I'll bring the Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners regular meeting to order for Wednesday, October 15th.

Can we please have a roll call?

Ten present, two absent.

Okay, please let the record reflect that Commissioner Anderson and Callahan are excused.

So that we believe you guys, sir, amen.

Before I move on to the next item on tonight's agenda, I just want to correct the record.

There's nine present because I'm acting as chief executive because Chief Executive Gallagher is at the League of Cities and Towns Conference.

So there will be nine voting members tonight.

Please state your name and address for the record.

Ready for us, 2000 Roberts Avenue.

Um communication number two, number 2025 dash four eight five.

Um then communication number twenty twenty-five dash four nine five, which is number eleven.

Um that seems like an odd amount of money.

Um and I'm curious if that's a misprint or if that's that fifty-four cents is definitely definitely correct.

Um then communication number twenty-eight or number twenty twenty-five dash five one two.

Um the uh Clark Chateau getting a uh upgrade using the Superfund Advisory and Redevelopment Trust Authority.

Um I'm just curious how how I agree with that the Clark Chateau should receive that um that upgrade and and uh that money, but I'm just curious how you how that's um allowed.

I I guess, you know, using a super fund um funding grant.

Uh anyways, thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Uh please state your name and address for the record.

Oh Larry, can I ask you to turn on the microphone on there's just a button on the bottom.

Turn it on.

There you go.

Can you hear me now?

Thank you.

Uh my name is Larry Winstall.

I put the uh repurchased uh Silver Boat Park on the agenda, and I'd just like some time to uh give an update and answer questions on it.

Uh you had it under note and file.

So last time I proposed this.

Uh there was quite a bit of interest and a lot of questions.

I'd just like some time for tonight.

So during our our rules here, public comment, there's no dialogue back and forth.

It's only your opportunity to speak on on any item on tonight's agenda.

If the member of the commissioner wants to segregate that, they would be free to do that at a later time in the agenda.

Okay.

Any other member of the public that would like to speak on any items on tonight's agenda?

Please state your name and address for the record.

Good evening.

I'm Kelly Sullivan, uh 1421 West Diamond Street.

And I'm here tonight representing the Butte Local Development Corporation.

Um, in regards to communications 2025, 489, and 490, requesting council authorization to have Chief Executive Gallagher sign an amendment to the purchase and sale agreements with Sonata and with Horizons Montana, which is the SABE data center.

Uh you all know that we work very closely with Butte Silverbow's Community Development Department.

Uh we think it's imperative that we go ahead and extend those agreements to those purchase and sale agreements to allow them to have time to complete all of their due diligence to bring these projects to fruition in Butte.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other member of the public that would like to speak on any item on tonight's agenda.

Okay.

Seeing none, I would move on to the approval of the minutes for the October 1st, 2025 regular meeting.

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from October 1st, 2025, regular meeting.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to approve the regular meeting minutes of October 1st, 2025.

Is there anything on the question?

Would the commissioners please vote?

Okay.

Would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

9 yay, 0 nay.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

Next item is items not addressed on the agenda.

We do have a couple emergency suspensions to add to communications to tonight's agenda.

We have communication 2025-515 and communication 2025-516.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Uh in accordance with the provisions of Rule 7 of the Rules of Business of the Council of Commissioners of the City and County of Butte Silverbo, State of Montana.

The Council hereby finds that an emergency condition exists which requires that the council rules be suspended to allow for communication number 2025-515 and 2025-516 to be added to the agenda.

The reason for the suspension is as follows.

Council Communication 2025-515 is a communication from Ed Lester requesting authorization for Butte Superbo to apply to the U.S.

Department of Justice Body Worm Camera Policy and Implementation BWC PIP grant program and approve the 10,000 50% matching funds request at the regular council meeting.

The deadline to apply is October 27th, 2025.

Council Communication 2025-516 is to appoint a replacement coroner on November 5th, 2025, effective November 8th.

Based upon the foregoing and to allow this matter to be acted upon, the council hereby finds that an emergency exists, which requires a suspension of the council's rules to add communication 2025-515 and 2025-516.

So I will make a motion to suspend the rules.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to suspend the rules to allow communication 2025-515 and 2025-516 to be added to tonight's agenda.

If these communications are accepted, we will discuss them at the end of the committee of the whole or uh consent agenda.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Okay, would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine, yay, zero nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

We'll take those communications up later on in the agenda.

Next item on tonight's agenda is the chief executive report.

Again, the only thing that I would have to report is that Chief Executive Gallagher is absence absent today just because he is at the Montana League of Cities and Towns Conference in Billings.

Um I'd move on to Section 1, the consent agenda.

