City of Great Falls - Local Government

07/25/2024

It’s almost time for the fair! Though the Great Depression spelled the end for the state fair in Helena, it was only the beginning for the Montana State Fair in Great Falls.

Cascade County purchased the site for the fairgrounds in 1926, and five years of careful planning and development preceded the first fair in 1931. After the land was secured, the County and the Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the goal of raising $30,000 in donations, to match an equal amount raised through a county tax levy. The people of the county supported the fair so enthusiastically that half the goal for donations was raised in one day!

The Fairgrounds (now known as the Montana ExpoPark), were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and thanks to a County repair initiative during the 2020 downtime, they represent the most intact collection of Art Deco buildings in Montana.

- Throwback Thursdays are brought to you by the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

07/23/2024

In an effort to aid our repair crews and reduce the chance of further water main failures in the area, the Public Works Utilities Division is enacting a temporary water restriction in the Northeast area of Great Falls.
Please refrain from unnecessary water usage including: irrigation, washing vehicles, cleaning sidewalks, etc. This restriction is in effect through Friday, July 26, 2024.
The affected areas are the same areas that the boiling order is in effect, including: Skyline Addition North of Riverview Drive; Northwest of Avenue E; North View Addition and Eagles Crossing.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but appreciate your understanding.

07/23/2024

UPDATE: Who is affected: Residents in the Skyline addition North of Riverview Drive; North of Chicago Avenue in Black Eagle; Northwest of Avenue E; North to Great Bear Avenue and Eagles Crossing. If you experienced a loss of water, or a loss of water pressure in the early morning hours on 7-23-24, you should take precautions and boil your water.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR AFFECTED AREA OF GREAT FALLS, MT

GREAT FALLS, Montana –The City of Great Falls Water System recently experienced a main break and a drop in pressure which could have resulted in contamination of the water supply. Because of the loss of pressure, it is unknown if contaminants could have infiltrated the distribution system. This a precautionary BOIL WATER ADVISORY and as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation. NOTE: This notice only for those in the affected area of Skyline Addition, Eagles Crossing and 2 Streets on the northside of Black Eagle, MT.
This Boil Water Advisory is precautionary. A portion of the City of Great Falls public water supply has experienced a loss of pressure. Water system personnel are working diligently to get the water pressure restored.
What should I do?
• Boil your water.
• People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What does this mean?
• As a precaution boil the water before consuming for one week.
What is being done?
• Bacteriological samples of the water will be collected.
• Personnel are closely monitoring the situation and will update users.
• General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are
available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

07/19/2024

New All-Way Stop Coming to 32nd St S and 11th Ave S Intersection

The City of Great Falls will install two new stop signs during the week of August 12th at the intersection of 32nd St S and 11th Ave S, which will convert the intersection from a 2-way stop to an all-way stop. The intent of the conversion is to enhance motorist and pedestrian safety at the intersection. The stop sign installation is expected to be completed on August 16th, weather permitting. Drivers should use caution in the area and remember to approach the 32nd St S and 11th Ave S intersection as an all-way stop once the installation is complete.
For questions about this project, please contact City of Great Falls Public Works at 406-771-1401.

07/18/2024

The disused Cascade County Jail, located at 326 3rd Avenue North, was built in 1913 and carefully designed by architect George Shanley to compliment the County Courthouse completed ten years earlier. It is patterned after the Courthouse’s Second Renaissance Revival style, with Greco-Roman elements such as columns and arched windows, though its decoration is, appropriately, a bit more modest. The north end of the building was set up as living quarters for the sheriff and his family, with a living room, dining room, kitchen, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The kitchen also served the prisoners, as one of the tasks of the sheriff’s wife was to cook for the inmates.

The Great Falls Tribune described the “new Bastile” in the July 26, 1914 issue; “In contrast with the county jail in which law breakers of Great Falls and the surrounding country were incarcerated in the early day of the community the structure which is just being completed by Cascade County is a veritable palace.”
-Throwback Thursdays are brought to you by the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

07/16/2024

Does your home contain lead water Lines?
Would you like your water tested for lead and copper for FREE?

