investing his time. Built the bridge over sixth street. He’s a volunteer and enjoys sharing his skills and talents and knowledge.

GGS/6:39: Bob Jones, born and raised here. Chief of Police. Great community, probably in better position living here than any other city in Montana. Doesn’t think any of the problems are overwhelming. Just need discussion and “forumulas.”

GGS/6:37:Donna Zook loves the City. Concerned about the 2.3 million to 6 million dollar deficit. Comes from current commission’s decisions. Very concerned about kids’ futures. Not blaming, who’s at fault. Find out what is going wrong and fix it.

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