A the committee reports one through five, B communications one through 30.

Is there any commissioner that would like to ask for any segregations and or um changes?

Friendly amendments.

Commissioner Healy.

Thank you.

I just I'm gonna segregate number six communication number 2025-489.

489.

Okay.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Uh thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I'd like to segregate item number one, communication number 2025-484.

Okay.

Any other segregations?

Commissioner O'Leary.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I'd like to segregate number six, twenty twenty-five-489.

Or sorry, that's already segregated.

7, 2025-490, uh 12, 2025-496, and 28, 2025-512.

So that was communication number seven, twenty-five-four nine zero, number twelve, twenty-five, four nine six, and twenty five five one nine.

Is that correct?

Uh think so.

Is that yours?

Okay.

Any other segregations or friendly amendments?

Commissioner O'Neill.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I'd like to um say your communication 2025-494, number 10, please.

Okay, that's 2025-494.

Umil, would you mind segregating number 11 25495?

Because they do go together in a sense.

I would love to also say number 11, 2025, 495.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any other segregations, friendly amendments.

All right.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

At this time, I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda, Section A, Committee Reports, 1 through 4, Section B communications.

Uh looks like 1 through 30, with the exceptions of item number 1, 2025-484.

Item number six, 2025-489, item number seven, 2025-490.

Item number 10, 2025-494, and item number 11, 2025-495.

Item number 12, 2025-496, and item number 2025, or 25 925, 2025-509.

Sorry.

Uh 519.

Oh, 519, excuse me.

And just correct committee reports one through five, not one.

Just you said one through four.

Oh, I'm sorry, one through four.

Okay.

Thank you.

Item.

Yep.

Yep.

25.

Now item number 25, 2025.

That's what I have circled.

2025- Hold on, I gotta get here.

Commit Commissioner Thatcher, I believe it's 28.

Communication 25-519.

Good lord, sorry.

Okay, so item number 28, 2025.

519.

Mine says 512.

That's right.

Commissioner O'Leary, were you thinking of 512?

512.

Okay, so item number 28, 2025-512.

Sorry about that.

Okay.

There's been a motion made and seconded to approve the consent agenda.

A the committee reports one through five.

B communications one through thirty, with the exclusion of number one, twenty-five, four eighty-five, six, twenty-five, four eighty-nine, seven, twenty-five-four nine zero, ten, twenty-five, four ninety-four, eleven, twenty-five, four ninety-five, twelve, twenty-five-four ninety-six, and twenty-eight, twenty-five-five one two.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Okay, would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine, yay, zero, nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

Moving on to B, the communications, uh number one, communication 2025-484.

JP Gallagher, Chief Executive, requesting council of commissioners' concurrence in renaming the Butte Readiness Center to Don People's Senior Complex.

We request this change to honor Don for his outstanding leadership during Butte's most economic or economic challenging era in the mid-1980s.

Uh Commissioner Thatcher.

Uh thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I would just like you to be able to provide your statement.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Thatcher.

Chief Executive Gallagher did ask me to read something into the record regarding this communication, and then Mr.

Cambridge does have something to say as well.

Message from JP Gallagher, Chief Executive.

I respectively submit this request you named the former National Guard Readiness Center in honor of the former Chief Executive Don People Sr.

Few individuals have shaped our community with the vision, resilience, and dedication that Don People Senior exemplified.

Throughout some of the most challenging chapters in Butte's history, Don stood as a tireless leader, offering hope, direction, and unwavering commitment to the people he served.

His leadership was not only deeply respected by the citizens of Butte Silver Bow, but also recognized and admired by officials at both the state and the federal level.

Don was a force for progress, always guided by the best interest in of his beloved hometown in a place proudly known as the Can Do City.

Don was the embodiment of the Can Do Chief Executive.

It would be a profound honor to commemorate his legacy by naming the building at the former National Guard Readiness Center, the Don People Senior Butte Silver Bow Complex.

Thank you for considering considering this tribute to a remarkable leader whose impact continues to inspire.

Mr.

Cambich, I know you have some words as well.

All right.

Thank you, Mr.

Chairman, ladies and gentlemen of the council.

Probably one of the reasons why JP asked me to uh uh reiterate some of the things in his prelog here.

The uh I had I've been at Butte Silver Bowl for almost 10 years, five years in a stint during the People's Administration in economic development, and I worked for three chief executives, both Don Peoples, Davy Fisher, and JP Gallagher right now.

So he asked me to get up and say a few things, and I think the one of the other reasons why is since uh Judge Kruger retired.

I think I'm the oldest guy here in the in the courthouse now.