Contact the City of Great Falls Water Treatment Plant Laboratory to get signed up to be part of the lead and copper sampling program.

For more information and to get signed up please call 406-727-1325.

07/11/2024

The City's storm drain system collects storm water drainage from the entire City and directly discharges it to our local waterbodies (Missouri River, Sun River, and Sand Coulee Creek). When debris of any kind enters the storm drainage system it not only creates additional maintenance requirements/challenges for City crews, but it also impacts the water quality in our local waters where many of us enjoy participating in recreational activities. City storm drains are not filtered or pretreated in any way and they run from the street inlets directly to the outfalls at the rivers or creeks.

Please do your part to help prevent potential pollutants/contaminants caused by landscaping activities (moving, edging, leaf blowing, etc.) from entering the storm drain system and ultimately our treasured local water bodies.

For questions or concerns about protecting our storm drain system, please contact the Public Works Environmental Division at (406)727-8390.

07/11/2024

We needed to scan these original blueprints from the Liberty Theater at 301 Central Ave, and they were just too cool not to share. Look at the detail architects Geo. Shanley and A. Ryan put into the drawings of the decorative plaster work! Check out the electric steam torches! And those art glass windows all down the front!

The theater opened on August 23, 1921, and its first show was a silent film called "Nomads of the North." The Liberty showed movies downtown for over 50 years, but closed in 1977. In the early 1980s, the building was remodeled into offices and retail using a federal grant from the Housing and Urban Development Dept. Thankfully, the exterior was mostly preserved. Can you spot any details from the blueprint on the building today?
-Throwback Thursdays are brought to you by the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

07/09/2024

United Materials, Inc. will be conducting construction work in the area of 1704 29th St S which will result in closures or partial closures of 29th St S at this location. United Materials will provide barricades and traffic control signage. For more information, please contact David Anderson with United Materials at 406-453-7692 or Mark Juras, City of Great Falls Engineering, 406-771-1258.

07/08/2024

HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING - WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2024 12:00 PM AT GREAT FALLS PORTAGE OVERLOOK, 800 40TH AVE S, AND 12:30 PM IN PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ROOM, RM 112, CIVIC CENTER

The Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Advisory Commission (HPAC) will meet this week for their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the following agenda items: Highland Development/Portage NHL Section 106 Report, Boston and Montana Barn Report, Vinegar Jones Cabin Committee Report, and Reports from Commissioners.

More information can be found at the meeting link below: https://greatfallsmt.net/boc-hpac/historic-preservation-advisory-commission-80

07/03/2024

The City of Great Falls offices, including the Great Falls Public Library, and Animal Shelter, will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. There will be no changes to the residential or commercial sanitation collection schedule.

The neighborhood pools (Jaycee & Water Tower) will be open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, and the Electric City Water Park will be open from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

The Anaconda Hills and Eagle Falls Golf Courses will both be open over the 4th of July Holiday. Gates open for check-in at 6:30 am, and courses and ranges open at 7:00 am. The Eagle Falls Golf Course is also a great location to watch the fireworks show hosted at Centene Stadium. The golf course is hosting a free Community Celebration starting at 6 pm with live music, games for kids, and food and drink specials in the Taphouse. For those who want to play golf, sign up for the nine-hole, two-person scramble beginning at 5 pm. For more information, call Eagle Falls at 406-761-1078.

The City’s online services are available over the holiday and can be
accessed at:
• City of Great Falls: https://greatfallsmt.net
• Citizen Complaint & Request Form: https://greatfallsmt.net/community/online-citizen-complaint-request-form
• Library: https://www.greatfallslibrary.org/
• Mansfield Box Office Ticketing: https://ticketing.greatfallsmt.net
• Municipal Court Fines: https://www.citepayusa.com/
• Park & Recreation Registration: https://parkandrec.greatfallsmt.net/
• Parking Citation Payment Portal: https://greatfallscitations.rmcpay.com/

The City of Great Falls wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and happy 4th of July.

