I would assume so.

Are they locked?

No, they just said it's the front or back.

I was a little bit of mic to tell you.

What are you doing?

That's my spot.

I don't sit there.

I will call the judiciary committee meeting for April 22nd, 2026 to order.

Um for roll call.

We have it looks like everybody's present.

Um Commissioner uh myself, Commissioner Shea, Commissioner Thatcher, Commissioner Callahan, Commissioner Mankins, Commissioner Healy, and Commissioner Gerbrand are all present.

Um I would ask um well I'll start with communication number uh 2026 175 Mark Phillip, 1150 West Gold, Butte Montana requesting Council of Commissioners to affirm that butte American Butte Americ Butte American finds cause for and recommends that the U.S.

House of Representatives vote to impeach President Trump.

Um Mr.

Phillip, is there anything that you would like to speak to regarding this tonight?

And go ahead and pop there you go.

Um yes, Commissioner Shay, thank you.

Um a binder, which had a draft resolution uh as well as several uh total of 16 exhibits that are referenced in that resolution.

Uh things like the U.S.

Constitution, the UN Charter, the Hague Convention, um, and so forth.

I have uh now provided this evening uh the letter that um would be sent out on the basis of this resolution should it be passed.

Um I apologize for the delay.

Uh there was a misunderstanding uh about um the resolution form uh and the requirement for a second letter.

Um so I've now provided that letter tonight um for you to continue to reflect upon along with the the packet of information I provided two weeks ago.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

I believe that uh Mr.

Phillip has provided everybody with a copy of the letter.

Not sure if anybody has had an opportunity yet to review it.

Um would any of the commissioners like to say anything.

Commissioner Gerbrand.

Yes.

Um Madam Chair, I'd like just a minute or two to read this letter.

Okay.

Yeah.

So we can hold this in in abeyance again.

Um I I was able to read it.

I did have an opportunity to because I was I got this when I first got here tonight, but um committee, would you like to move forward to the resolutions?

Okay.

Um I'll we'll uh table this for the moment and I'll move to item number two, resolution number 2026-18.

A resolution of intent to modify City County of Butte Silverbo ordinance two dot sixteen.20 to alter the boundaries of the city county of Butte Silverbo, Montana's fire services district to include the boundaries of three MCT district and providing for an effective date here in.

Um I believe this is ready to go to final if that's the pleasure of the committee.

No.

Uh thank you, Chairman Jay.

I believe we're still holding this pending the public hearing next week.

Um but while I have the microphone, I just you know, I I know that all of the council of commissioners received a letter from REC regarding this.

Um I guess my perspective on this is I'm I'm a little frustrated because you know in in a portion of their letter, they talk about REC is currently facing significant financial financial and market challenges.

The company continues to incur losses each quarter, but it's also working towards the goal of returning to profitability in the future.

Um so in my mind, I I can understand that point.

Um the news today of a purchase of 1.2 million dollars worth of land would seem to indicate otherwise, in my opinion.

Um but just to this specific communication.

It was talked about in in their letter about equity and how REC they want they want a more proportionate alloc allocation, geez, allocation of costs that would be more equitably distributed, the financial burden among all taxpayers who benefit from the fire department services, rather than concentrating the burden on REC.

And I think that in my opinion, we're looking at this the wrong way.

Um we have several major taxpayers in our community, Northwestern Energy, Montana Resources, and REC are our top three.

Montana Resources pays 935,000 plus of just in fire services.

Northwestern Energy pays 668,000 dollars, just in fire services, and just a little bit north of that.

REC pays zero.

And so in my mind, that isn't equitable.

Um I can understand certain concerns, you know otherwise, I guess, but in my mind, if we're gonna talk about being equitable, this has to be looked at from from other perspectives as well.

So I think that I I just hope that you know, even as we head into the public hearing next week, we think about these points.