Butte Silver-Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting – March 4, 2026

The Butte Silver-Bow Council of Commissioners held its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, with 11 commissioners present and one absent (Commissioner Morgan). The meeting included a public hearing on the drought management plan, a presentation on the BLDC five-year strategic plan, approval of the consent agenda with segregations, discussion of several segregated items, a suspension of the rules to add a Brownfields subgrant for the Basin Creek House, and approval of seven resolutions on final reading. Public comments were heard in support of paratransit expansion and on non-agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes from the February 18, 2026 regular meeting (11-0).
• Approved the Section A consent agenda (committee reports 1–4) and Section B communications 1–29, with the exception of segregated items 20, 27, and 29 (11-0).
• Approved resolutions 2026-07 through 2026-14 on final reading; each passed 11-0. These included:
  • Resolution 2026-07: Sale of a parcel of real property for community development.
  • Resolution 2026-08: Land exchange to cure encroachment.
  • Resolution 2026-09: Budget amendment for the Bridger Care My WI lift program.
  • Resolution 2026-10: Budget amendment for the chronic disease program.
  • Resolution 2026-11: Budget amendment for the H5N1 influenza A response program.
  • Resolution 2026-12: Budget amendment for an Intermountain Health grant.
  • Resolution 2026-13: Budget amendment for multiple health department programs.
  • Resolution 2026-14: Budget amendment for the syringe exchange program.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On agenda items: Two speakers addressed paratransit expansion. An unnamed speaker advocated for paratransport services for her clients. Cassie Wick (820 West Mercury Street), on behalf of Ability Montana, thanked the council for supporting the paratransit route expansion, noting it had been a constant issue on the paratransit committee and that health outcomes for those just outside the boundary line will improve.
• On non-agenda items: Evan Barrett (807 West Silver Street) urged the council to carefully review the data center buy-sell agreement, describing it as "the most one-sided" he had seen and recommending that the council be prepared to vote no and renegotiate. He also advocated for locating the Silver Bow Creek corridor waste repository at Opportunity Ponds, citing existing rail access and legal advantages.

Public Hearings

• Drought Management Plan (Communication 2026-63): Public Works Director Mark Neary presented the final drought management plan. Public hearing opened: one proponent (Ms. Frost) spoke in favor, no opponents. Hearing closed.

Presentation

• BLDC Strategic Plan (Communication 2026-18): Kelly Sullivan, Executive Director of the Butte Local Development Corporation, presented the organization's recently completed five-year strategic plan (through 2030). The plan was developed with community engagement (225+ survey responses, multiple events) and identifies target sectors: manufacturing, tech-adjacent/engineering services, retail/services, family-friendly entertainment, outdoor recreation support businesses, and entrepreneurial startups. Seven strategic goals were outlined, including strengthening BLDC governance, recruiting and retaining businesses, expanding entrepreneurial support, promoting community revitalization, enhancing workforce development, and strengthening partnerships. Sullivan also answered a question from Commissioner Shea about Brownfields funding for the Basin Creek House, noting a $1.5 million coalition grant application due March 16.

Discussion Items

• Segregated items from consent agenda:
  • Item 20 (Communication 2026-118) and Item 27 (2026-125): Stormwater management BMP maintenance agreements for Cornerstone Plaza. Item 27 was identified as a duplicate. Director Neary explained that the multiple stormwater items were submitted together after as-built reviews. Both items approved 11-0.
  • Item 29 (Communication 2026-127): Updated Silver Bow Paratransit Handbook including passenger rules and code of conduct. Commissioner O'Leary praised the expansion affecting his district. Approved 11-0.
• Suspension of the rules – Basin Creek House (Communication 2026-128): A subgrant agreement between Headwaters RC&D and Butte Silver-Bow for $95,000 to perform abatement work (removing vermiculite insulation) at the Basin Creek House, funded through the Brownfields program. Commissioner Fisher opposed, questioning why RMAP funds weren't used and why the work wasn't done before volunteers entered the house. Community Development Director Karen Burns clarified that the Brownfields assessment was completed first, the grant covers work not eligible under RMAP (asbestos), and that the funds flow through Headwaters directly to contractors. The item passed 10-1 (Fisher nay).

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Minutes approved 11-0.
  • Suspension of rules to add item 128 passed 9-2.
  • Consent agenda approved 11-0.
  • Item 20 (stormwater) approved 11-0.
  • Item 27 (duplicate stormwater) noted on file 11-0.
  • Item 29 (paratransit handbook) approved 11-0.
  • Item 128 (Basin Creek House subgrant) approved 10-1.
  • All seven resolutions approved 11-0.
• Directives and next steps:
  • Chief Executive Gallagher announced a need for one volunteer commissioner for the Fire Advisory Council.
  • Budget season is beginning; the chief executive noted that Montana is projected to lose $114 million in federal funding, urging the council to prioritize advocacy for the next legislative session.
  • The BLDC strategic plan will be implemented with semi-annual public summaries.
• Acknowledgments: Chief Executive Gallagher acknowledged the passing of journalist Jim Larson and offered prayers for troops. Commissioners Fisher and Shea congratulated local basketball teams on tournament successes.