07/03/2024

The public hearing on the City’s FY2025 Proposed Budget will be held at the City Commission Meeting on July 16th, 2024. All budget documents along with the City’s online budget tool are available at this link.

https://greatfallsmt.net/finance/fy-2024-25-proposed-budget

06/27/2024

Happy Independence Day! The City of Great Falls Sanitation Collection will be on regular schedule for the week of July 1 through 5, 2024. Have a safe and happy holiday!

06/27/2024

In early October of 1916, motorists of Cascade County celebrated the completion of an eight-mile segment of dirt road through the Little Belt Mountains which the Great Falls Tribune lauded as “one of the most attractive drives to be found in Montana” and “the best argument for good roads that has ever been put on exhibition.” The road was a cooperative effort between Cascade and Meagher Counties and the newly-formed U.S. Forest Service, which the paper reports was forged in White Sulphur Springs to much “jollification” by all parties.

Prior to the road’s construction, traversing the Kings Hill Pass through the Little Belts was rough going over the primitive wagon road, and Supervisor Scott Leavitt of the Jefferson National Forest (as it was called then) recognized that it would be a perilous delay to anyone attempting to traverse the trail for the purpose of fighting fires. This also effectively cut off regular travel between White Sulphur Springs and Great Falls, hampering commerce and restricting tourist travel between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. The new road was designed by the Forest Service’s engineers, who improved on the drainage and construction of the previous route so much the reporter claimed it would be “just as satisfactory in January as in June.” When the stretch of road was opened, a celebration was planned at the Cascade/Meagher county line with picnicking and speeches, though it was reported that “some of the best orators of half a dozen points will be entered in a five-minute handicap, for the people are going ‘to the top of the hill’ to rejoice more than to listen to oratorical outbursts.” (GFT 1/10/1916)

In the 1920s, the King's Hill Pass was incorporated into the Yellowstone-Glacier Bee Line (Y-G Bee Line for short), part of the National Park-to-Park Highway that looped through all 12 National Parks in the American West. The route promoted domestic tourism using newly-affordable automobiles and was enthusiastically supported by Montana motorists. The dirt highway served the area until 1952, when the present paved road was built.

-Throwback Thursdays brought to you by the Great Falls – Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

06/26/2024

32nd Street South ADA Upgrades Road Closure

The City of Great Falls has a contract with United Materials of Great Falls, for an ADA sidewalk ramp project. The construction activity will require a lane closure of 32nd St S from 5th Ave S to 9th Ave S, between June 26th, 2024 and September 23rd, 2024. During the construction period south bound traffic will be detoured around the construction area. The contractor will provide barricades, cones, and closure signs in the area of construction. The public's patience and consideration during this process is appreciated. For more information about the 32nd St S ADA Upgrades project, contact Amanda Brownlee, Civil Engineer, at 406-771-1258.

06/25/2024

Attention City of Great Falls Utility Customers:

As the Utility Department is progressing through a recent software conversion, we wanted to share some helpful information concerning bills and payments for Utility Accounts.
• There will be no delinquent charges until all payment systems are fully operable.
• Your utility bill may arrive 3-5 days later than normal and may look different than you are used to.
• There may be a small delay in the processing of payments.

Although our online payment system and phone payment system are unavailable until our conversion is complete, there are many other convenient ways to pay your bill in the interim.
• You can pay your bill through USPS mail.
• If available to you, you may utilize your banks online bill pay.
• There is a drop box located on the South side of the Civic Center marked for utility payments. Envelopes are provided.
• You can visit the Civic Center in Room 104 to pay in person during normal business hours.
Thank you for your patience during this conversion.

06/21/2024

🌳🏡 Community Reminder 🏡🌳

Hi neighbors! Just a quick reminder to help keep our community looking beautiful:

• As property owners, it's our responsibility to take care of our landscaping. Think of it as giving your yard a daily pep talk.
• Please prune your trees to ensure there's an 8-foot clearance over sidewalks and a 14-foot clearance over streets. Let’s keep our sidewalks and streets free from playing awkward tree limbo and side shuffle routines!
• Keep mulch contained to prevent it from spilling onto streets and sidewalks, and clean up any spillage promptly. Mulch may look pretty, but it doesn’t belong in the road, doing its own thing.
• Maintain your landscaping and keep it in good condition; free from debris and weeds.

