by Travis Mateer
Local government is amazing, so amazing that an entirely new entity has to be created in order to make use of the John Engen Local Government Building. Is this some kind of joke? (emphasis mine):
Missoula’s city and county government have formalized a new administrative body and special district to help direct renovations and updates to the John Engen Local Government Building, also known as the Engen Building.
Top administrative officials from the city and county, alongside Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier, approved an agreement that gives limited authority to the body to oversee the Missoula Local Government Building Special District.
What kind of things will this body be doing? How about writing a blank check to the Jackson Group? (emphasis mine):
City and county officials also unanimously approved a contract with Jackson Contractors to start removing asbestos and lead from the building.
The contract is more of an “umbrella” deal that will encompass the original restorative work and potential future construction within the building, Adams said.
After the asbestos removal, or abatement, is completed, the contractors will then prepare the space for use. There is no set timeline for the project completion, Adams said at the meeting.
With an “umbrella” blank check established, and bureaucratic processes underway, what else is developing with local government? Well, have you met TEDD yet? Because TEDD is coming whether you want it or not.
From the link (emphasis mine):
An old gravel pit in a growing corner of Missoula could find new life as an economic development district, with future tax revenue going toward public infrastructure to fund jobs, housing and redevelopment.
Missoula County last week signed an agreement with Pioneer Technical Services to create the new Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD). While the process is still young, the district would be located just west of Reserve Street and south of Interstate 90.
Doesn’t this sound familiar? Yes, it sounds VERY familiar, because this scheme is modeled after the Tax Increment Financing scam run by the CITY of Missoula for years, which you can learn about by watching my documentary, Engen’s Missoula.
For a visual, here’s the piece of land being “targeted” by our local bureaucrats.
This area contains homeless encampments, including, I believe, the Sheriff Office’s favorite non-compliant sex offender, Todd Keith Spence, who has a tent to the right of the blue line, next to Grant Creek. Will the use of this TEDD displace TODD? I don’t know, but I think Todd should know that development is coming his way, eventually.
For more on the curious history of Todd Spence, here are some posts worth checking out:
Unpacking The September 8th Assault On Montana Transportation Staff By A Homeless Sex Offender (September 11th, 2022)
AA#7-The Meth Den Clean-Up That Synchronistically Culminated With A Press Conference On Homeless Camps (April 27th, 2023)
Saving The Homeless Sex Offender From The Clark Fork River (May 4th, 2023)
Why Are These Montana LifeGuards, Fighting Human Trafficking, So Quiet? (May 11th, 2023)
Missoula County Sheriff, Jeremiah Petersen, Has Some Explaining To Do (May 11th, 2023)
If I Had The Resources To Do Actual, In Depth Investigations… (July 17th, 2023)
Do We Need Another Reminder That Angry Words Are NOT The Same As Actual Physical Violence? (August 10th, 2023)
Week In Review: October 16-20 (October 22nd, 2023)
The Cop Who Became A Council Member Is Going To Need More Than “Side-Rails” To Deal With THIS Investigative Journalist (January 11th, 2024)
Urban Camps And A Broken Criminal Justice System Are Skipping Hand In Hand Toward Armageddon (March 22nd, 2024)
Getting back to our GOVERNMENT insanity, the following quote has a key phrase that should signal to discerning readers something worth scrutinizing is afoot. Here’s the quote (emphasis mine):
Karen Hughes, the county’s director of planning, said the private sector brought forward the proposal to place the property into a TEDD.
Most of the property’s parcels are undeveloped due to a lack of infrastructure. The contract with Pioneer Technical will include a statement of infrastructure deficiency and a comprehensive development plan.
“It’s one of those great public-private partnerships,” said Hughes. “The increment it accrues can go toward public infrastructure for that kind of development can occur. It creates jobs in our community.”
Yep, our government is insane, and the evidence of this insanity is the fact that the County is now doing the same thing as the City, and what’s been the result thus far for the City? Property taxes are SKYROCKETING, and all our elected “leaders” can think to do is beg the state to allow them to TAX MORE with a local tax targeting tourists. Total insanity.
If you appreciate my scrutinizing of local government, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is the online place to send your donations. Any little bit helps.
Thanks for reading!
