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05/04/2026
Commission, still split on roundabouts, to apply for federal funding
The Helena City Commission decided last week to seek a federal grant to fund two downtown roundabouts.
During a city meeting last week, transportation staff asked the commission for guidance on an application for a federal grant that, if awarded, would mostly fund two shovel-ready city projects: roundabouts at the five-point intersection downtown and at the intersection of Custer Avenue and Henderson Street.
A roundabout for the downtown intersection of Last Chance Gulch, Cruse Street and Helena and Neill avenues, or mini-malfunction junction, has been at the forefront of city discussions about replacing the current all-way stop signs after the traffic lights went out in July of 2024.
Transportation director David Knoepke said a federal grant would fund up to 80% of both projects, with the city providing matching funds for the remainder. Currently, a roundabout for the downtown project, which Knoepke said would be included in the grant application, has a price tag of $4.5 million. The Custer and Henderson project has a cost estimate of $3.5 million.
However, Commissioners Melinda Reed and Sean Logan have consistently advocated for alternative designs that would be less costly and prioritize pedestrian safety.
Reed asked what would be included in the cost of the roundabout and why city staff chose the roundabout design for the application rather than the previously discussed all-way stop signs.
Knoepke said the costs for the roundabout included pedestrian enhancements, such as reducing the lane width for crossings and installing safety beacons. He added that his staff chose the roundabout design because the alternative would be a temporary solution.
“As we discussed the all-way stop with the pedestrian enhancement, it’s probably and most likely an interim condition,” Knoepke said. “Eventually, we would have to go through a full build-out.”
Logan remained steadfast on the need to curb spending, even if the money is coming from a grant.
“Whether it’s federal money, whether it’s city money, the money can be better spent elsewhere,” Logan said.
Commissioners Julia Gustafson and Ben Rigby and Mayor Emily Dean all expressed support for moving forward with the roundabouts and the grant application. Although no official vote was taken, the majority of the commission verbally agreed to move forward with the grant.
“I know there are a lot of needs in our community when it comes to infrastructure,” Rigby later told Montana Free Press. “But if we can secure federal funding for assistance in upgrading this infrastructure, I am in favor of that. Hopefully, with the money that is saved with the grants, we can work towards making it safe for walkers and bikers as well.”
While the city is set to apply for the grant, staff won’t know if it will be approved until later this year, and it could take longer depending on the federal government, according to city public information officer Amanda Opitz.
“The federal government has, as of late, been using federal grant funds as bargaining chips in much of the partisan political fighting, and since they keep passing continuing resolutions that only appropriate budgets in short stints (plus you factor in federal employee buyouts/layoffs and periodic government shutdowns, which can also impact grant processing), there isn’t always a guarantee on the timeline,” Opitz told MTFP in an email.
Your Two Cents
Love roundabouts? Hate them? Don’t really care? Let us know! Send us your thoughts about seeing roundabouts pop up in your city. We want to know what Helenans want. Email your opinions to [email protected], and we will include a sampling in the next HTW!
Public Notice
By the time you’re reading this, it will likely be too late to mail in your school election ballots. Be sure to hand-deliver your ballots to the Lewis and Clark County elections office in room 168 of the first floor of the City-County Building, 316 N. Park Ave. The office will take ballots until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5.
Greater Helena Gives is back this week, launching a 24-hour donation campaign on Wednesday, May 6, for the participating nonprofit organizations. GHG, put on by the Helena Area Community Foundation, promotes a one-day fundraising one-stop for those looking for an opportunity to give back. Note that Montana Free Press is a registered organization with Greater Helena Gives.
This newsletter exists because readers fund the reporting behind it. Montana Free Press is in year 10. If you value what you read here, please give this spring.
5 Things to Know in Helena
City Commissioner Melinda Reed failed to secure the needed consensus from the rest of the commission to hold a public discussion regarding an immigration resolution. During a meeting last week, Reed asked commissioners for agreement to continue working on the city’s rescinded anti-ICE resolution. But the commissioners, hesitant to publicly speak on the topic, opted to leave the resolution’s status as is, with Commissioner Julia Gustafson as the only other official who agreed with Reed to set a date for another conversation. However, Mayor Emily Dean said she would like to know specific details of what that discussion would entail before reconsidering.
The city staff is again considering asking voters to approve a public safety levy to fund additional fire and police personnel. During last week’s meeting, City Manager Alana Lake told the commission that staff had begun initial discussions to place a levy on the ballot this fall.
“We have met with the consultant, and we’ll continue those meetings,” Lake said. “Staff is working with the finance department to put together a proposal for the commission to consider.”
Two Montanans were charged with felonies after they allegedly poached 181 ducks in Lewis and Clark County, according to an IR story. John Carullo and Matthew Krekelberg were both charged in March with unlawful possession, shipment and transportation of game fish, birds or furbearing animals, which carries a fine of $50,000 and a maximum prison sentence of five years. They will enter pleas in District Court at a later date.
The Augusta Area Historical Society has purchased land for a new museum. The unincorporated town, located in the northern part of Lewis and Clark County, will soon be home to a history museum after the society bought 0.20 acres at 117 Broadway St. for $100,000, according to a KRTV report. The society will continue fundraising for the construction of the museum building, estimated to cost $500,000.
A new, private hybrid school in Helena will host an open house Friday, May 8, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to noon. The school, Ponderosa Academy, will provide an alternative learning environment for homeschooled students that operates independently from the public school district, according to the academy’s director, Cat Patzen.
Might Be Fun
Helena Farmers Market is back every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fuller Avenue, between Neill Avenue and Lawrence Street. The market will run every weekend until October.
The Helena Parks and Recreation Department has released its 2026 Summer Guide, detailing its services and area activities.
Blackfoot River Brewery will offer educators a free beer to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week on Monday, May 4, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The business will also host a first-beer-free event for nurses Wednesday, May 6, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Eye on Helena
Helena’s 102nd annual Vigilante Parade took place last Friday, with crowds filling the streets of Last Chance Gulch to watch local high school students present their takes on some of the city’s most iconic historical moments.
A Plug for ‘Big Sky Politics’
Join Montana Free Press Thursday, May 7, for a conversation celebrating the release of “Big Sky Politics: Campaigns and Elections in Modern Montana, 1945 to 2025.” Author Jon Bennion will sit down with MTFP founder John S. Adams to discuss the forces shaping Montana politics, followed by audience Q&A and a book signing.
The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the upstairs gallery at Montana Book Co. in Helena and is free, although those interested are encouraged to RSVP. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
Department of Corrections
In last week’s edition, HTW inaccurately reported how the Helena School District is using the Naglieri General Ability Test to assess students for its gifted and talented program. The Helena School District is considering a new method for PEAK assessments, but has not adopted a new way for vetting student qualifications.
