Butte-Silver Bow Study Commission Meeting - Feb 2, 2026

The Study Commission convened to review updates on the three proposed options for restructuring the fire service, discuss the lack of clarity from the Volunteer Fire Departments regarding Option One (removal from charter), debate the potential for a fourth option based on new information, and finalize a timeline for public input and the preliminary report. Key discussions centered on the ambiguity of authority under Option Two, the necessity of a unified command structure for public safety, and the logistical challenges of the working groups' deliverables. The commission agreed to extend the timeline for the tentative report to April to allow for public education and survey distribution, with a target date of February 23rd to finalize the options presented to the public.

Consent Calendar

• Correction of Minutes (Jan 26): Ms. Purdue Dolan requested a clarification to the minutes regarding her comments on Option Two. The commission agreed to amend page six to state that Ms. Purdue Dolan shared the concept of Option Two with volunteers, who indicated they would weigh in after receiving more details and specifics, rather than stating they rejected the idea. Mr. Stefan moved to approve the minutes from January 26th as amended.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Fire Advisory Board Discrepancy: Ms. Purdue Dolan reported confusion regarding a motion by the Fire Advisory Board to draft a letter of support for Chief Osborne. She noted that a volunteer attendee (Jonathan Rice) stated he did not vote on the motion to draft the letter, raising questions about the validity of the "all in favor" minute. Ms. Purdue Dolan expressed frustration that the board had not clarified the scope of the vote (drafting vs. sending) and stated the board plans to meet and resend a revised, formal statement.
• Commissioner O'Neill's Role: Commissioner Josh O'Neill was contacted regarding the Advisory Board's confusion. He agreed to have the board finalize their statement and resend it to the commission, ensuring proper protocol and buy-in from all members.

Discussion Items

Option One: Removal of Volunteers from Charter

• Information Gap: Ms. Purdue Dolan reported that Jason Willoughby (representing volunteers) has agreed to provide a specific list of actions, maps, boundaries, and consolidation plans required if Option One is chosen. He acknowledged the commission needs "meat on the bone" regarding what moving forward looks like under this option before the next meeting (deadline: Monday).
• Clarification on Charter Language: Ms. Casey and Mr. Steppen discussed whether the volunteers' recent submission of charter edits constitutes Option One or a separate proposal. Mr. Steppen clarified that the draft presented Monday was created before receiving the volunteers' new data. There is a consensus that volunteers want clarification on whether they are seeking complete removal (Option One) or a different structure.
• Option Four Proposal: Ms. Purdue Dolan suggested the new information from volunteers—which includes retaining charter presence but rejecting unified command—might constitute a separate "Option Four," distinct from the original three options.

Option Two: Consolidated Volunteer Department / One Chief

• Feasibility and Authority: Mr. Thielen confirmed that having two chiefs (one paid, one volunteer) is legally permissible under his interpretation, though Ms. Steppen and Ms. Silk urged the commission to seek clarity from County Attorney Enruth regarding the chain of command and liability under a unified charter structure.
• Consolidation and Training: Mr. Thielen and Ms. Shaw discussed the potential for consolidating smaller volunteer districts into larger entities to create a "proving ground" for paid positions. They highlighted the need for a dedicated F2 Training Officer position (currently unfunded due to a legal cap on budget, though the Director has creatively utilized retirements for a six-month trial) to ensure standardized training across all ranks.
• Union and Paid Department Perspective: Mr. Steppen and Mr. Thielen relayed that paid firefighters prioritize safety, standardized training, and clear authority over the director to ensure they can rely on each other during emergencies. They emphasized that the lack of administrative/operational control makes standardization impossible.

Option Three: Unified Director of Fire Services

• Unified Authority: Mr. Steppen presented Option Three as the method to solidify authority under the Director of Fire Services, addressing the 50-year ambiguity. He noted that paid staff view this as the best path to ensure uniform training and operational safety.
• Volunteer Input Mechanism: Ms. Shaw and Ms. McCormick emphasized the necessity of a formally mandated "Volunteer Coordinator" or liaison position in the charter to ensure volunteers have a voice and representation, rather than being entirely subsumed by the director.
• Binary Approach Debate: Several commissioners (Ms. Steppen, Ms. McCormick, Mr. Silk) argued for a "binary approach" (two distinct options) to avoid public confusion, suggesting the commission narrow the choices before the public hearing. Mr. Thielen echoed the need for the community to "grow up" and prioritize public safety over internal disputes.

Timeline and Process

• Schedule Adjustment: Ms. Casey and Ms. McCormick argued that a tentative report in February was unrealistic given the heavy lifting required to incorporate new volunteer data. They advocated pushing the tentative report and public hearing to April.
• Deliverable Deadline: The commission agreed to a strict timeline: The working group will review new volunteer information on February 9th, discuss and finalize the options in the working group meeting of the week of February 16th, and make a final decision on the options to include in the preliminary report on February 23rd.
• Survey and Public Input: The commission discussed launching a broader survey (addressing both fire options and the number of commissioners) in conjunction with the release of the tentative report. Ms. Casey suggested the report be published on the website only after full commission agreement to avoid confusion between draft and finalized timelines.

Other Business

• Number of Commissioners: Mr. Thielen reiterated his support for reducing the number of commissioners to three to save costs, noting public concern about the feasibility of five or six full-time commissioners.
• Meeting Attendance: Ms. McCormick informed the commission of her unavailability from February 11th–18th. The commission confirmed that while proxy voting is not permitted, she may participate and vote via Zoom using the county's established technology.

Key Outcomes

• Timeline Agreed:

  • Feb 9: Commission meets to review new information from Volunteer Fire Departments.
  • Feb 16–Feb 20: Working group meets to analyze information and formulate final options.
  • Feb 23: Commission meeting to make the final decision on the options (likely a binary choice) for the preliminary report.
  • Late March/April: Release of tentative report, launch of public survey, and public listening sessions.
  • April: Potential public hearing on the tentative report.

• Directives to Volunteer Fire Departments:

  • Volunteers (led by Jason Willoughby) are required to provide a detailed action plan outlining exactly what implementation of Option One (and potentially Option Two/Four) would look like, including maps, boundaries, equipment assessment, and consolidation steps, no later than the next meeting.

• Action on Advisory Board:

  • The Fire Advisory Board is tasked with clarifying their stance on the letter of support for Chief Osborne and re-submitting a formally drafted and voted statement to the commission.

• County Attorney Clarification:

  • The commission requests clarification from County Attorney Enruth regarding the legal authority structure required for Option Two (specifically the relationship between a volunteer chief and a paid chief within the charter).

• Survey Development:

  • Working groups are instructed to begin drafting survey questions regarding the fire options, the number of commissioners, and district configurations to be released with the tentative report.