OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Butterboard Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole, January 14, 2026

Council of Commissioners & CommitteesThursday, January 15, 2026
BodyButte Silver Bow, Montana
SessionCouncil of Commissioners & Committees
DateThursday, January 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
3:00

I'm gonna call the Butterboard Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting to order for Wednesday, January 14th, 2026.

3:09

Um Clerk, could you provide roll call?

3:13

One presiding, nine present, two absent.

3:19

Thank you.

3:19

Let the record show that Commissioner O'Neal.

3:25

I think there's just oh and Commissioner Morgan, excuse me, are absent and excused this evening.

3:30

Um this time I'd like to call for any public comment on any items on the agenda this evening.

4:27

And then please just state your name and address for the record.

4:52

Um I think it would be good for our community.

4:55

It would provide some jobs.

4:56

I have a ten year old son.

4:57

I live in this community.

5:00

Um it's my home.

5:02

Uh yeah, uh I think there's there's been some concerns mentioned about water power, this and that.

5:10

Most of those have been addressed.

5:12

Uh water for sure is addressed.

5:14

It's a closed loop system.

5:16

Um powers handled by the PSC.

5:22

Um, I just think it would be a good investment for our community to have provide some good quality jobs.

5:33

That's all.

5:34

Thank you.

5:35

Thank you, Mr.

5:36

Lowell.

5:37

Is there anybody else with any public comment on the agenda this evening?

5:43

Seeing none, uh moving on to the report of the chair.

5:47

Only things I'd like to mention are just so we keep it in the news cycle.

5:52

There is the ad hoc committee that meets every Tuesday regarding the data center in the archives at four o'clock.

5:59

Uh Commissioner Callahan and Commissioner O'Leary both attended the meeting this week.

6:04

Um the other thing is if anybody's listening, the TBID grant cycle is open and it closes um January 31st at 5 p.m.

6:14

So if you have an event or anything of the sort that uh you could qualify for a TBID grant, I would definitely check that out.

6:20

Um that would close out the report of the chair.

6:24

Moving on to Section 1 Communications number one, communication number 2025-581.

6:30

Will O'Connor Land Records Coordinator requesting Council of Commissioners to approve council communication number 2025-249.

6:37

A request from Patty and Chris Salmanson to purchase land owned by Butsover Bow located adjacent to their property, located at 17 Pillamore Street.

6:45

Uh, we're still waiting to hear from land records and to work through some of that.

6:49

So we're going to continue to hold this in abeyance.

6:51

Number two, communication number 2025-249.

6:54

Patty and Chris Salmanson requesting Council of Commissioners approval to purchase a portion of land owned by Butte Silver Bow, which is adjacent to their property, located at 17 Tillamore Street.

7:04

This one obviously goes hand in hand with communication number one, so we'll continue to hold that in abeyance.

7:09

Number three, communication number 2025-546.

7:13

Sarah Bordoon, Butte Montana requesting Council of Commissioners to answer some questions from the October 16th, 2025 public forum beyond the boom on November 12th, 2025 regarding the impacts of the data center that may be coming.

7:27

Um we will continue to hold this.

7:29

I don't know if there are any commissioners that wish to have anything to say on this one.

7:33

We're good.

7:34

Okay.

7:35

We'll continue to hold this one.

7:36

Uh number four, communication number 2025-587.

7:41

Bill Kelly, 403 Transit Street, Butte, Montana, requesting Council of Commissioners authorization to purchase partial number 0001904920.

7:52

That is directly bordering my property for improved maintenance utilization and management of the area.

7:58

Another deal with land sales.

8:00

Um we're gonna wait for their recommendation on that.

8:02

We'll continue to hold it in abeyance.

8:04

Number five, communication number 2025-590.

8:09

Angie Mullikan, Public Works Grant Manager requesting Council of Commissioners authorization to schedule a public hearing for January 7th, 2026 for sole sourcing Huber Materials for the wastewater treatment plant, WWTP.