I it's hard hard to think of me that way, but I still think I'm about 30 years old.

Uh but naming the Don Peoples uh Senior, uh the Readiness Center, the Don People Senior Complex.

Don Peoples was appointed Butte Silver Bowl in 1979 after uh the first chief executive, which was Mayor Mike McConey at the time, had left and went to work for the state of Montana under the judge administration.

Don Peoples was elected to the Butte Silver Bow Council of the Chief Executive in 1980, 1984, and 1988, respectively.

During the People's Tenure at Butte Silver Bowl, he was a recognized by World News World News and World Report as one of the top 20 chief executives mayors in the state, uh excuse me, in the nation.

And he will always be remembered in my mind and many others.

He was the man who saved Butte, to be quite honest with you.

People dealt with the following and guided through, and he guided Butte through one most adverse economic periods that we'd ever probably withstood beyond the strikes of the Anacona Company.

In 1980, the closure of the smelter happened in September 1980.

During the period of January 1983 to June 1983, Butte would lose the following.

Atlantic Richfield will close all mining operations, leaving 1,200 people in Butte in both the mining industry and support administrative industry out of work, just like that.

Happened just like that.

Safeway warehouse closed permanently.

It was the low local, it was the regional warehouse and regional offices for a three-state region.

Montana and the two Dakotas.

Northwest Airlines flew their last flight out in April that year, leaving 25 people out of work.

And the number of small businesses had failed at that point in time.

Butte's unemployment skyrocketed well over 21% in that period.

And the value of a mill plummeted to around $30,000.

It was a real real economic distress.

And Butte was the only community in this nation that ever had its own obituary written about it in the New York Times.

Peoples at that time, and I came on in 1985.

He tightened the belt, implementing hiring freeze, no new taxes.

He formed what they called the Economic Futures Program, engaging the Butte and the community with 500 community leaders and membership in an economic development process.

It was also funded by uh it have the loot uh from the Northwest Pacific Institute.

They went through a new wage thinking.

500 people in this community.

But most importantly, he formed what they called the mining development committee at that time, whose mission was to keep the most important piece of infrastructure that we had at the time was the Clyde Eweed concentrator.

Because you can always have a mine, but if you don't have a concentrator to concentrate those ores, there is no mining left in Butte.

That was the main mission at that time.

In September 1985, we're very fortunate.

I was a young punk kid, about 24, 25 years old, I can't remember which.

By that period of time, was named by the National Civic League, Butte's All America City in 1988, which was a significant going from a rust belt dislocated community to an all-America City.

With the reverse of mining in 1986, along with our proud number one license plate that we all wear on our on our forehead, if you will.

Butte was once again the mining city.

And Butte during this time, united during this period.

We persevered and we and we persevered during this severe economic adversity and economic dislocation.

Butte was back, but most importantly, that's kind of why we're all here at our age right now.

Is because you know we saved a real good piece of infrastructure.

So it's a great, it's an honor to just be up here in front of you, all the ladies and gentlemen of the commission, but it's uh it's a it's a reality, and he was the guy that saved Butte.

So thank you for your time and I appreciate it.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Cambridge.

Any other questions or comments?

Commissioner Shea.

Thank you, um, Chairman Morgan.

Mr.

Cambich, I you know I love to hear you talk about butte history.

So thank you for that.

Um and I just also want to express my appreciation for um Don People Senior.

Um I I read a a book a while ago.

I won't name it here because that would be improper, but I if anybody wants to know off of you know, out of my official uh role, I would pass that on.

But a lot of people don't realize that if it weren't for Don Peoples, we might be sitting in the middle of the pit right now.

Um he he literally saved Uptown Butte from shore destruction.

And um thank you for that wonderful history, and I hope everybody can really appreciate what we still have right here because of Mr.

Peoples.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Commissioner Fisher.

Uh thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I would just like to point a clarification that this is going to be the former armory down on Sampson Street.

So people aren't aware of some of the new names we're using.

Sure.

As the old timers in Butte, as we're speaking of history, this is the old armory, and uh that's the spot that will be named for uh dog people senior.

Thank you.

Okay.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

At this time, I'd like to make a motion to concur in place on file communication number 2025-484.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-484 and place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine, yay, zero nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

Moving on to number six.

Uh communication 2025-489.

Kayla Lappin, Economic Development Coordinator requesting Council of Commissioners' authorization to have Chief Executive Gallagher sign an amendment to the purchase and sale agreement with Senate.

I believe this was Commissioner Healy.

Commissioner Healy.

Thank you, Chair Morgan.

It says signing an amendment.

I was wondering what the amendment says.

Yes, thank you.

