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3/24/2025
“Great Falls This Week” is reported and written by Matt Hudson. Send your news and tips to [email protected].
Group shares 4 strategies to attract developers
A group of local housing stakeholders urged Great Falls officials on March 18 to take steps that they believe would help spur needed home development.
Home construction in the city is still “severely behind” production targets, according to Jake Clark, vice president of the Great Falls Development Alliance, who read a statement to city commissioners at a recent work session. Those building targets were identified in a 2024 report from the GFDA that estimated that 630 housing units are needed annually in the coming years to ease demand and keep costs down.
Clark was joined by Great Falls Association of Realtors CEO Zac Griffin, Home Builders Association of Great Falls Executive Officer Katie Hanning and NeighborWorks Great Falls Executive Director Sherrie Arey, all of whom signed the letter.
“Without a new and consistent supply of housing units in Great Falls, housing costs will continue to rise, putting extreme pressure on our most vulnerable residents and major employers alike,” Clark said in his statement.
The group urged commissioners to consider four policy tools to help attract development.
The first proposal was to add so-called “workforce housing” as eligible to receive tax increment financing (TIF) funds. In 2021, the Montana Legislature added this kind of construction to state code to be eligible for TIF money. Legislators defined workforce housing as serving families earning 60% to 140% of the area median income. In Cascade County, that’s about $39,010 to $91,025. It would require city commission action to adopt this definition to Great Falls’ TIF regulations.
The second proposal from the housing group was to use special improvement districts, which can be set up to help fund infrastructure improvements and maintenance to aid development. A special improvement district often raises money by assessing properties within its boundaries to build a fund or service debt. This would also require commission action and public hearings.
Third, the group urged the city to solicit developer ideas for under-utilized, city-owned lots. GFDA CEO Brett Doney previously gave a presentation to city commissioners about surface parking lots that could be made into mixed-use developments. The large parking lot on First Avenue South and Second Street South was identified as a primary “opportunity site.”
Again, the city could take action to identify lots that it wanted to put up for development and issue a request for proposals for developers to submit plans.
“The first thing it would require is for the governing body to come to a consensus that they want to go in that direction,” Brock Cherry, Great Falls planning and community development director, told Montana Free Press.
Finally, the group proposed that the city adopt pre-approved plan sets for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are small secondary dwellings on a single home lot. Following a Montana Supreme Court ruling last year, property owners across the state are allowed to build these.
Pre-approved plan sets cut down time and cost for builders, because the details of the plans would already be approved by the city and wouldn’t need in-depth review.
“What it allows is it helps incentivize infill development,” Cherry said. “I can buy a lot, and I can go to the building department, buy one of those pre-approved plan sets and start building the same day.”
While city commissioners can take action on these items if they choose, Cherry said the group’s comments will also be taken as official input for the growth policy development that’s in progress. Development of that policy can be followed at this city website.
Sheriff’s son arrested in Washington state
In December, Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter made what he called one of the most difficult decisions of his life. After receiving concerning text messages from his son, he called the police, which led to his son’s arrest.
Jacob M. Slaughter, 19, was arrested in Cheney, Washington, and charged with one felony count of stalking and three felony counts of harassment with the threat to kill. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of disclosing intimate images. He has pleaded not guilty in Spokane County Superior Court.
Court documents allege that Jacob Slaughter sent multiple threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Some of those messages were shared with Jesse Slaughter, who called Cheney police on Dec. 19 to request a welfare check on his son, documents state.
In a brief interview, Jesse Slaughter said it was one of the worst days of his life.
“It’s that thing when you know what you have to do,” he told Montana Free Press. “But you don’t realize that it’s going to come to that.”
The court documents also say Jacob Slaughter sent a sexually explicit video of his ex-girlfriend to her new boyfriend.
After receiving multiple press inquiries, Jesse Slaughter and his wife, Christie, issued a press release about the arrest. It said that they had only previously shared the information with close friends and family.
“Just before Christmas of 2024, Christie and I became aware that Jake was exhibiting concerning signs that he might harm himself or others. As any parent would have done, our immediate response was to do everything we could to help him and protect anyone else who might be affected by his actions. With heavy hearts, we decided to turn him over to the authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of our son and others in the community. It was the most painful day of our lives,” the statement said in part.
Jesse Slaughter’s statement said that he and his wife opted not to bail Jacob out of jail and believe in accountability for their son’s actions.
“We also believe in the justice system and hope this situation will contribute to him making better decisions in the future,” the statement said.
Jacob Slaughter is listed as an inmate with Spokane County Detention Services. His trial date is March 31.
Times they are a-changin’
Great Falls city commissioners approved using $158,908 in downtown tax increment financing funds to aid in the rehabilitation of the Times Square building on the 500 block of Central Avenue.
