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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Butte Silver Bow Council Regular Meeting – August 20, 2025

Council of Commissioners & Committees — Thursday, August 21, 2025

BodyButte Silver Bow, Montana

SessionCouncil of Commissioners & Committees

DateThursday, August 21, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:30:04

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:43

I'd like to call the Butte Silver Bowl Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, August 20th, 2025.

1:49

Clerk, could we please have a roll call?

1:54

Eleven president, one absent.

1:56

Eleven present, one absence.

1:58

Please note the Commissioner Anderson is uh absent from today's meeting.

2:02

Uh Commissioner Walker, could you leave us with in the prayer and the pledge?

2:13

Uh we make decisions by our community.

2:46

Next we'll move to any public comment on any item on the agenda.

2:50

And I want to note that we are also um we have public hearings still open, so this is a time for the public comment on that as well.

2:59

So we have uh out of the committee of the whole communication number 2025-371.

3:05

Um this is our budget ones.

3:08

Um communication number 2025-372, and communication number 2025-373.

3:16

So this is a time that the public could come up and comment on those, but you also can comment on anything that's on tonight's agenda.

3:27

Ready for us, 2000 Roberts Avenue.

3:29

I'm glad you uh said that because I actually was gonna come up here and ask that.

3:34

Um after doing a little bit more research and talking to a f a few folks.

3:40

Um it's come to my attention that we're Butte Silverbow is um passing a budget for 2026 when it has open uh contract negotiations.

3:54

With some of the uh the unions that work for it, or that uh union employees working for Beats Overbo.

4:03

And that just is a little bit confusing to me.

4:06

I don't understand why how that's possible.

4:10

But um Yeah.

4:12

Thank you.

4:14

Thank you, Mr.

4:15

Frost.

4:16

Is there any other public comment on tonight's agenda?

4:21

Please come forward, state your name, address, and what you'd like to speak to us about.

4:27

I'm via Earrett, and excuse me, this is my first meeting.

4:31

I I am on the agenda.

4:33

I didn't know if I would have a chance at that point, or if this is I'm uh four zero.

4:42

Uh twenty twenty-five-four twenty-six.

4:44

I didn't know if you're I did so at the time because it is on the agenda, you will have an opportunity at that time when we get to that point of the of the agenda for you to be able to come up and speak if that will work.

4:54

There is another member of the public who wanted to say something.

4:57

Is is that is it that the appropriate time later?

5:00

It that could be yeah, he should do it now, and then you'll be called upon when your communication is there.

5:06

Okay, thanks.

5:07

Sorry for my ignorance.

5:08

I just think that we appreciate you being here.

5:12

Thank you.

5:13

My name is Chris Marshawn, M-A-R-C-H-I-O-N.

5:17

Live at 2105 Garfield in Annacona, Montana.

5:20

I'm a member of the Beaverhead Deer Lodge working group, have been for a long, long time.

5:25

This request is for um support for that group.

5:29

And uh I'd be happy to ask answer any questions uh about what we do.

5:34

Um I think it's really important to this uh community.

5:38

We were integral in uh base and crick, all the development out there with the Forest Service over the last four or five years.

5:44

Our group played a big role in that.

5:47

Um Jim Keenan is is on our group.

5:50

Um and so we've done that, but I also think I just would say real quickly um two things.

5:56

Uh most of the projects and things that we do are not in Butte Silver Bowl County.

6:02

But on Friday evening, when everybody's heading out of Butte and their RVs and their record are going out to recreate, the majority of them are going to end up on forest service ground one way or another to whatever whatever kind of recreation they do.

6:15

Um and recreation is the number one industry in the state of in the state of Montana.

6:22

So you have a dog in this fight, and I think having an advisory group that meets here in Butte is is really a good thing.

6:29

And I if you have any questions about the group uh membership kinds of things focused on, I'd be happy to answer.

6:34

Thank you.

6:34

Thank you for your comment.

6:36

And we know that you'll be available if needed when we go through this.

6:39

Thank you.

6:40

Is there any other public comment on any item on tonight's agenda?