Ms.

Lappin.

Before we start, I would just like to welcome you to the Council of Commissioners meeting.

I know this is your first one as an acting and new Butte Silver Bow employee as the economic development coordinator.

So I just want to welcome you to this to this body.

Please please respond.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan and Commissioner Healy.

So the amendment to the purchase and sale agreement for the company is pronounced Sonata.

I know it's kind of a different pronunciation.

This is a Norwegian company that is looking to locate in Montana Connections Park.

The amendment is to extend their purchase and sale agreement with us until June 30th of 2026.

Before my time here as a Butte Silver Bow employee, I was director of marketing and business recruitment for Butte Local Development Corporation.

I have been working with Sonata for about a couple of years now in that capacity and now in this capacity.

And so Olav was representing Sonata at the last Montana Connections board meeting, which was held, I believe, on October 3rd, if I'm getting the date right.

And so he was present and he explained to us that they're still in the commercialization phase of their uh product.

So they have a graphite component that goes into EV batteries.

And he did also inform us that they have narrowed down their search for their expansion into the US to only butte, which I thought was pretty positive news on that front.

And so they just um they're working in Norway from my understanding to continue that commercial commercialization, um, which includes direct contracts with EV battery manufacturers in Europe, and they're working to kind of scale um those projects up.

Um and so once they uh reach a point with those companies, which he's expecting sometime in the next four months actually, um, then he's hoping that they will have a bigger announcement about their planned expansion.

Thank you, Commissioner Healy.

Follow up.

Thank you, Ms.

Lappin.

Um, the second question is there's been a now that this is out there in the community, the community wants to have some input.

Um is there a time that that can happen?

Miss Lappin question, Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Uh, Commissioner Healy, are you referring to Sonata or with the Horizons Montana, the data center?

Because the data center is the next one.

Oh no.

Commissioner Healy, you're talking about Sonata, right?

Yes.

My question was to Miss Lapin.

Okay.

Ms.

Lappin.

Sure.

Um, Commissioner Healy.

Um there will so this is an amendment to our purchase and sale agreement.

So before a land sale can take place, we will definitely be bringing that back.

And folks are definitely welcome to stop by my office in a public way.

You know, if that's something folks are requesting, we can definitely, you know, we want all voices heard for sure.

Um, it hasn't been brought to my attention so far that that was something for that project.

However, you know, we're our offices and community and economic development are always open.

And before we go through with a land sale, we will bring that forward, obviously, through Montana Connections board.

Um, and so you know, at that point when we're selling the land, I think that's when you know we would want to make sure that we've got all that public comment going forward.

All right, thank you.

Yeah, thank you, Ms.

Lapin.

And and just to just to clarify, too, um this would be considered an opportunity for the public to be engaged as well as the communication was before the council.

It was published, and they could have came up today and spoke on any item on tonight's agenda as well.

So this would that would have been a pub public involvement as well.

So Commissioner Shea.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Um, this was also before the council in 2023.

So this has been an ongoing project for more than two years, and um the council's already considered part of this purchase land agreement, purchase sale land agreement.

So it's it's not exactly brand new.

Okay.

Anything else on the question?

What would be your pleasure, Commissioner?

Healy.

I'd like to make a motion to concur in place on file.

Okay.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-489 in place on file.

Is that correct, Commissioner Healy?

Okay.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Okay, would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

9 yay 0 nay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

Next item is number 7, communication 2025-490.

Kayla Lappin, economic development coordinator requesting counsel the commissioner's authorization to have Chief Executive Gallagher sign an amendment to the purchase and sale agreement with Horizons Montana LLC.

Commissioner O'Leary.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

The reason I segregated this is just to give Ms.

Lapp an opportunity to give us an update on where Sonate is, or excuse me, not Sonate, but Horizons Montana on the purchase of this land and kind of if they if they have any thing that they want us to know.

Ms.

Lappin.

Commissioner Morgan.

Commissioner Leary, thank you.

Oh, Leary, excuse me.

Yeah, so for um Horizons Montana LLC doing business as SAB.

Um we have been, you know, in ongoing talks with them.

Um they visited um our offices a couple of weeks ago and gave us an update about where they were at.

Um they are looking to extend their purchase and sale agreement to, I believe it's February 11th.

Umgoing, you know, negotiations for securing some of the resources that they need for their project to move forward.

Um they're still finalizing some of their design and some of their plans, and we believe that this extension will give them an opportunity to do their due diligence and make sure that this project can move forward in an appropriate manner in our community, and that includes you know, conversations with um power, water, all sorts of resources.

Follow-up, Commissioner O'Leary.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Ms.