If you happen to spot a yard that looks like it's hosting a riot, you can fill out an online citizen complaint form here: https://greatfallsmt.net/community/citizen-complaint-form

The requirements listed above are adopted City ordinances and can be found in Title 17 Chapter 44 Landscaping: https://library.municode.com/mt/great_falls_/codes/code_of_ordinances

Let's all work together to keep our neighborhoods looking their best! 🌷🌿

06/20/2024

It's officially summer! Time to get out and explore! Whether you're staying in town, taking a day trip around the county, or planning a weekender farther afield, the Montana Historical Society's Historic Montana website can help you find historic places to visit along the way! With almost 2000 sites mapped and more than 80 tours (including three in Great Falls), there's so much to discover! Check it out here: https://historicmt.org/
-Throwback Thursdays are brought to you by the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

The Montana Historical Society’s Historic Montana website and companion app take you on a virtual tour of selected buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Montana’s abundant content is reproduced from the thousands of National Reg...

06/14/2024

East Fiesta Street Reconstruction Road Closure

The City of Great Falls has a contract with United Materials of Great Falls for a street reconstruction project. The construction activity will require a road closure of East Fiesta from Ferguson Drive to Durango Drive between June 17th, 2024 and August 30th, 2024. During the construction period East Fiesta will be closed to all traffic. The contractor will provide barricades, cones and closure signs in the area of construction. The public's patience and consideration during this process is appreciated. For more information about the East Fiesta Street Reconstruction project, contact Amanda Brownlee, Civil Engineer, at 406-771-1258.

06/14/2024

There is an open position on the Great Falls Business Improvement District board! To qualify, you must be a property owner within the BID or a representative within the BID. Board members serve four-year terms and meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at the Downtown Great Falls office (318 Central Avenue).

Visit this link: https://greatfallsmt.net/boc/board-and-commission-citizen-interest-form to check out the Board and Commission Citizen Interest Form. The deadline to apply is next Thursday, June 20th, 2024.

06/13/2024

When H. O. Chowen, chairman of the first Planning Commission of Great Falls, explained the need for a comprehensive plan in 1917, he acknowledged that “Great Falls was very fortunate in its start and early development. We have much more to be proud of and much less to regret than most cities twice our size.”

“But,” he continued, “we are beginning to show symptoms of growing pains, both social and industrial. It is time we had our case diagnosed so that we may know where we are at and start a preparedness campaign for the rapid growth the near future will surely bring.”

Chowen had been employed by Paris Gibson during the early development of the city and had worked alongside Gibson to establish an extensive park system and a carefully thought-out city plat. In the decades since, the science of city planning had become more established and was widely embraced by the many “new” cities of the West. Chowen explained that “it recognizes the fact that all the structural features of the city – the street system, transportation lines, sewer and water systems, park and recreational facilities, housing, public buildings, etc., are inter-related and no one of them can be developed… without conflicting at some point with one or all of the others. The city plan furnishes a consistent yet elastic scheme for the development of all municipal functions with the least possible friction and waste.” The map below shows the city in 1913, just a few years before this process. How would you have directed growth?

The science of city planning has continued to develop, and in the 21st century planners prioritize public participation and a collaborative planning process. And with the launching of the new 2025-2045 Great Falls Growth Policy Update, you have an opportunity to participate and shape the future! Learn more here: https://greatfallsmt.net/planning/growth-policy-update
- Throwback Thursdays are brought to you by the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

06/10/2024

HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024 12:00 PM IN PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ROOM, RM 112, CIVIC CENTER

The Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Advisory Commission (HPAC) will meet this week for their regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the following agenda items: HPO report to the HPAC, Highland Development/Portage NHL Section 106 Report, Boston and Montana Barn Report, Vinegar Jones Cabin Committee Report, and Reports from Commissioners.

