Gene Gaines

It’s not always fun, but it has to be done. Somebody has to do it. ”

Gene Gaines is a self-starter. Not one to sit idle, he believes there’s always something to do.

In 2011, Gaines sought to become a leader on water quality issues when the Montana Department of Water Quality declared that the wastewater treatment system for his community, the Riverside community, needed major updates and repairs. He began attending the Riverside Water and Sewer District board meeting to understand the issue, and eventually went on to serve as their president. He describes being appointed to that position as just the right place at the right time moment. He then fought tirelessly to help connect the Riverside community to the city, and to their municipal wastewater treatment system. Those in the Riverside community were reluctant. They enjoyed being outside of city ordinances, but when Gaines realized the community’s own wastewater treatment system threatened the health of the Gallatin River and posed a looming cost for Riverside community members to update and repair the system while maintaining independence from the city, he took it upon himself to educate the rest of the community. “It’s not always fun, but it has to be done. Somebody has to do it,” says Gaines when asked about attending board meetings and being somewhat of a spokesperson and advocate for the Riverside Community. His effort to bring this problem to the attention of his neighbors as well as the City Commission was rewarded when the City Commission voted to annex fifty-eight acres of the Riverside community to the city, connecting them to the Bozeman municipal wastewater treatment system and protecting the health and water quality of the Gallatin River. Not only does Gaines seek to do right for his neighbors, but he’s also just trying to stay sharp. On retirement, Gaines confesses, “It gets boring. I have found that staying active is a way to stay more healthy and mentally alert.” Gaines retired in 2003 after achieving professional success as a banking and financial services executive. He moved to Bozeman in 2011, to be closer to his daughter and granddaughters. Gaines is currently the treasurer of the Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club, ensuring that the club secures and maintains financial resources to support their many community efforts, including the maintenance and upkeep of Glen Lake Rotary Park.