Lappin, thank you for the update.

Uh you mentioned the water there, and that was the next thing that was on my mind.

I know that that's going to end up back in front of this council at some point.

Uh any updates there that sp specific updates that you can give us on what their expectations are for water consumption and and what we can maybe uh start thinking about.

Certainly, Ms.

Lappen.

Excuse me, sorry.

Um Commissioner Morgan.

Um Commissioner O'Leary.

Um yes, uh we have been um in constant conversation, as folks may know, uh Montana Connections.

We are one of the only um city-county governments um or excuse me, cities and counties that have a dedicated industrial water source, that would be being the Silver Lake industrial water source.

And so all of our um folks who are out in the connections park have access to this industrial water source.

And one of my talking points back from my business recruitment days was you know, how much available water are we gonna have you know at the park?

And right away we are set up infrastructure-wise to provide up to seven million gallons a day um in water in both incoming and outcoming.

And from my understanding in talks with SABE, they um have a plan to you know reuse some of their water on site um within their operations.

They're obviously still in the design um phase of their project.

Um and the figure floated around was below that threshold of seven million gallons a day um for their first phase of their operation, and so we believe that the park will be able to meet the needs with current infrastructure.

Um, you know, plans change, things change.

Obviously, none of these numbers are set in stone, which is why we're requesting the due diligence period.

Um, you know, but the so far it's within the threshold of the current infrastructure at the park.

Follow-up, Commissioner O'Leary.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Thank you for that, Ms.

Lappin.

I I guess um just my thoughts on that.

I seven million gallons a day is an enormous amount of water, and I I hope that um SABE is thinking about ways to reduce that number.

I don't I don't think me personally I could support uh a significant usage of our water uh and leave us high and dry for any future industrial uses.

But um at this point, I'd like to make a motion to concur in place on file communication 2025-490.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication twenty twenty-five-490 in place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Sir, this isn't an open meeting.

Uh one and through the order.

Um Commissioner would have to call upon you to ask any questions.

Okay.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication twenty twenty-five-four nine zero and place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Okay.

Would everyone please vote?

Uh on the question, Commissioner Mankins.

Uh thank you, uh Chairman Morgan this evening.

Um, Commissioner O'Leary does bring up some good points.

So again, I just want to reiterate kind of with um Commissioner O'Leary at that with that seven million um doll or seven million gallons a day.

I don't know if that was for the whole park, or is that specifically if uh Ms.

Lappin could answer more direct on if that's for the seven million gallons a day for the whole entire park or just that project alone?

Miss Lappin.

Sure.

Uh Commissioner Morgan, Commissioner Minkins.

Uh so that figure um from my understanding is what the current infrastructure is set up to hold.

So that's not a figure that has come from the company themselves.

That is just the threshold that the current pipes can hold.

And from my understanding, that is per business out in the in the park.

So we have the ability to deliver that much water per business, if that makes sense.

So if that amount of water is requested, that's what our current infrastructure is set up to hold.

So for example, when I'm talking to a business and they're interested in coming to Butte, one of the figures I I can throw out there that I know we have the available availability with the current system is that figure, the seven million gallons a day figure.

Now, there are the the figure that has been given to us from SABE is well below that figure.

Um, and so we don't anticipate that requiring you know any upgrades to the current infrastructure that are out there.

Um and so that is my current understanding of how that water figure works.

Follow up, Commissioner Mankins.

Uh thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Uh thank you, Ms.

Lappin.

So when you say well below, do you have a figure for us?

Ms.

Lappin.

Give me one time.

Commissioner Macins, Commissioner Morgan.

Um the figure that I have is not necessarily one that was given to us in the plans, but is um that they are looking at in their plans, which is around three less than three million gallons a day, but that would be um it recirculating um throughout the facility, so it's like a closed loop system from my understanding, which is significantly less water than was used in the past um for historic activities such as smelting, which was upwards of fifty million gallons a day.

Follow up, Commissioner Mankins.

Uh thank you, um Chairman Morgan, and thank you, Ms.

Lappin, for that information.

I I just think it would be very pertinent when it's coming back.

I know that uh Commissioner O'Larry is concurrent place on file, and I am completely okay moving forward to see, but I think we need to have more exact numbers and seeing where and if how much is going to be recirculated and reused recyclable uh in the future in order to support this.

Um I think Commissioner Larry hit this right on the head with um we can't leave ourselves without that.

So it's just FYI back to the company knowing that they have to crunch some numbers or to see where these numbers are exact before they can get the support, I would think.

But thank you for coming and um yes, thank you.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-490 in place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Okay, would everyone please vote?