8:23

We did have this public hearing.

8:24

Commissioner Shea.

8:26

Thank you, Madam Chair.

8:27

At this time I would make a motion to place communication number 2025-590 on file.

8:32

Second.

8:33

A motion's been made and seconded.

8:35

Is there anything on the question?

8:37

Uh would commissioners please vote uh clerk, please record the vote.

8:54

9 yay 0 nay.

8:56

9, yay, 0 nay.

8:58

Motion passes.

8:59

Number 6, communication number 2026-01.

9:04

Evan Barrett, Butte Montana, thanking the Council of Commissioners for renaming the newly acquired Butte Readiness Center after Don People Sr.

9:10

for his unparalleled service to the city as chief executive from 1979 to 89.

9:16

I know uh Commissioner Morgan had wanted to wait um for Mr.

9:21

Barrett to discuss this because I know Mr.

9:23

Barrett wants to make some comments on this.

9:26

I do um also know that Commissioner Morgan heard from Mr.

9:29

Barrett today, and he's not feeling well.

9:31

Um so we wish him the best in starting to feel better, and we will continue to hold this in abeyance until he can get up here and talk on this one.

9:40

Number seven, communication number 2026-05.

9:44

John Morgan, Commissioner District 1.

9:46

Requesting Council of Commissioners' concurrence to appoint a replacement of Commissioner Bill Anderson's district number 10 on the night of January 21st, 2026 for an interim replacement to be filled until the November 2026 election.

10:01

As this is on the agenda, this is still open.

10:04

It's open until next Wednesday at noon.

10:07

Um if anybody is interested in applying.

10:10

We will hold this in abeyance until then.

10:13

Number eight, communication number 2026-10.

10:16

Mark Neary, Public Works Director, requesting Council of Commissioners permission to schedule a bid opening for January 21st, 2026 for the water main materials replacement project.

10:27

We will have this bid opening next week, so we will hold this in abeyance.

10:32

So with that, I will call for any public comment on any public matter not on the agenda.

10:40

Any public comment not on the agenda?

10:45

Okay.

10:46

Seeing none, uh I'd entertain a motion to adjourn.

10:50

Uh motion's been made and seconded to adjourn.

10:53

All those in favor?

10:55

Aye.

10:55

We are adjourned.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████62%
Data Center Development███████████████21%
Zoning And Land Use████████████17%
Summary of Proceedings

Butterboard Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting (January 14, 2026)

The Committee of the Whole meeting commenced on January 14, 2026, with a roll call indicating nine commissioners present and two absent (Commissioners O'Neal and Morgan). The session included public comment, a chair's report regarding an ad-hoc data center committee and the TBID grant cycle, and a review of seven communications, most of which were held in abeyance pending further information or absent presenters.

Consent Calendar

  • Communication 2025-590: Approved motion to place on file regarding the sole-sourcing of Huber Materials for the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) following a public hearing held on January 7, 2026. Vote: 9 yay, 0 nay.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mr. Lowell (Resident): Expressed full support for a proposed data center investment. He stated that the project would provide "some good quality jobs" for the community. He addressed concerns regarding utilities by noting that water usage is now a closed-loop system and power is managed by the Public Service Commission (PSC). He represented himself as a long-time community resident and parent of a 10-year-old son.