More information can be found at the meeting link below: https://greatfallsmt.net/boc-hpac/historic-preservation-advisory-commission-79

06/07/2024

✨Update on the North Parking Garage Summer Trial ✨

The parking activity at the North Parking Garage from 6/1/24 to 6/6/24 has increased by 52% compared to 2023! Let's continue this positive trend and enjoy Downtown Great Falls!!

For more information about the 2-hour free parking downtown, please check-out our website: https://greatfallsmt.net/planning/downtown-free-2-hour-parking

🏙️🚗

06/06/2024

Can you believe how many trees there used to be in our Downtown parks? When the City was first developing the park system and the boulevard districts, they maintained a nursery in Gibson Park with tens of thousands of young trees to be planted out around town! They experimented with different varieties, trying to find the best species to provide shade on the wind-swept plains. Many of these trees were planted along the streets or sold to homeowners, so if you have a tree that's more than 100 years old, it may have spent its first few years downtown in Gibson Park! (Troy Hallsell in Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Spring 2021)
-Throwback Thursdays are brought to you by the Great Falls-Cascade County Historic Preservation Office

06/04/2024

We appreciate everyone’s participation in last week’s open house for the 2024 Great Falls Area Long Range Transportation Plan!

Missed the meeting? Check out our website to learn more!

The draft transportation plan will be available soon for public review. Stay tuned! https://www.greatfallstransplan.com/

06/03/2024

🌟 Exciting News! Free 2-Hour Parking! 🚗✨

We're thrilled to announce that starting today, we are offering FREE 2-hour parking at our downtown location! 🅿️ Whether you're here for a quick shopping spree, a delightful meal, or just exploring the area, you can now enjoy 2-hour free parking on us! 🎉

Planning & Community Development Director Brock Cherry is so excited to get this initiative underway he lent a hand to help install the banner to get the word out! 📢

📅 When: June 1st – August 31st
📍 Where: North Parking Garage, 17 4th Street North

Don't miss out on this amazing perk! Spread the word and bring your friends and family to enjoy downtown without feeding the meter!!!

For more information, please check-out our website: https://greatfallsmt.net/planning/downtown-free-2-hour-parking

See you soon! 😊

06/03/2024

Street Sweeping Schedule For Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Please remove your vehicles from the area 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 4, 2024: (All Avenues) from 13th Street South to 26th Street South from 1st Avenue South to 9th Avenue South.

Please Be Advised: Schedule may change or be canceled due to weather conditions.

06/02/2024

Street Sweeping Schedule For Monday, June 3, 2024

Please remove your vehicles from the area 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Monday., June 3, 2024: (All Streets) from 16th Street South to 26th Street South from Central Avenue to 10th Avenue South. Also Streets and Avenues from 13th Street South to 18th Street South from Valeria Way to 8th Avenue South (Chowen Springs).

Please Be Advised: Schedule may change or be canceled due to weather conditions.

05/31/2024

Street Sweeping Schedule For June 3, 2024 through June 4, 2024

Please remove your vehicles from the area 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on your scheduled day.

Monday, June 3, 2024: (All Streets) from 16th Street South to 26th Street South from Central Avenue to 10th Avenue South. Also Streets and Avenues from 13th Street South to 18th Street South from Valeria Way to 8th Avenue South (Chowen Springs).

Tuesday, June 4, 2024: (All Avenues) from 13th Street South to 26th Street South from 1st Avenue South to 9th Avenue South.

Please Be Advised: Schedule may change or be canceled due to weather conditions.

05/30/2024

Join Our Team As A Poolside Superhero!

Are you ready to dive into a job that's cooler than your average 9 to 5? We're on the hunt for a Pool Cleaner Extraordinaire to keep our aquatic paradise sparkling and our pool-goers smiling. Work hours are 7-10 am daily.
Forget the gym! With all the walking, bending, and vacuuming pool bottoms, you'll be in tip-top shape in no time. Apply now and start your adventure in pool cleaning excellence!
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/greatfallsmt/jobs/4463406/aquatic-maintenance-technician-pool-cleaner?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs