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Commission extends TIF reimbursement deadline for Kellergeist Pub Theater remodel amid public records and precedent questions
Summary
The Commission approved a six-month extension to the Downtown TIF reimbursement deadline for the Kellergeist Pub Theater remodel, preserving the previously approved $263,500 award and noting that about $66,555 remains to be reimbursed; a resident raised concerns about missing public records and oversight.
The Great Falls City Commission on March 17 approved a second amendment to the development agreement with Context LLC to extend the deadline for Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reimbursements for the Kellergeist Pub Theater remodel to June 30, 2026.
Planning and Community Development Director Brock Cherry reminded the Commission that the original award of $263,500 was approved in 2023 and that reimbursements were initially required by December 31, 2024 and then extended to December 31, 2025. To date the applicant has requested $196,945.14 in reimbursements, leaving $66,554.86 available under the original award. Staff reported the Downtown TIF fund has sufficient capacity to accommodate the extension, citing a cash balance of approximately $4.5 million and about $2.7 million unobligated projected as of June 30, 2026.
Applicant Mathias Schalper explained the remaining delay involved abandoning costly restoration of underground sidewalk vaults in favor of filling the basement with concrete and that winter conditions contributed to schedule impacts. Resident commenter Jeni Dodd expressed concern about missing public records for a December 3, 2024 meeting, questioned whether the City Manager executed a buy-sell agreement without prior Commission approval and raised concerns about prior Community Development Block Grant conflicts and oversight.
Commission discussion referenced the unchanged funding amount and staff’s recommendation that a six-month extension was reasonable under current fund capacity; the motion to approve was made by Commissioner Shannon Wilson and seconded by Commissioner Casey Schreiner and passed 5-0.
