Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 18, 2025
Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - September 18, 2025
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, but the official timestamp provided for this summary is September 18, 2025. This discrepancy is noted here.
The Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners met on September 18, 2025 (per the official timestamp), with nine commissioners present and three absent (Commissioners Anderson, Walker, and Boyle). The meeting opened with a prayer and pledge led by Commissioner Thatcher, followed by public comment, approval of minutes, a presentation from the library director, and action on several items including appointments, a notification system agreement, and ordinances.
Public Comments & Testimony
- One member of the public spoke about their experience with a neighbor who had stopped taking medication and began using drugs, making them feel unsafe. They expressed concern about how homeless people are treated in other cities (Missoula and Billings), describing efforts to remove benches and tree branches to prevent camping. They urged the council not to punish homeless people. No other public comments were made.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda (Section 2: committee reports 1-4 and communications 1-19) was approved unanimously (9-0) with two segregations: communication 2025-451 (appointments to the Business Improvement District) and communication 2025-464 (agreement with Tex MyGov).
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (Communication 2025-451): Appointments to the Business Improvement District (BID). Commissioner O'Leary segregated this item to thank the appointees present. The appointments were confirmed unanimously (9-0).
- Item 14 (Communication 2025-464): Agreement with Tex MyGov to allow departments to opt into a text notification system for property owners. Public Works Director Mark Neary explained the system would replace manual notification for upcoming projects (e.g., water line work, street sweeping). It is an opt-in system currently with 70% community participation. Commissioners discussed differences from the Everbridge emergency system (opt-out, pre-populated numbers), the need to ensure a local phone number, outreach to renters/landlords, and reaching 100% participation. The agreement was approved unanimously (9-0).
- Section 3 (Communication 2025-466): Scheduling a presentation on the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) work plan and budget. The presenters were absent, so the council voted to concur and hold the item in the committee of the whole pending a presentation and public hearing on September 24, 2025. Approved unanimously (9-0).
- Presentation (Communication 2025-386): Library Director Steph Johnson presented the annual report for the Butte Silver Bow Public Library. Key statistics: 4,700 hours open (down due to mall branch closure), 14,000 cardholders (43% of population), 66,000 gate count, 3,000 program attendees, 74,000 items, 67,852 checkouts. The mall branch closed after 14 years of free rent; a new location is being sought. Community garden improvements were funded by grants and donations. Commissioners thanked the director and board, and asked about the mall branch timeline and future funding. No vote was taken on this presentation.
- Section 5 (Ordinance 2025-03): Second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 2.62 of the Butte Silver Bow Municipal Code regarding the Advisory Committee for Americans with Disability Act. The ordinance was placed on second reading and passed unanimously (9-0).
- Section 6 (Resolution 2025-3.1): Final reading of a resolution to alter the boundaries of the Solid Waste Special District to include Homestake Meadows 2 subdivision. The resolution was passed unanimously (9-0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with two segregations (9-0).
- Appointments to the Business Improvement District confirmed (9-0).
- Agreement with Tex MyGov for public notification system authorized (9-0).
- TBID presentation and public hearing scheduled for September 24, 2025, with item held in committee of the whole (9-0).
- Ordinance 2025-03 (ADA advisory committee) passed on second reading (9-0).
- Resolution 2025-3.1 (solid waste special district boundary change) passed on final reading (9-0).
- All votes were unanimous (9-0) with no opposition.
Meeting Transcript
Should we hit it on the exact second? I'd like to call the Butte Silver Bowl Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, September 17, 2025 to order. Clerk, could we please have roll call? Nine present three absent. Nine present three absence, please note the Commissioner Anderson, Commissioner Walker, and Commissioner Boyle are all absent from tonight's agenda. So since we do not have uh Commissioner Walker, could I have Commissioner Thatcher lead us in the prayer in the pledge? Almighty God, we implore you look upon us and guide us this night as we make decisions which so greatly affect our community of Butte Silver Boat. Direct our thoughts, words, and deeds so that we please you and best serve our fellow citizens. Amen. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, the individual with liberty and justice for all. Next we'll move to any public comment on any item on tonight's agenda. If you'd like to come forward, speak on any item that will be on tonight's agenda, please state your name, yeah, your address in the item that you'd like to speak about. And that there'll be a button right there that you can there you go. Hi. We just had to move residents because the person that was living under us got off of his meds and he started using drugs. And it just became really, really scary. So I know how that feels to feel afraid of something I didn't have any control of. But I just I've I've lived in um Missoula and I seen what they did to homeless people. They used to live around the Capitol. So what they did was they like they cut the tree, they cut the branches off of the trees in the Capitol and made it, you know, you can't c camp around the Capitol. So then the homeless people start living in this camp out on in Howlsgate. And so they did the same thing. They just cut the branches off with the trees. And billings, you they don't have any benches anywhere because a homeless person will sit on it. And I just don't think that we should be punished for things like that. And I think that's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any other public comment on any item on the agenda tonight? Seeing none, we'll move to the approval of the minutes of the September 3rd and September 2nd September 3rd regular meeting, September 2nd special meeting. Commissioner Morgan. Thank you, Mr. Chief Executive. At this time, I'll make a motion that we approve the minutes of the September 3rd regular meeting minutes and September 2nd, the special meeting minutes. We have a motion and second approving the September 3rd regular meeting minutes and a separate September 2nd special meeting minutes. Is there anything on the question? Could commissioners please vote? And would anyone like to change their vote? Clerk, please record the vote. Nine, yay, zero nay. Nine yay, zero nay. Motion passes. We don't have any items not addressed on tonight's agenda, so I'll just go on to the chief executive's report. Um there's not a lot that we um have going on really in town. There's a lot going on, but um nothing to really report on. Um again, um, we want to continue um celebrating tech's 125th anniversary and supporting the the university. I was just up there, the border regions is visiting Montana Tech. They had an open house with them tonight. Um there's just a lot of activity and a lot of uh, you know, as fall comes in the sports for all of the schools and stuff. I just encourage people to to support the all the different schools, not just in sports, but in the academic activities and things that they have as well.
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