Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.
On Monday, October 12, 2026, the Butte Silver Bowl Council of Commissioners held a special meeting to reconsider and amend Resolution 2026-54, which corrects language in the Business Improvement District (BID) assessment table. Nine commissioners were present, three were excused. The meeting focused on legal clarity and procedural compliance after public concerns raised by Robert Edwards.
I'd like to call the Butte Silver Bowl Council of Commissioner special meeting for Monday, October 12, 2026 to order. Clerk will we please have roll call? Nine present, three absent. Nine present, three absent. Please note that Commissioner O'Neill, Commissioner Walker, and Commissioner Boyle are excused from tonight's agenda. And Commissioner Thatcher, could you lead us in the prayer in the pledge? Almighty God, we implore you. Look upon us and guide us this night as we make decisions which so greatly affect our community of Pete Zoverbow. Bless our thoughts, words, and deeds so that we please you and best serve our fellow citizens. Amen. Next we'll move on to public comment on any item on tonight's agenda. And I'll um want to the public know that we'll keep it public comment again to three minutes. So if you'd like to come forward and uh have any public comment on tonight's agenda, um you're welcome to come forward. Seeing none, we'll move to item number one, communication number twenty twenty-six. Oh please come forward. Sorry, Chief Executive. I thought you were gonna call for a one and a two and whatnot. So Chief Executive, members of the commission. My name is Robert Edwards, 78 East Park Street. People keep asking me whether I'm for or against the BID. Let me be clear. I support the concept of a business improvement district. Uptown Butte has some real problems, and I believe a collective organization of business and property owners can up could could achieve some tremendous good. I don't question the passion, passion or good intentions of the people behind the BID, but good intentions are not a substitute for competent administration or compliance with the law. I've been raising concerns since before the council excuse me. I've been raising concerns since before the council first moved to establish the BID from basic mathematical errors in the original assessment calculations to the legal and procedural issues we're confronting tonight. First, where is the resolution actually creating the BID? Resolution 2461 expressly declares the council's intention to create the district. An intention to create a bid isn't actually creating a BID. Second, where's is the annual resolution actually levying these assessments? I've been able unable to find one for 2025, and nothing before you tonight appears to levy the assessments for 2026. Montana Code annotated 7-12-1132 subsection four requires the governing body to levy assessments by a resolution each year. Subsection five requires that requires that resolution to be delivered to the treasurer for collection. These aren't questions about definitions. They're questions about whether the required process was actually followed. Correcting language from 24 2024 tonight doesn't answer either of these. The purpose of the meeting is to thoroughly examine the wording of the resolution with County Attorney Ann Ruth and address any question regarding its legality and determine whether revisions or clarification are necessary. Following the discussion, I request that the resolution be brought before counsel for reconsideration and a new vote. Commissioner Shea. Thank you, Mr. Chief Executive. At this time, I uh move uh for a motion to reconsider resolution number 2026-54. We have a motion and a second to uh move and uh reconsider communication number 2026-504. Is there anything on the question? Commissioner Morgan.