6:44

Seeing none, just so the public knows we will be keeping the public hearings open for the budget uh communications, so just so the public knows that as we move forward.

6:56

Next, I'll move on to approval of the minutes of the August 6, 2025 regular meeting.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████████29%

Procedural██████████████████████22%

Public Engagement████████████████16%

Environmental Protection████████8%

Water And Wastewater Management███████7%

Economic Development█████5%

Data Center Development████4%

Fire Services███3%

Energy Policy██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting – August 20, 2025

The Council of Commissioners met on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, to address a range of issues including the ongoing water crisis response, a contentious land sale, a fire suppression system change order, and support for forest travel management planning. Key decisions included denial of a land sale proposal, approval of a budget change order, and unanimous support for a letter urging congressional action on forest travel management.

Public Comments & Testimony

Mr. Frost (2000 Roberts Avenue) expressed concern that the county is passing a 2026 budget while contract negotiations with union employees remain open, calling the situation "confusing."
Chris Marshawn (2105 Garfield, Anaconda), member of the Beaverhead Deer Lodge Working Group, requested support for the group. He highlighted the group's role in projects like the Basin Creek development and emphasized that recreation, the number one industry in Montana, benefits Butte Silver Bow even if projects are not located within the county.
Baha Earrett (via video/telephone, Jefferson County representative) later presented the Beaverhead Deer Lodge Working Group's request for the county to sign on to a letter to Montana's congressional delegation, urging full federal funding and authorization to complete the long-delayed travel management plan on the Beaverhead Deer Lodge National Forest.

Chief Executive's Report

Water Crisis Update (August 13-20, 2025): Chief Executive Gallagher provided an extensive update on the cross-connection incident at Montana Resources that triggered a "do not consume" order. He noted that within one hour of the notice, testing and flushing began; no contaminants have been found in any sample. The order was stepped down to a health advisory for vulnerable populations by August 18. Water distribution continues, and detailed sampling data (with addresses redacted for privacy) will be released in an easy-to-digest format. A "hot wash" review will follow to improve future crisis response.
SABE Data Center Visit (August 19): Gallagher and Karen Burns flew to Quincy, Washington (with Anaconda officials and NorthWestern Energy representatives) to tour the SABE data center. He described it as a low-noise, closed-water-system facility that created substantial tax benefits for Quincy: new schools, courthouse, hospital, and library. Local officials noted data centers have high electrical needs but are otherwise low-impact. Gallagher emphasized that SABE has already taken an option on Butte Silver Bow land.
NorthWestern Energy-Black Hills Merger: Gallagher reported that the merger was announced during the trip; Butte Silver Bow was not informed beforehand. He is meeting with NorthWestern Energy management on August 21 to discuss potential impacts, noting a 12–15 month process and assurances of no immediate local effects.

Consent Calendar

The consent agenda (items A1–4, B1–13) was approved unanimously (11-0) after segregating Communication 2025-424 (land sale) and Communication 2025-435 (fire suppression change order).

Discussion Items

Communication 2025-424 – Sale of 35 Acres to Corey Biggers: The proposal to sell 35 acres near Orofino Gulch Road and Browns Gulch Road for $4,000 (based on $115/acre) generated extensive debate. Planning Director Julie Crane and Treasurer Lori Baker Patrick explained that the price factored in the buyer's estimated $6,000–$8,000 survey cost and $10,000 legal retainer to quiet title. The Assessor had valued the land at roughly $8,000/acre. Commissioner O'Leary, Shea, Fisher, and others argued the price was far below market value, that the process lacked consistency, and that the taxpayer was subsidizing the buyer's expenses. Commissioner Morgan clarified that the proposal had been publicly noticed on agendas since June 18 and that the land sales committee is only advisory; a two-thirds council vote is needed to sell. After a motion to deny, the council voted 10-1 to deny the sale. Multiple commissioners called for a working group to develop a clear land disposal policy.
Communication 2025-435 – Mother Lode Fire Suppression Change Order: The change order (increase of $12,356) was explained by Finance Director Hassler and Public Works Director Nary as covering unplanned cubbyholes and stairway areas not in the original design. Funding is from contingency and the URA. The council voted unanimously (11-0) to approve and place on file.
Beaverhead Deer Lodge Working Group Letter: After presentation by Baha Earrett, the council voted unanimously (11-0) to support the working group's letter to Montana's congressional delegation. The letter requests federal funding, staffing, and authorization to complete the travel management plan on the Beaverhead Deer Lodge National Forest, which has lacked a plan for 20 years, leading to public safety, economic, and environmental impacts.
Resolution 2025-35 – Tax Deed Sale: The council suspended rules and considered this resolution authorizing the sale of tax-deeded parcels. Commissioner Morgan noted an error: the term "appraised" should be "assessed" to match state law. The resolution was amended on lines 16 and 19 of page one, then passed unanimously (11-0).