Would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine yay zero nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

Next one to segregate.

I'm gonna change up the order just a little bit if it's okay.

I'm gonna move to number 11, 25-495.

Um Zach Osborne Butte Silverbow Fire Chief requesting council commissioners' authorization to accept the AFG grant award in the amount of 545,454 and 54 cents, requiring a 10% match in local funds and move forward with the award process and equipment procurement.

Um the reason that I just rearrange this, Commissioner O'Neill is just because this goes before the previous one.

So if this council takes action on this communication, then the other one wouldn't also need to have action taken on it as well.

So Commissioner O'Neill.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Just one of the reasons I wanted to segregate this is one of our fine constituents was uh commenting about it and also um I guess one thing on the the 54 cents is every dime counts, so or cent, I guess, dime cents added in there.

Also, just a it's a you know great opportunity for to you know what a great grant to get for you know the use it's for for the um SCBAs for the fire department, which not only is that for the the paid guys, it's you know go you know that goes down to all the volunteer guys as well, so it's uh it's a big deal to get a half a million dollar into the budget uh um to you know the protect our firemen, so it's a good thing.

So that was kind of the only place I was going there if anybody has anything to go on that.

So yeehaw it's a celebration for an awesome grant into the county.

So thank you.

Commissioner O'Neill, did you have a question or did you want to make a motion?

I just want to celebrate it.

You know, we get it's the time when we get a layup and a win, it's a good one.

So um and wanted to celebrate that extra 54 cents.

So at this time I'd like to uh uh make a motion that we place communication number 2025-495, or excuse me, 495.

Um Commissioner O'Neill, you want to concur and please.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I love you.

Um I want to concur and place that on file.

Thank you.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-495.

Is there anything on the question?

Commissioner O'Leary.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Uh the the question was proposed or posed earlier why the number 545454.54.

I don't know if anybody knows the reasoning behind that.

It looks like somebody in the audience does, but it probably has some significance, and I I would also like to know curious minds.

Yes, of course.

Um Matthew Dolble, Captain Beauce Overfire, SCBA coordinator.

Um why this is such a weird number is when you go by the AFG calculation.

You take what you asked for and you do it divided by 1.1.

So when we asked for back in December, it was a large larger number, but they went off of a different number of how many packs we're getting.

We want, so which was six hundred thousand.

So six hundred thousand divided by one point one, then that's where the 54544.

So follow up, Commissioner O'Leary.

All right.

Thank you.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded.

Is there anything else on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Would anyone like to change their vote?

Or would the clerk please record the vote?

9 yay, 0 nay.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

Going back to number 10, communication 2025-494.

Zach Osborne, but Silverbow, Fire Chief requesting council of commissioners authorization to schedule a public hearing for November 5th, 2025 for the purpose of amending the fiscal year 2025-2026 fire department budget to allow for increased expenditures of unanticipated revenue.

Uh Commissioner O'Neal, the reason I asked you to segregate this is because if the previous communication was denied or something, then this public hearing wouldn't have had to happen.

So Commissioner O'Neill.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

At this time, positive increase.

We'd like to note that.

Um this time I'd like to place communication 2025-494.

Concurrent place on file.

Thank you.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Died of lack of second.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you.

Um, Chairman Morgan, I'd like to make a motion to hold communication number 2025-494 in the committee of the whole pending the public hearing.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to hold in the committee of the whole pending the public hearing.

Um is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Commissioner O'Leary, I think didn't take what is there anyone that would like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine, yay, zero, nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

This is a lot easier to do with two arms.

I'll move to number twelve.

Uh communication twenty twenty-five-four nine six.

Uh Larry Winstall, GNCDC member requesting council of commissioners' authorization to repurchase the Greeley School ground plotted as Silverbow Park because the property is now for sale.

Uh, was this commission commissioner O'Leary?

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I segregated this with the intent of allowing Mr.

Winstall to come up and speak.

I don't know if he jumped out in the hallway or if he just left, but if anybody would mind just checking really quick looks like you might have left.

So uh at this point, I'd like to uh make a motion to note in place on file, communication 2025-496.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to note communication 2025-496 in place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Uh on the question, Commissioner Fisher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Um, I guess the question I got is this property up for sale?

I've seen nothing on land sales to come to us about this property being for sale, so I'm not certain when it states here that the property is now for sale, if that's a correct statement or not.

Uh Commissioner Fisher, it's my understanding that Butte Silver Bow once owned this property and then sold this property and to a private party, and now this parcel is up for sale on the private side, and it was the wish of Mr.

Winsel that Butte Silver Bow repurchase the property from the private party.

