Buttes Rebook Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting – September 10, 2026
Buttes Rebook Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole Meeting – September 10, 2026
Note on date: The meeting transcript records the date as Wednesday, September 9, 2026, but the provided meeting date is September 10, 2026. This summary uses the latter date per instruction, while acknowledging the discrepancy.
The Buttes Rebook Council of Commissioners held a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 10, 2026, at approximately 7:00 PM. Roll call showed 1 presiding, 10 present, and 1 absent (Commissioner Morgan excused). The meeting included a presentation from REC Silicon, public comment on a right-of-way petition, and the placement of several communications on file or held in abeyance.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kristen Granfield (150N) commented on Communication 2026‑438, a request to schedule a public hearing for a right-of-way vacation petition. She expressed concern that the city would grant land to an investment entity without cost, noting she had never seen such a practice in her experience across nine states and thirteen cities. She asked what payment the city would receive and contrasted the petition with another communication (2026‑432) where a citizen sought to purchase a vacant lot from the city. Ms. Granfield argued the hilltop property has future community benefit for recreation and habitat, and questioned why the public or nonprofits are not receiving similar treatment. She characterized the petition as a “take” from the community.
Discussion Items
- REC Silicon Presentation (Communication 2026‑447) – Kayla Lappin, Economic Development Coordinator, requested permission for the presentation. Zach Kelly, a REC Silicon representative, provided an update on the company’s Butte operations. He detailed their products (silicon-based gases, primarily silane, with chlorosilanes and silane derivatives), their customer base (now more U.S.‑focused due to the CHIPS Act), and a company history from the 1980s through the recent takeover by Hanwa (South Korea) which made REC Silicon private. The Butte plant, located on 240 acres, is now the company’s focus after exiting the polysilicon business in 2024. Safety was emphasized as a top priority. In response to questions:
- Commissioner O’Leary asked about future plans. Mr. Kelly stated that immediate priorities are to fully utilize existing capacity and increase sales; no imminent expansion is planned, though Hanwa aims to grow the semiconductor gas business.
- Commissioner Callahan asked about the future of polysilicon and the role of power costs. Mr. Kelly expressed personal hope to restart polysilicon but said it is not a top priority. Power costs have improved (spot market purchases), but the aging assets require significant investment. He noted that Montana’s power market is more favorable after Washington State stopped taking brown power, but cautioned that the situation could change in two years.
- Right‑of‑Way Vacation Petition (Communication 2026‑438 & Petition 2026‑01) – Will O’Connor, Land Records Coordinator, explained the process: the petition (filed for a $500 fee) was reviewed by the Public Works Committee and referred to the council for a public hearing, after which a resolution will go to the Judiciary Committee and then to the full council for a vote. Commissioner O’Leary commented that the process may be “archaic” and suggested an update to the 1989 ordinance. Mr. O’Connor agreed and noted he had to follow the existing ordinance. The item was held in abeyance pending the scheduled public hearing.
Key Outcomes
- Communication 2026‑366 (FY2027 budget and user rates public hearing scheduling) – Motion to place on file passed 11‑0. The public hearing will begin August 12, 2026, and continue until a date is set to adopt the final budget and fix rates.
- Communication 2026‑367 (related budget item) – Motion to place on file passed 11‑0.
- Communication 2026‑447 (REC Silicon presentation scheduling) – Motion to place on file passed 11‑0.
- Communications 2026‑384, 2026‑410, 2026‑411, 2026‑432, 2026‑438, 2026‑440, and Petition 2026‑01 – All held in abeyance pending further recommendations or scheduled hearings.
- Quarry Made Meadows Major Subdivision – Held in abeyance until the public hearing.
- The meeting adjourned without further public comment.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I'm going to call the Buttes Rebook Council of Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting to order for Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. Clerk, could you provide us roll call? One presiding, ten present, one absent. Thank you. Let the uh record show that Commissioner Morgan is absent and excused this evening. Commissioner Walker, would you lead us in the prayer and the pledge? Okay, at this time I'm gonna call for any public comment on any items on the agenda this evening. Any public comments on the agenda. Please state your name and address for the record. Could you just make sure your microphones turned off and then restate that, please? Got it. Okay. Uh Kristen Granfield 150N. I'd like to comment on uh communication 2026 438. Uh it looks like there's been a request to schedule the public hearing, which, if I'm not mistaken, I heard earlier has been granted. Um I wanted to bring up a couple things. Um, and I assume all of you have seen the right of way request that the petitioner is looking for. Um it is on a hilltop that overlooks if you uh were to stand on it or be close to it, the park uh behind the hospital, which we enjoy launching music at, sledding in the winter, etc. Um, in terms of granting this right of way to an investment of undeveloped land, um I have lived in nine cities and actually nine states and thirteen cities, and I have never seen a city or county grant land to someone without a cost. Um I'm wondering what that cost or payment will be to the city of Butte. In addition to that, I think it's ironic that um in communication 2026-432, this person in Butte wants to purchase the vacant lot that Butte owns. So I don't understand why a municipality would give away land to one and not to a citizen. So that's that's a concern. Um the overall concern is that based on the location of the property, it has a lot of benefit in the future potentially for activity of the community, for habitat within the community, etc. And I think it's very important that when we are looking at granting someone the privilege of owning land in Butte and developing it, that it take into account what the public deserves, who should maybe be privileged to use that land or be granted that land. There's a number of citizens and bodies within Butte, like seniors, etc. churches, not for profits, that are they also getting the same treatment, I would ask. Um so those are my comments on granting this right of way. It seems to me I'm not a native to Butte, but coming into Butte, I look at what I can give when I've joined this community. I don't look at what I can take, and this person is petitioning for that right of way, which is a take. If you view the zoning and plot maps, and I suggest you take a ride up there and take a look at the property in conjunction with where the park is located. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Granfield. Is there any other public comment on the agenda? Seeing none, I'm gonna skip the report of the chair, and we'll move on to section one bid openings, public hearings and/or presentations. Presentations, uh number one, communication number 2026-447. Kayla Lappin, economic development coordinator, requesting Council of Commissioners permission to schedule a presentation on September 9th, 2026 from REC Silicon Inc. regarding an update about their butte operations. Ms. Lappin. Welcome. Uh Commissioner Thatcher, members of council. Um I have with me a representative from REC, Zach Kelly, who would um like to give this presentation. Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Kelly. Thank you, Commissioners. So I got the honor tonight to give you guys an introduction into a company, a plant that's been here for 30 years.
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