The Council of Commissioners convened for a Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, following the passing of long-time community member Mr. Fritz Daly. The agenda featured presentations on the Butte Priority Soils repository siting, emergency operations center activations regarding recent water and wind events, and a public education session on AI-powered surveillance systems. Commissioner Gerbrandt was welcomed to the body. Key decisions included the approval of land sales communications, the placement of public health budget amendments in abeyance pending February hearings, and the vote to place the Flock surveillance presentation on file rather than formally referring questions to staff.
You still have them? So you don't have my mom, you can pass it off, so you don't want like that. Oh last time. Do you ever have meetings? Uh meetings for your constituency, just your district. Use it. You know people show up. And how do you advertise it? I was thinking of an hour a week at the library. You just have to sit here and watch Anderson all the time because it makes us feel guilty because we don't know if you see it with Matthew. We don't know if he's got ice with them, but what's going on? Yeah, nice ladies. I'll bring the Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting to order for Wednesday, January 28th, 2026. Can we please have a roll call? One presiding, ten present, one absent. Okay, please let the record reflect that Commissioner Healy is is absent tonight. Commissioner O'Neill, I uh you're here, so we're gonna count that that is green. So um thank you. Uh Commissioner Walker, would you please lead us in the prayer and the pledge? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and divisible with liberty and justice for all. Next item on tonight's agenda is any public comment on any items that's on tonight's agenda. If there's any member of the public that would like to speak on any item that's on tonight's agenda, um now would be your opportunity. If please uh come up to the podium and state your name and address for the record, we do ask that you keep your comments to three minutes. Okay, there it is. Uh yeah, my name's John Search, 1820 Wilson. Uh beat Montana. Say I this is uh regards to a presentation communication number 2621 on the uh siding committee. You know, I sat on that siding committee for three years, and I believe we did a lot of good work. I believe that technical team has found a wonderful place to put that soil. And just I think I'm just speaking to the choir, but you know, without a without a place to put that soil, there is no cleanup, and I think it's loud and clear what people want. Let's get the cleanup going. Thank you, Mr. Sorich. Is there any other member of the public that would like to speak on any item that's on tonight's agenda? Please state your name and address for the record. Ms. Chair and members of the commission. Uh my name's Evan Barrett, 807 West Silver Street. I want to uh briefly comment on the communication uh 2026 21, which is the repository report. Uh quite interesting and its movement forward. I think, of course, we all recognize the need to be nice to get something going on this. And I know I think that'll be part of the impetus on this. Why don't we get something going? It is important, however, that we do it right. And so I'm eager to hear the presentation. I've looked at it and I've read it, and I'm eager to hear the presentation. It's a pretty significant change from where we were a few months ago, which was Berkeley Pitt. And I think it's the time frame of getting Berkeley Pitt prepared or knowing it would work is the reason we're looking at an alternative site here now. I am intrigued by the site. Uh I told uh the representative from from our co Josh that the other day that I'm I'm willing to be persuaded that this is a good site.