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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - March 18, 2026

Council of Commissioners & Committees — Thursday, March 19, 2026

BodyButte Silver Bow, Montana

SessionCouncil of Commissioners & Committees

DateThursday, March 19, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:17:52

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:59

I'd like to call the Butte Silver World Council of the Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 to order.

2:07

Clerk, can we please have roll call?

2:12

Ten present, two absent.

2:14

Ten present, two absent.

2:16

Please note that Commissioner Fisher and Commissioner Callahan are absent from tonight's agenda.

3:03

Next, I'll move on to any public comment on any item on tonight's agenda.

3:08

If you'd like to speak on any item on tonight's agenda, please come forward, state your name, your address, and the item that you would like to speak about.

3:17

Seeing none, I'll move on to the approval of the minutes from the March 4th regular meeting.

3:35

Could Commissioners please vote?

3:41

And would anyone like to change their vote?

3:44

Clerk, please record the vote.

5:00

Uh I'm finalizing the details about that.

5:03

The group will leave Thursday, um, have a full day Friday in uh Quincy meeting with uh a tour of the site, then meeting with um community officials, and then uh returning back on Saturday.

5:17

So um for all those that will be traveling, I'll be getting out uh uh uh itinerary and agenda for you so everybody understands what that's gonna look like.

5:26

So uh look for that soon once I finalize all the details of that.

5:30

So um and with that, I'm gonna make it a quick chief executive's report.

5:34

We're gonna move on and uh move to section one, bid openings, public hearings, and and our presentations.

5:42

We have a couple public hearings and a presentation tonight.

5:46

Um start off with item number one, communication number 2026-99.

5:53

Kara Mullachney, Butte Silver Silverbow Officer requesting council commissioners permission to schedule a public hearing on March 18th for the purpose of amending the fiscal year 2026 budget to support the purchase of lab equipment for family planning, utilizing grant funding from bridge bridge care via the sample foundation.

6:12

County attorney and root, do we have proof of publication on both of these public hearings tonight?

6:17

Chief Executive Gallagher, Commissioners, we have proof of publication on both communications.

6:21

Thank you.

6:22

Welcome uh Director Malchney.

6:24

Thank you, Chief Executive Gallagher, members of council.

6:27

Um for the record, my name is Karen Mullachney, Health Officer for Buck Silverbow, and I'm here this evening to ask your permission to amend the 2026 fiscal year budget to accept uh uh funding from Bridger Care via the sample foundation and the amount of five thousand dollars.

6:42

This will help us purchase um uh equipment for our family planning um clinic, which is very outdated, and we just hired a new nurse practitioner, so come and come in good use.

6:54

Thank you.

6:54

Do commissioners have any questions of Director Malchny?

7:00

Seeing none, I'll open the public hearing.

7:03

First call for proponents.

7:08

Ready for us, 2000 Roberts Avenue.

7:11

I am in favor of this.

7:13

Thank you.

7:14

Thank you, Mr.

7:15

Frost.

7:17

Second call for proponents.

7:21

Third and final call for proponents.

7:24

Next I'll move to Opponents.

7:27

First call for Opponents.

7:30

Second call for opponents, third and final call for opponents.

7:35

I'll close public hearing.

7:38

Next we'll move to item number two, communication number 2026-100.

7:42

Caramel Lochnum Beach Silver Bowl Health Officer requesting council commissioners permission to schedule a public hearing on March 18th for the purpose of amending the fiscal year 2026 budget to support HIV prevention services, delivery of HIV treatment, outreach support of viral hepatitis and HIV services.

8:01

Director Malchney.

8:03

Thank you, Chief Executive Gallagher, members of council.

8:05

Um again, I'm asking to amend the fiscal year 2026 budget for an amount of uh in 25,000 for our HIV prevention services.

8:15

And there in this grant there are no matching funds required by Butte Silverbow.

8:20

Thank you, Director Mulchney.

8:21

Are there any questions of commissioners?

8:24

Seeing none, I'll open the public hearing.

8:27

First call for proponents.

8:32

Ready for us, 2000 Roberts Avenue.

8:35

I'm also in favor of this.

8:37

Thank you.

8:37

Thank you, Mr.

8:38

Frost.

8:39

Second call for proponents.

8:43

Third and final call for proponents.

8:47

First call for opponents.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Fiscal Sustainability████████████████████████████28%

Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████22%

Procedural█████████████████17%

Employee Benefits█████████████████17%

Public Engagement████████8%

Government Structure████4%

Health Insurance██2%

Community Safety██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - March 18, 2026

The Council of Commissioners for Butte Silver Bow met on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, with 10 members present and 2 absent (Commissioners Fisher and Callahan). The meeting included public hearings on budget amendments, a presentation on the FY2025 annual comprehensive financial report and audit findings, approval of a consent agenda, a discussion on the coroner's salary, and passage of a resolution for special prosecutorial assistance. The meeting adjourned with a somber note on the passing of community legend Don Peeple Sr.

Consent Calendar

Approved the minutes from the March 4, 2026 regular meeting.
Approved Consent Agenda Section 2A (committee reports 1–4) and Section 2B (communications 1–27) with the exclusion of item 15 (Communication 2026-145). Vote: 10 yea, 0 nay.
Item 15 (Communication 2026-145): Planning Director Julia Crane requested authorization to execute an updated scope of work cross-referenced with Communication 2026-76. The council voted to concur and place on file. Vote: 10 yea, 0 nay.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public Hearings (Item 1 & 2): Mr. Frost (address 2000 Roberts Avenue) spoke in favor of both proposed budget amendments.
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items: Evan Barrett (807 West Silver Street, retired, Board of Directors of Butte Watchdogs for Social and Environmental Justice) addressed the council regarding data center proposals. He recommended obtaining verified employment data, suggested that SABI should present publicly, and submitted written materials for review.