So we're not in ownership of it right now.

Uh follow-up, Commissioner Fisher.

Uh thank you, Chairman Ford.

That clarifies what I'm thinking.

Um I know it was in private ownership, and I just didn't see why they were communicating with Butte Silverbow.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay, there's been a motion to note communication 25496 in place on file.

Is there anything else on the question?

Okay, would everyone please vote?

Would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Seven, yay, two nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

Um to number 28.

I apologize.

Number 28, uh 2025-512.

Ilona Wilde, uh, Clark Chateau program director requesting council of commissioners authorization to submit a superfund advisory and redevelopment trust authority sarta funding grant for 18,180 to paint the exterior windows, fascia, and soffits of the Clark Chateau.

Uh Commissioner O'Leary, again, right?

Yep.

Okay.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I segregated this because we had a uh question for Mr.

Frost about the use of the funds and whether or not we could uh use SARTA funds uh as this in in this way.

I don't know who the best person to answer this is if this is a question for the county attorney.

Director Hassler has his hand up, Chairman Morgan, members of the council.

For the record, I'm Mayor Castler.

I'm the director of the Department of Reclamation for Butte Silver Bow.

And yes, this is a proper use of it.

So the Superfund Advisory and Redevelopment Trust Authority.

Uh the funding came from the 2006 allocation.

It has allocation agreement with Atlantic Richfield and has seven different buckets that we can utilize for funding of different projects or programs throughout Butte Silver Bow, and one of them is historic preservation.

And that happens to be, I would assume I have not seen the grant application at this point in time, but I'd assume this is underneath the historic preservation grant and would fall in line with previous projects that the authority is funded, such as work at the Yard Chateau, the Archives, the Jacobs House, and Ruben the Bloom.

So it has nothing to do with the remedial aspect of contaminated materials.

This is a redevelopment grant program essentially.

And within those buckets, you can do anything from historic preservation to festivals to healthy initiatives.

So it's just it's fitting for it, and they have the ability to apply.

Thank you, Director Hassler.

Commissioner O'Leary.

Thank you for that update.

It's a fantastic piece of our community.

So I like to see any kind of work done on it, make it uh sparkle a little bit.

So at this point, uh I will make a motion to concur place on file 2025-512.

Thank you.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-512 in place on file.

On the question, Commissioner Shea.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Um, I just want to clarify that this communication is a request to apply for the grant.

It's not an award of the grant.

Okay.

Thank you for that clarification.

On the question, Commissioner Fisher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

I'm not certain if you have to get permission from the Council of Commissioners to apply for a starter grant.

I mean, I I think this communication doesn't need to go through us.

I mean, anyone can apply for a starter grant that falls within the seven buckets, I believe.

They don't need uh council approval to apply for a SART grant, I don't believe.

Director Hassler or Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Uh in my mind, it would be the same as any part of Butte Silver Bow, any department that comes to the Council of Commissioners to apply for any type of grant.

Um whether it's internal or not, um every department head or anything in B Zorbo has to come ask council's permission to apply for the grant for example, like when they require a match or when we ask for those things.

So I think it's just something similar to that.

Thank you, Commissioner Thatcher.

I I guess Commissioner Fisher to clarify that.

So I believe you're right in that nobody they don't have to ask the council to apply apply for just the SARTA grant, but there are matching funds that would be utilized that would come out of a Butte Silver Bow budget, and that's what would require them to ask us for budget authority to make sure that that matches taken care of.

And from what I recall on this communication that the grant they they have the matching funds, and if something falls through with it, they they're gonna do an auction or a sale of some sort to fundraise that money.

And so that's what would require council approval on it.

Okay.

Okay, anything else on the question?

Okay, there's been a motion to concur with communication 2025-512 in place on file.

Is there anything else and it's been seconded?

Seeing none, would everyone please vote?

Okay, would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine, yay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

Next item on tonight's agenda would be the communications that we added by emergency suspension of the rules.

Uh the first one.

Ummunication 2025-515 is a communication from Ed Lester requesting authorization for Butte Silver Bow to apply for the U.S.

Department of Justice body worm camera policy and implementation grant program and to approve the $10,000 50% matching funds requested the regular council meeting.

Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chief.

I mean Chairman Morgan, at this time I'd like to make a motion to concur in place on file communication number 2025-515.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-515.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Okay, would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine yay, zero.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

Next item is council communication 2025-516.

Um this communication is to appoint a replacement coroner on November 5th, 2025, um, effective November 8th.

The reason that I submitted this communication um on an emergency suspension of the rules is because I was notified yesterday that the current coroner, uh, Lori Durkin has uh sent in a letter uh noting her retirement effective November 7th.

