LB Vol 2

From Farmland to Floodland

Gibson Flats’ Battle Against City Water and County Inaction
WRITTEN BY : Gibson Flats Landowner Community Executive Board

Nestled on the southeastern outskirts of Great Falls, Montana, the rural community of Gibson Flats has become a symbol of bureaucratic inertia and environmental mismanagement. For decades, residents have battled chronic flooding caused by stormwater discharge from upstream urban development in Great Falls. What began as a natural drainage issue has escalated into a man-made disaster, compounded by failing infrastructure, legal battles, a devastating 2021 larceny fire, and contentious floodplain designations. Farmers report ruined fields, homeowners face failing septic systems, and the area – once a quiet agricultural haven – now grapples with restrictions that hinder recovery.

This article delves into the history, key events, institutional failures, and calls for reform that define this protracted struggle.

Read the complete article here : Drowning in Neglect

The Cascade County City-County Health Department (CCHD) in Great Falls is entering Fiscal Year 2026 teetering on the edge. A combination of financial shortfalls, staffing cuts, and political gridlock now threatens the health and safety of Cascade County residents.

Financial Crisis and Vanishing Funds

The CCHD is drowning in red ink. Temporary COVID-19 relief money has dried up, leaving behind a structural budget deficit. Expenses now exceed revenues, and the department is relying heavily on dwindling county reserves and one-time grants. Inflation continues to drive up the cost of supplies and utilities, while federal cuts—such as a $62,000 reduction to the Montana Cancer Control Program—further tightens the noose.

Read the complete article here: Cascade County Health Department in Crisis