Discussion Items

Budget Amendments (Communications 2026-99 and 2026-100): Health Officer Kara Mullachney presented two requests: (1) amend the FY2026 budget to accept $5,000 from Bridger Care via the Sample Foundation for family planning lab equipment, and (2) amend the FY2026 budget to accept $25,000 (no matching funds) for HIV prevention services. Public hearings were held, and both were scheduled for later action.
FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report & Audit Findings (Communication 2026-113): Finance and Budget Director Karen Hassler and auditor Pat Burt (Newland and Company) presented the 400-page financial report. The auditor issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on financial statements and federal awards. The audit noted two repeat findings: (1) internal control deficiencies over cash collections in the Parking Commission, Civic Center, and Landfill (segregation of duties), and (2) failure to reconcile immunization department billings and receivables on a monthly basis. A third new finding involved failure to require retainage on significant construction contracts. Management responses included developing a formal retainage policy and exploring improved software for immunization reconciliations. Council discussed the feasibility of additional controls and the use of the city-county auditor.
Coroner's Salary (Communication 2026-143): Coroner Jason Parrish requested approval to change his position from part-time to full-time salary, effective July 1, 2026. He cited hours logged and the demands of the office. Commissioners discussed legal and procedural considerations (charter language, whether it could be done mid-term, potential precedent). County Attorney Ann Ruth clarified the charter does not prohibit the change and that salary is a budgetary question. The council voted to note and place the communication on file (10-0), with the understanding that further budget consideration would follow.
Resolution 2026-15 – Special Deputy County Attorney: The council approved suspension of rules and passed a resolution appointing a special deputy county attorney to assist in the case of State v. Jerry Haxby. Vote: 10 yea, 0 nay.

Key Outcomes

The consent agenda was approved with one segregation (10-0).
Public hearings for two FY2026 budget amendments (lab equipment and HIV prevention) were opened and closed; the council granted permission to schedule formal adoption.
The FY2025 annual comprehensive financial report was accepted, and the council acknowledged the audit findings and management responses.
The coroner's salary request was noted and placed on file; no immediate action was taken, but the council indicated support for further budget discussions.
Resolution 2026-15 was passed on final reading (10-0) to authorize special prosecutorial assistance.
The council noted the passing of Don Peeple Sr., a respected community leader.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the Butte Silver World Council of the Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 to order. Clerk, can we please have roll call? Ten present, two absent. Ten present, two absent. Please note that Commissioner Fisher and Commissioner Callahan are absent from tonight's agenda. Next, I'll move on to any public comment on any item on tonight's agenda. If you'd like to speak on any item on tonight's agenda, please come forward, state your name, your address, and the item that you would like to speak about. Seeing none, I'll move on to the approval of the minutes from the March 4th regular meeting. Could Commissioners please vote? And would anyone like to change their vote? Clerk, please record the vote. Uh I'm finalizing the details about that. The group will leave Thursday, um, have a full day Friday in uh Quincy meeting with uh a tour of the site, then meeting with um community officials, and then uh returning back on Saturday. So um for all those that will be traveling, I'll be getting out uh uh uh itinerary and agenda for you so everybody understands what that's gonna look like. So uh look for that soon once I finalize all the details of that. So um and with that, I'm gonna make it a quick chief executive's report. We're gonna move on and uh move to section one, bid openings, public hearings, and and our presentations. We have a couple public hearings and a presentation tonight. Um start off with item number one, communication number 2026-99. Kara Mullachney, Butte Silver Silverbow Officer requesting council commissioners permission to schedule a public hearing on March 18th for the purpose of amending the fiscal year 2026 budget to support the purchase of lab equipment for family planning, utilizing grant funding from bridge bridge care via the sample foundation. County attorney and root, do we have proof of publication on both of these public hearings tonight? Chief Executive Gallagher, Commissioners, we have proof of publication on both communications. Thank you. Welcome uh Director Malchney. Thank you, Chief Executive Gallagher, members of council. Um for the record, my name is Karen Mullachney, Health Officer for Buck Silverbow, and I'm here this evening to ask your permission to amend the 2026 fiscal year budget to accept uh uh funding from Bridger Care via the sample foundation and the amount of five thousand dollars. This will help us purchase um uh equipment for our family planning um clinic, which is very outdated, and we just hired a new nurse practitioner, so come and come in good use. Thank you. Do commissioners have any questions of Director Malchny? Seeing none, I'll open the public hearing. First call for proponents. Ready for us, 2000 Roberts Avenue. I am in favor of this. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Frost. Second call for proponents. Third and final call for proponents. Next I'll move to Opponents. First call for Opponents. Second call for opponents, third and final call for opponents. I'll close public hearing. Next we'll move to item number two, communication number 2026-100. Caramel Lochnum Beach Silver Bowl Health Officer requesting council commissioners permission to schedule a public hearing on March 18th for the purpose of amending the fiscal year 2026 budget to support HIV prevention services, delivery of HIV treatment, outreach support of viral hepatitis and HIV services. Director Malchney. Thank you, Chief Executive Gallagher, members of council. Um again, I'm asking to amend the fiscal year 2026 budget for an amount of uh in 25,000 for our HIV prevention services. And there in this grant there are no matching funds required by Butte Silverbow. Thank you, Director Mulchney. Are there any questions of commissioners?

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