02/12/2024
Helena This Week, which will be delivered by email every Monday, is an opportunity for MTFP to offer bite-size portions of the news that matters to residents of the state capital. We’ll also strive to keep you in the loop regarding city government, public school meetings, business news and upcoming entertainment and events.
As the reporter covering Helena for MTFP, I’m especially excited to get this project off the ground. Gathering material for this newsletter helps me continue building relationships in the city but also motivates me to get out there and see exactly what Helena has to offer, which is a lot! I grew up in rural Montana, and I’m about four months into calling this city my home.
Since this is our first issue, I’d like to encourage suggestions and feedback from my fellow Helenans. Is a new business coming to town? Or a concert scheduled at the Myrna Loy? Did you snap an interesting photo of a city scene you’d like to share? Feel free to email [email protected] with your ideas.
Public Notice
The Helena Public Schools board of trustees will meet Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 5:30 p.m., when SMA Architecture will present a plan that is expected to give the board different options to address a school building maintenance backlog of nearly $90 million. The board meets at the Lincoln Center at 1325 Poplar St.
A recently formed nonprofit group of Helena elementary school parents, Friends of Neighborhood Schools, has raised concerns that the plan will call for the closure of some neighborhood elementary schools, namely Hawthorne and Broadwater.
The budget for building upkeep for this school year is about $8.3 million. The district tasked SMA Architecture with developing a plan for prioritizing those needs throughout the district’s facilities.
The plan has been described by school officials as a roadmap to how the district should strategically and responsibly pay for necessary maintenance over the next several years. Some buildings require new or renovated HVAC systems, disability accommodations and electrical updates.
Safety, security and technology levy recommendations will also be presented to the board on Tuesday.
5 Things to Know in Helena
Public Safety Levy update: The city commission will move forward with a proposal to raise taxes through a public safety levy during the commission meeting on Monday, Feb. 26. The commission is expected to decide if the levy will be on a ballot in June for voters to make the final decision. Both Helena police and fire department officials have said current resources have not kept up with the city’s growth.
Infrastructure Study: Both the city of Helena and Lewis and Clark County have hired Helena-based consultants Great West Engineering to study the area’s infrastructure. The purpose of the study is to identify needs and prepare to extend and connect infrastructure, such as streets and solid waste and water treatment systems, that the area will need as it grows.
Summer fair concerts: The annual Last Chance Stampede and Fair released the lineup of performers for its July 24-27 concert series. Former Poison frontman turned country rocker Bret Michaels, country artists Chase Rice and Scotty McCreery and hip-hop artist Flo Rida are scheduled to perform. Tickets are now available through the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds website.
The Helena Downtown Improvement District will host a discussion on Feb. 21, at 8:30 a.m., at 330 N. Jackson St., about downtown parking. City representatives will be in attendance, and participants are encouraged to come prepared with questions and concerns.
The Helena Indian Alliance is hosting an elder’s lunch and a round dance this week. The lunch is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16, and begins at noon at the Indian Alliance building at 507 Euclid Ave. Citizens over the age of 60 are welcome. The round dance, which is open to the community, will be at the Algeria Shrine Temple at 15 N. Jackson St., on Saturday, Feb. 17, starting at 5 p.m., and will feature vendors and food.
3 Questions For
Helena City Commissioner Melinda Reed has been involved in discussions about housing and homelessness within the community. During a city commission administrative meeting on Feb. 7, Reed floated the idea of the commission appointing its own housing task force.
MTFP spoke with Reed about the discussion, and her comments here have been edited for length and clarity.
MTFP: What would be the purpose of the new housing task force?
Reed: I know there are existing groups that look at housing and touch on housing matters, but what we seem to be missing at the commission level is specific actionable recommendations related to policy. So having looked at the example of the governor’s housing task force and looking at the available information, I thought it might help us as a commission to have some recommendations generated by a wide variety of stakeholders that would give us some options.
I think a question was asked about “whose obligation is it?” I will come back to that, but I think there are questions of “what can the city do” and “what should the city do?” But in order to have those discussions, we need recommendations that could be considered for action.
MTFP: What is the focus of the current working group?
Reed: The city staff indicated that there is a process that is underway related to House Bill 382, the Land Use Planning Act. That may or will include some of these elements. But there is a difference, in my opinion, between that, which is a long process that involves a consultant, and the need to address an issue that is too big. It is snowing outside. Our city does not have sufficient capacity for emergency sheltering during the winter, and the process going on at the city may give us some really useful information in a year and a half. It does not help me today.
MTFP: Where do you think the responsibility lies when approaching a solution to homeless people’s needs?
Reed: I believe as an elected official and as a human, as a resident of this community, we do have an obligation to do what we can to ensure that all of our community members have access to the most basic of services. I think it is important that as a community we look at our responsibility, we are thoughtful about our responsibilities, and that we don’t just sort of say, well, that’s not really my responsibility here. It’s easy to do, but is it the right thing to do? That’s in my opinion. I feel as though we can do better, and we should do better.
New on the Block
After closing last winter for a makeover, Red Hen furniture store is reopening on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 6150 Collins Dr. The store will be open Thursdays through Saturdays, typically twice a month, but private showings are also available. Contact [email protected] for more details.
Glad You Asked
Q: When is the second cross at the Cathedral of St. Helena going to be refurbished?
A: Churchgoers and community members may have seen some renovations to the cathedral at 540 N. Ewing St. this past fall. One of the two spire-topping crosses was regilded, while the other remains not so shiny. According to a cathedral staff member, the cross is scheduled to be refreshed this year as the weather warms.
Helena History
Each week, Helena This Week intends to include a bit about our city’s history. To kick off the first newsletter, here’s a throwback photo looking northeastward toward Helena in the early 1870s. Thanks to the Montana Historical Society for the archival photo.
“Helena This Week” is reported and written By JoVonne Wagner. Send your Helena news and tips to [email protected].