Discussion Items

  • Chair's Report: Commissioner called attention to the ad-hoc committee on the data center in the archives (meeting Tuesdays at 4 p.m.), noting attendance by Commissioners Callahan and O'Leary. The Chair also opened the TBID grant cycle, stating it closes January 31st at 5 p.m.
  • Communications Held in Abeyance:
    • 2025-581 & 249 (Salmanson Property): Land purchase requests adjacent to their property at 17 Pillamore/Tillamore Street (transcripts vary on street name) from Butte Silver Bow; held pending Land Records recommendations.
    • 2025-546 (Data Center Questions): Request for answers regarding impacts of a potential data center; held in abeyance.
    • 2025-587 (Bill Kelly): Request to purchase partial parcel 0001904920 bordering property; held pending Land Records recommendation.
    • 2026-01 (Don People Sr. Renaming): Motion to rename the Readiness Center after Don People Sr.; held in abeyance due to Commissioner Morgan's desire to hear from speaker Evan Barrett, who is unwell.
    • 2026-05 (Commissioner Appointment): Request to appoint an interim replacement for Commissioner Bill Anderson in District 10 for the meeting on January 21, 2026; held open until the following Wednesday at noon.
    • 2026-10 (Water Main Project): Request to schedule bid opening for water main materials replacement on January 21, 2026; held in abeyance.
  • Public Comment (Off-Agenda): No additional comments were received.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote Passed: Communication 2025-590 (Public Works) was placed on file with a unanimous vote of 9 yay, 0 nay.
  • Decisions: All other communications (2025-581, 2025-249, 2025-546, 2025-587, 2026-01, 2026-05, 2026-10) were continued/ held in abeyance.
  • Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following a successful motion to adjourn.

Meeting Transcript

I'm gonna call the Butterboard Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting to order for Wednesday, January 14th, 2026. Um Clerk, could you provide roll call? One presiding, nine present, two absent. Thank you. Let the record show that Commissioner O'Neal. I think there's just oh and Commissioner Morgan, excuse me, are absent and excused this evening. Um this time I'd like to call for any public comment on any items on the agenda this evening. And then please just state your name and address for the record. Um I think it would be good for our community. It would provide some jobs. I have a ten year old son. I live in this community. Um it's my home. Uh yeah, uh I think there's there's been some concerns mentioned about water power, this and that. Most of those have been addressed. Uh water for sure is addressed. It's a closed loop system. Um powers handled by the PSC. Um, I just think it would be a good investment for our community to have provide some good quality jobs. That's all. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Lowell. Is there anybody else with any public comment on the agenda this evening? Seeing none, uh moving on to the report of the chair. Only things I'd like to mention are just so we keep it in the news cycle. There is the ad hoc committee that meets every Tuesday regarding the data center in the archives at four o'clock. Uh Commissioner Callahan and Commissioner O'Leary both attended the meeting this week. Um the other thing is if anybody's listening, the TBID grant cycle is open and it closes um January 31st at 5 p.m. So if you have an event or anything of the sort that uh you could qualify for a TBID grant, I would definitely check that out. Um that would close out the report of the chair. Moving on to Section 1 Communications number one, communication number 2025-581. Will O'Connor Land Records Coordinator requesting Council of Commissioners to approve council communication number 2025-249. A request from Patty and Chris Salmanson to purchase land owned by Butsover Bow located adjacent to their property, located at 17 Pillamore Street. Uh, we're still waiting to hear from land records and to work through some of that. So we're going to continue to hold this in abeyance. Number two, communication number 2025-249. Patty and Chris Salmanson requesting Council of Commissioners approval to purchase a portion of land owned by Butte Silver Bow, which is adjacent to their property, located at 17 Tillamore Street. This one obviously goes hand in hand with communication number one, so we'll continue to hold that in abeyance. Number three, communication number 2025-546. Sarah Bordoon, Butte Montana requesting Council of Commissioners to answer some questions from the October 16th, 2025 public forum beyond the boom on November 12th, 2025 regarding the impacts of the data center that may be coming. Um we will continue to hold this. I don't know if there are any commissioners that wish to have anything to say on this one. We're good. Okay. We'll continue to hold this one. Uh number four, communication number 2025-587. Bill Kelly, 403 Transit Street, Butte, Montana, requesting Council of Commissioners authorization to purchase partial number 0001904920. That is directly bordering my property for improved maintenance utilization and management of the area. Another deal with land sales.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com