And when I was looking at the schedule, um this body does not meet for another regular meeting because October 29th is the fifth Wednesday, and so in order to get this process moving forward, um I wanted to try to get it on tonight's agenda so that we would be able to have our HR department advertised for a proper time frame and um get the word out there that we're looking to appoint a new um coroner.

The current coroner, the interim coroner, if you will, um Mr.

Hollis has indicated that he's not interested in in providing the service, you know, any farther past that that time frame.

So I really thought it was important to try to get it before this body to to start the process moving forward.

So Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

Uh, just really quick, would you touch on then the next steps?

Because once they finish their or once the application time closes, it then comes to us for the interviews, correct?

Or could you explain that to the commissioners who have not been here for this process before?

Sure.

Thank you, Commissioner Thatcher.

So the process would be as follows.

Um if this body approves this communication tonight, the HR department will go through and advertise this position.

Um they will make sure that the applicants that apply for it are qualified based upon you know the rules for the election, 18 years of or older and a resident of Butte Silver Bow as such.

And then um the they will accept um resumes applications until November 5th at noon, and then at that time um those resumes applications would be then forwarded to this body.

Um and then at that meeting that same night, we would interview all of the candidates that apply for the position and ask them questions based on what the council would like to ask them.

Um and then from there we would go through and uh make a decision on who the next interim coroner would be.

Um off of my memory, um, I believe that that interim coroner would be in place until November of 2026 because uh the next cycle for the election would be on the ballot, and then immediately once the votes are canvassed, the winner of such election would then replace this person if it's not that person to be the coroner of Beauty Silver Bow for the for the next two years, and then they would be back on the ballot for the true four-year term in 2028, right?

So let me throw some hard hard dates at you right now, but that's that's long down the process of how it goes.

But the the thing to remember for tonight is we would do interviews um on November 5th at the regular council meeting.

Um the other thing I would state is this is the same process that I've followed and we've all followed in previous times.

So Commissioner Thatcher.

Thank you, Chairman Morgan.

At this time, I'd like to make a motion to concur in place on file.

Communication number 2025-516.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025-516 and place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Okay.

Uh Commissioner Boyle.

Okay, would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

9 yay, 0, nay.

Okay, thank you.

Motion passes.

I believe that takes care of all of our regular communications.

Um I would move on to section two communications to be read and acted upon.

Communication number 2025-493, Mike Lawson, commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment Number 724, requesting council of commissioners' authorization to raise the United States Marine Corps flag in front of the courthouse to commemorate the 250th anniversary at the United States Marine Corps on November 10th, 2025.

The reason that I placed this communication just to be read and acted upon was just to keep the kind of the policy in place for flags to be flown in front of the courthouse as we've done earlier this year.

Um I did ask the county attorney if the marine corps flag met the local law for the state of Montana.

And um I'd let county attorney um let us know his thoughts on that.

Uh thank you, Commissioner Morgan.

Yes, that is correct.

The United States Marine Corps flag falls within uh the definition of a flag that can be flown on county or state property pursuant to uh the new flag house bill eight forty-seven.

But yes, it fits.

Thanks, County Attorney and Ruth.

Is there uh I guess Commissioner Thatcher?

I just uh no questions uh Commissioner Morgan.

I'd just like to make a motion to concur in place on file communication number 2025-493.

Okay, there's been a motion made and seconded to concur with communication 2025 493 in place on file.

Is there anything on the question?

Would everyone please vote?

Would anyone like to change their vote?

Would the clerk please record the vote?

Nine, yay, zero, nay.

Thank you.

Motion passes.

Next item is section three resolution and ordinance introduced to judiciary.

We do have one resolution 2025-64, a resolution authorizing and approving the transfer of the real property described as lot numbered one of the Montana Connections Subdivision Plat 305A, located in section 25 Township 3 North Range 9 West, Principal Meridian within the city and county of Butte Silver Bow, Montana, and a lot numbered 3 of the Montana Connection Subdivision Platte 305-A in section 25 Township 3 North Range 9 West, Principal Meridian within the City and County of Butte Silver Bow, Montana, the Riley Global Solutions LLC in accordance with the provisions of this of the Butte Silver Bow Municipal Code and providing for an effective date herein.

Um next item is the calendar of other meetings and events.

Please take a look at that.

And next item on tonight's agenda is any public comment on any matter not on tonight's agenda.

Now would be an opportunity for any member of the public to speak on any item that wasn't on tonight's agenda.

Okay.

Seeing none, I would ask for a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Okay.

All those in favor?

Opposed?

Motion passes.

Everyone have a good night.