Butte Silver Bow Study Commission Meeting - August 4, 2025

The Butte Silver Bow Study Commission convened on August 4, 2025, to discuss risk management strategies related to volunteer fire departments, approve minutes, and plan public outreach efforts including open houses and a community survey. The meeting featured a presentation by Safety and Health Coordinator James Olet on the legal and safety implications of including volunteer fire departments under the consolidated government charter.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Minutes Approval: The commission reviewed minutes from July 14 (meeting not held) and July 28 (discussion of public outreach plan). Commissioner Mary McCormick proposed amendments to the July 28 minutes to capture key agreements: (1) no tables or stations at open house, commissioners will mingle; (2) survey questions should be general; (3) survey should include fire service structure. After debate, the commission voted to hold both sets of minutes in abeyance until the next meeting, pending final revisions from the clerk.
• Risk Management Presentation: James Olet, Butte Silver Bow Safety and Health Coordinator, presented on risk implications of charter inclusion of volunteer fire departments. He cited NFPA and FEMA statistics on firefighter injuries and fatalities, emphasizing that most are preventable. Olet argued that the charter language ("there shall be a fire department") and ordinances create an employer-employee relationship, making the city-county liable for volunteer safety. He noted conflicting interpretations between charter provisions and state law (1979 law that consolidation does not affect volunteer departments). Olet advocated for clarifying whether volunteer fire departments are truly a department or separate entities.
• Liability and Workers' Compensation: Representatives from Montana State Fund and Marsh McLennan answered questions. They confirmed that volunteers are covered under the city-county's workers' compensation policy via a volunteer endorsement, but liability for individual officials is outside workers' comp scope. The underwriter noted that Butte Silver Bow's inclusion of both paid and volunteer departments is unique.
• Public Outreach Plan: Shauna Adams presented the schedule for five public open houses (Aug 12 Melrose, Aug 14 Butte Brewing, Aug 28 Emergency Operations Center, Sep 11 Montana Tech, Sep 16 Ramsey School). The community survey will soft launch late this week, with a hard launch Aug 12. Commissioners debated survey questions: Chad Silk proposed three specific questions about fire service preference (volunteer vs. career, tax willingness, structure). Others preferred open-ended questions to avoid leading respondents. The commission agreed to use Adams' revised open-ended questions.
• Op-Ed and Meeting Schedule: The commission approved an op-ed with updated listening session dates. Meeting dates for September were discussed; a formal public hearing is set for September 29. A motion passed to hold the September 11 open house at Montana Tech from noon to 1:30 PM.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Held in Abeyance: Motion passed (all in favor) to hold approval of July 14 and July 28 minutes until the next meeting, pending clerk's revisions based on McCormick's amendments.
• Survey Questions: The commission directed Shauna Adams to finalize the survey using broad, open-ended questions; the specific fire service questions proposed by Chad Silk were not adopted.
• Open House Schedule: Five open houses confirmed; the September 11 event at Montana Tech Student Union Building (noon–1:30 PM) approved via motion.
• Next Steps: Commissioners will review draft display boards; the survey will be distributed at open houses and online; an Anaconda Deer Lodge presentation will be rescheduled. The next regular meeting is expected in September (date TBD).