Northwestern Energy manager presents public-safety levy outreach plan to Great Falls BID

Shane Etzwiler, Community Relations Manager with Northwestern Energy, presented April 9 to the Great Falls Business Improvement District board on behalf of Electric City Citizens for Public Safety (ECCPS), a citizen-led 501(c)(4) group seeking to fund polling and outreach ahead of a proposed public-safety levy.

Etzwiler told the board ECCPS is working with the City, Police, and Fire departments to educate the public about public-safety funding options. He said the group aims to raise $25,000 to pay for a community poll and educational campaign. "We are looking to raise $25K; we are doing presentations to many organizations asking for financial support," Etzwiler said.

In his presentation Etzwiler characterized Great Falls as "the 3rd largest city in the state with the 2nd highest crime rate in the state," a statistic he presented to explain urgency around the outreach campaign. Board members did not validate that statistic during the meeting; the claim was offered by the presenter as contextual support for the outreach effort.

Etzwiler said ECCPS meets every other Friday at the Realtors office and has a committee of more than 50 participants, many of whom have contributed financially. He invited board members to be added to the email list and to attend meetings; he also asked organizations to consider financial or in-kind support. When asked about BID financial support, Etzwiler said he would appreciate distribution of information and referrals if the BID could not provide direct funding.

The board did not vote on any funding request during the meeting. Several board members noted the importance of showing up at the City Commission hearing for related parking and downtown policy items on April 21. Etzwiler's request will be considered informally as part of outreach and partner coordination outside the BID's formal grant processes.