Commission candidate: Don Petrini

Don Petrini, 58, is a Great Falls native and retired meat cutter. He served on the Black Eagle Rural Fire Board and listed no political affiliation.

Q: What are your thoughts on investing in city parks to upgrade amenities and make the parks what Paris Gibson envisioned them to be?

A: We need to look at each park and how each is used so we don’t waste taxpayer money on some parks that don’t get much use and make the popular ones more useful for the public to use.

Q: Do you believe the general fund should subsidize all city services? Or to what level should they be self-sustaining?

A: No. All city services should be made to be accountable and made to stay with in their budget and as a commissioner it is your duty to be sure this is what is happening and that these budgets are in fact within reason and not just rubber stamped at budget time.

Q: How would you fund the Natatorium, or would you close it as some have discussed?

A: This has to be looked at very carefully. I think that there is a way to keep it opened. Can we afford to lose it? No, the people have lost too many things already. It is too easy to say we can’t afford it than to sit down and come up with a plan that will work. All it might take is a transfer of money from one fund to another.

Q: For years, the business community complained about the cumbersome city development process, which has since been streamlined and simplified, and now some are saying the process is too fast. Which system would you prefer as a commissioner and how would you engage with the planning department?

A: I still think that it is too slow. We don’t have a very long construction season so we need to get things moving. What may work in one place may not work here and if we want more development we need to show that we want development. This may have to be a give and take deal and we may have to offer incentives to get businesses here and also maybe offer incentives to businesses already here that may want to expand.

Q: How would you approach major votes, what would be your process in gathering information and making a decision?

A: Work on getting all the info you can and go out and talk to the public, get their input. After all it will impact them one way or another. Then ask what is the best for both parties.

Q: In terms of growth, how do you think the city should approach it and why?

A: Growth we need. We need to bring in businesses that will bring in people. People will help Great Falls grow. We need new money being brought into this city. Without new money we will be stuck where we are now.

Q: What do you consider core services in Great Falls and how do you believe they should be funded?

A: Public works, police and fire are the three top ones and those should be funded by tax dollars and grants. The way things are changing public safety is our first priority.

Q: How would you work with city staff to understand needs, resources and plans for operations, growth, etc.?

A: To truly understand, you must go out and spend time with them and see the problem and what resources that they have to work with. You got to get down and dirty with them. There is no other way and this way you can see the needs they my have and maybe able to help them out if need be at budget time.

Q: What do you think is the City Commission’s role in economic development should be?

A: We need to decide what direction the city should go and make the suggestions to the city manager. We also need to help bring businesses here and do what ever we can to help that process work.

Q: Why are you running for mayor/city commission?

A: Over the years I’ve seen us lose more than we have gained. I was here when the ACM was here we had two big grocery warehouses and other businesses that offered good paying jobs. We lost the railroad and trucking companies we keep getting higher taxes, higher water and sewer bills, higher garbage rates. We lost the convenience center. Remember we had riverfest, we lost that too. It is time the city gives something back to the people.

Q: What do you consider the city’s top needs/issues?

A: God paying jobs we need to make Great Falls an attraction spot. We need a strong downtown base. We need to be our own self, not copy all the other cities. We need to stand on our own things for kids to do and adults, an active city.

Q: What do you see as that biggest challenges facing the city currently?

A: Getting the people to have trust back in city government and getting Great Falls reputation back as a good city to live and do business in.

Q: What would you do to better educate city residents about city business and major issues?

A: Have an open door policy and to be truthful with the public. If you are and times get tough and you need to raise taxes, if you are truthful, they most likely stand with you but you need to listen to them. Remember they are the city, without them you have nothing. Working together you can get a lot more done than working alone.