The glass-facade Times Square building is actually two historic buildings that were joined and renovated in the ‘80s to create its current look. Repairs and maintenance had been neglected throughout the years, but a new owner took over last fall and is now renovating the space.
Jason Stringer, owner of Tree Amigos, took ownership in October. He told Montana Free Press that he’s looking to bring the building back to shipshape. He’s looking at more than $1 million in upgrades to mechanical units, like a cooling tower and the addition of more than 20 heat pumps.
“Anything that counts needs redone,” Stringer said. “Boilers, cooler units, elevators.”
The TIF funds will cover work to update the elevator and fire alarm systems.
Stringer said that he’s also looking to restore the unique glass building front, though it was difficult to find a contractor to do that work. Still, he’d rather keep the familiar look of the building rather than reconstruct something new.
“That will give it a much better look, too, because those windows are disgusting,” he said.
Stringer said the building, which has multiple retail, food and organizational tenants, will host more public events in the coming months.
Photo Op
Staff at the C.M. Russell Museum packed up all the artwork for The Russell auction late into the night of March 20. Having been trained to carefully handle fine artwork, the staff prepared the 329 pieces up for auction at the 2025 event. Expect to see more coverage of The Russell soon.
Calling all photographers: Submit a photo for Great Falls This Week to [email protected].
Verbatim
“I would not want your job. It’s a really, really hard job.”
—Great Falls City Commissioner Joe McKenney speaking about City Manager Greg Doyon
Great Falls city commissioners approved a contract extension and salary increase for City Manager Greg Doyon on March 18. The raise, effective March 24, brings Doyon’s salary from $197,747.68 to $207,756.88 annually. The increases were calculated based on a cost-of-living adjustment and performance. Doyon’s contract, which expires in March 2026, was extended through March 2029.
Commissioners lauded the work of Doyon, who has been in the position since 2008. They also tried to get ahead of potential criticism of Doyon’s salary. Commissioner Rick Tryon shared figures for regional city managers, numbers which he said came from McKenney. The locations and city manager salaries shared by Tryon were:
Twin Falls, Idaho: $232,000
Olympia, Washington: $225,000
Helena: $195,000
Bozeman: $193,000
Marysville, Washington: $248,000
Montana Free Press reached out to those cities and was able to confirm the actual city manager salaries for almost all of them. Representatives from the cities reported the following city manager salaries:
Twin Falls, Idaho: $239,560
Olympia, Washington: $241,000
Helena: $193,750
Bozeman: $257,736.96 (interim city manager)
Marysville, Washington: Communications Manager Connie Mennie told MTFP that the salary range is $220,033 to $276,031 for the city administrator, and the full salary would be revealed only through a public records request.
5 Things to Know in Great Falls
In November, city commissioners were uncertain about assuming responsibility to administer a $500,000 historic preservation grant to the Union Bethel AME Church in Great Falls. On March 18, city staff presented an alternative way to help the church receive the grant and avoid some administrative costs. Grant Administrator Tom Hazen told commissioners that the city could administer a separate $20,000 grant that would cover design work, potentially saving the church from spending historic grant funds on this work. The larger $500,000 grant will still be awarded to the church, Hazen said. Commissioners worried about setting precedent to administer grants on behalf of other organizations but supported the idea. Ultimately, they requested city staff to seek more information before making a decision.
The Great Falls Animal Shelter is hosting a Tattoos for Tails fundraising event at Electric City Tattoo Emporium on April 18. The tattoo shop will offer a set of pet-themed art, and those who choose to get the ink will be donating a portion of the cost to the animal shelter. The event is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is first come, first served.
Registration is open for the 45th-annual Ice Breaker Road Race, which will take place April 27. The race has five-mile, three-mile and one-mile route options. Early-bird registration ends March 31 at $25 per adult and $15 for a youth. Fees then increase to $35 and $25, respectively. The run begins at 9 a.m. on race day, and registration can be done here.
Renovation work at the Mansfield Theater to repair the ceiling and replace seats has a budget shortfall of nearly $390,000. City staff will solicit private donations and sponsorships to try and make up the difference, though time is tight to get repairs done before the next season of events. The city will be offering tiered sponsorship levels that come with memorialization options for plaques and seats.
Summer construction in the heart of downtown will alleviate stormwater drainage issues but cause some access disruptions. Work on drain inlets and underground pipes in the areas of Third Street South and First Avenue South will begin in May and run through November. Construction includes water main reconstruction along First Avenue South, from Third Street to Fifth Street. City staff coordinated with organizers of the Fourth of July parade to ensure the area will be clear for the route.
