Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - October 2, 2025

The Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners held a regular meeting on October 2, 2025, with 10 members present and 2 excused. The meeting included a public hearing on the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) work plan and budget, discussion of a response to the Montana Department of Corrections' request for information (RFI) on a potential women's prison, and approval of several resolutions and ordinances.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda (items A1-4 and B1-13) with two items segregated (Communications 2025-473 and 2025-475) by a vote of 10-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public hearing on the TBID work plan and budget or during the public comment period for non-agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing on TBID Work Plan and Budget: Kelly Hazlet, TBID executive secretary, presented the work plan and budget. The public hearing was opened and closed with no proponents or opponents speaking. Commissioners discussed the need for grant training on room count calculations.
• Communication 2025-473 – Response to DOC RFI on Women's Prison: Chief Executive Gallagher requested authorization to respond to the Montana Department of Corrections' RFI regarding a possible women's prison in Butte. Extensive discussion ensued:
  • Commissioner Morgan supported responding with factual data, noting that non-response could allow the state to fill in blanks.
  • Commissioner O'Leary expressed concern about the lack of communication from the DOC and the potential loss of Highlands College if the prison were built on that site.
  • Commissioner Callahan highlighted the economic development potential of the $250 million project and suggested that the community should keep its foot in the door.
  • Commissioner O'Neill noted that responding does not mean the community wants the prison, and that the community should be vocal if it opposes it.
  • Commissioner Healy pointed out that many positive developments are already occurring in Butte.
  • Commissioner Fisher emphasized the need for the commission to review the RFI thoroughly before responding.
  • Sheriff Lesser, invited to speak, raised concerns about staffing impacts at the local detention center and potential housing pressures from inmates' families and workers.
  • Commissioner Anderson opposed the prison and proposed including a letter with the RFI response reiterating the commission's unanswered questions from earlier correspondence. This letter could not be attached to the online RFI, but the commission agreed to resend the letter separately.
  • The motion to respond to the RFI passed 8-2.
• Communication 2025-475 – Junk Motor Vehicle Graveyard Grant: Commissioner Healy expressed appreciation for the community enrichment director's work and the $70,333 grant. The motion to concur passed 10-0.

Key Outcomes

• Public Hearing on TBID: Closed without opposition; the TBID budget and work plan proceeded to the next steps.
• Response to DOC RFI Approved: The commission voted 8-2 to authorize Chief Executive Gallagher to respond to the RFI on the women's prison, with the understanding that the response would be factual and data-driven, and that the commission's previous letter of questions would be resent.
• Consent Agenda Approved: 10-0, with two items segregated.
• Resolution 2025-58 (Clark Park Playground Equipment): Approved 10-0 on final reading.
• Council Bill 2025-03 / Ordinance 2025-03: Approved 10-0 on final reading.
• Emergency Suspension of Rules for Four Resolutions: Approved 10-0, allowing advanced passage of:
  • Resolution 2025-59 (Lighting Special Improvement District assessments)
  • Resolution 2025-60 (Fire hydrant rental SID assessments)
  • Resolution 2025-61 (Solid Waste Special District boundary change for Home State Metals 2 subdivision)
  • Resolution 2025-62 (TBID assessment for FY2026)
• All four resolutions passed 10-0 on final reading.
• Meeting adjourned after a motion and second.