Key Outcomes

Land sale denied (10-1) – Communication 2025-424 (Biggers purchase) rejected; council will form working group to revise land disposal policies.
Fire suppression change order approved (11-0) – Communication 2025-435 accepted.
Beaverhead Deer Lodge Working Group letter supported (11-0) – Council signed on to support federal action on travel management planning.
Resolution 2025-35 passed (11-0) – Tax deed sale authorized, with amendments correcting language from "appraised" to "assessed."
Consent agenda approved (11-0) – All routine items adopted after segregation of the two discussed communications.
Public hearing for the 2026 budget (Communications 2025-371, -372, -373) remains open; continued to a future meeting.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the Butte Silver Bowl Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, August 20th, 2025. Clerk, could we please have a roll call? Eleven president, one absent. Eleven present, one absence. Please note the Commissioner Anderson is uh absent from today's meeting. Uh Commissioner Walker, could you leave us with in the prayer and the pledge? Uh we make decisions by our community. Next we'll move to any public comment on any item on the agenda. And I want to note that we are also um we have public hearings still open, so this is a time for the public comment on that as well. So we have uh out of the committee of the whole communication number 2025-371. Um this is our budget ones. Um communication number 2025-372, and communication number 2025-373. So this is a time that the public could come up and comment on those, but you also can comment on anything that's on tonight's agenda. Ready for us, 2000 Roberts Avenue. I'm glad you uh said that because I actually was gonna come up here and ask that. Um after doing a little bit more research and talking to a f a few folks. Um it's come to my attention that we're Butte Silverbow is um passing a budget for 2026 when it has open uh contract negotiations. With some of the uh the unions that work for it, or that uh union employees working for Beats Overbo. And that just is a little bit confusing to me. I don't understand why how that's possible. But um Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Frost. Is there any other public comment on tonight's agenda? Please come forward, state your name, address, and what you'd like to speak to us about. I'm via Earrett, and excuse me, this is my first meeting. I I am on the agenda. I didn't know if I would have a chance at that point, or if this is I'm uh four zero. Uh twenty twenty-five-four twenty-six. I didn't know if you're I did so at the time because it is on the agenda, you will have an opportunity at that time when we get to that point of the of the agenda for you to be able to come up and speak if that will work. There is another member of the public who wanted to say something. Is is that is it that the appropriate time later? It that could be yeah, he should do it now, and then you'll be called upon when your communication is there. Okay, thanks. Sorry for my ignorance. I just think that we appreciate you being here. Thank you. My name is Chris Marshawn, M-A-R-C-H-I-O-N. Live at 2105 Garfield in Annacona, Montana. I'm a member of the Beaverhead Deer Lodge working group, have been for a long, long time. This request is for um support for that group. And uh I'd be happy to ask answer any questions uh about what we do. Um I think it's really important to this uh community. We were integral in uh base and crick, all the development out there with the Forest Service over the last four or five years. Our group played a big role in that. Um Jim Keenan is is on our group. Um and so we've done that, but I also think I just would say real quickly um two things. Uh most of the projects and things that we do are not in Butte Silver Bowl County. But on Friday evening, when everybody's heading out of Butte and their RVs and their record are going out to recreate, the majority of them are going to end up on forest service ground one way or another to whatever whatever kind of recreation they do.

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