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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - October 21, 2026

Council of Commissioners & Committees — Thursday, October 22, 2026

BodyButte Silver Bow, Montana

SessionCouncil of Commissioners & Committees

DateThursday, October 22, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:06:04

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Unassigned speaker

2:29

I'd

Speaker 1

2:29

like to call the Beauty Silver Bowl Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 to order clerk.

2:37

Could we have a roll call?

2:58

Nine present, three absence.

3:00

Please note that Commissioner Morgan, Commissioner Shea, and Commissioner Boyle are excused from tonight's agenda.

3:06

Commissioner Walker, could you leave us in the pur and the pledge?

4:05

Okay.

4:05

Welcome.

Susan Schultz · Speaker 2Inferred

4:08

Good evening.

4:10

My name is Susan Schultz, and I live at uh twenty-nine thirty-one Amherst.

4:15

The nearest Cross Street is Sheridan Avenue.

4:18

And there's been a number of accidents at that intersection since I moved in in 2021.

4:26

There's been at least five that I can remember, but this last one that happened a couple weeks ago was a fifteen-year-old girl coming out of Sheridan.

4:36

She was stopped.

4:37

And a lady was coming down Amherst.

4:40

The fifteen-year-old pulled right out in front of her.

4:45

Everybody's airbags, all the airbags went off.

4:48

There were three fifteen year olds in the one car with a kitten.

4:52

None of them had a license.

4:57

All their cars had to be towed.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

All four of them had to go to the emergency room.

Susan Schultz · Speaker 2Inferred

5:07

The people drive, I mean, I know the uh speed limits 25.

5:14

Nobody adheres to it.

5:16

So something needs to be done, especially at that intersection, because it is a thoroughfare coming over from Sheridan.

5:22

Sheridan goes straight over to the country club and Amherst, you know, is a major thoroughfare.

5:29

So it's getting bad down there.

5:31

They need to have something.

5:33

Speed bumps, I don't care.

5:36

A light would be wonderful.

5:38

You have one down on Farragut in Amherst.

5:40

Why can't there be one on Sheridan and Amherst?

5:44

Something needs to slow these people down.

5:47

I have a really hefty fence around my property.

5:51

It's a two-inch steel pipe that's been welded all the way around my property, and that's the only thing that saved my house because that girl was headed straight for this side of my house.

6:03

She would have gone right through it.

6:05

So something's gotta be done.

6:08

I've got pictures of it showing her literally up against my fence.

6:14

Okay, it's just getting bad over there.

6:16

Something needs to be done.

6:18

So I'm asking the commission to please put in a light at that intersection.

6:26

Thank you.

Speaker 1

6:27

Thank you, Ms.

6:28

Schultz.

6:33

Is there any other public comment on any item on tonight's agenda?

Speaker 3 · Possibly Evan Barrett

6:44

Mr.

6:44

Chief Executive, members of the council.

6:47

Evan Barrett, 807 West Silver Street, uh in Butte.

6:53

The uh let me let me first uh thank you for your service.

7:01

I know you guys got a lot of stuff in front of you all the time, and I I I admire watching you plow through it all.

7:08

And I'm not here every meeting, but it's sure it's good to see things going, and especially now when people are trying to figure out well, what should be the shape of our government?

7:18

It's very interesting time.

7:20

Uh I wanted to just briefly address, and it's a continuation of something I said uh last week, which is uh uh communication 435 and and uh and uh council bill 03, which relate to the moratorium.

7:36

And again, applaud the uh the moratorium effort.

7:41

Uh happy to try to find a way to be of help, and I hope we'll have a lot of active participation uh uh with in the committee of the whole as we take a look at this stuff.

7:53

I wanted to also quickly comment.

7:55

Uh I went to a meeting in Anaconda the other day on data center.

8:00

There's a high level of interest in data center in Anaconda.

8:03

So I went over there with uh I know this will sound strange, but with my uh uh with my uh eyes open and ears open and my mouth shut and just uh was listening to what was I was hearing.

8:16

And uh I just want to report this to you very quickly

Speaker 4

8:20

that

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use█████████████████████████25%

Procedural████████████████████20%

Public Safety█████████9%

Water And Wastewater Management█████████9%

Public Engagement████████8%

Data Center Development███████7%

Fire Services███████7%

Transportation Safety████4%

Employee Benefits████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners Regular Meeting - October 21, 2026

The Butte Silver Bow Council of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 1:27 AM UTC (corrected to local time). The meeting included public comments, approval of consent agenda with amendments, discussion and votes on several items including street vacations, firefighter life insurance and staffing agreements, and a resolution for a major subdivision. Commissioners Morgan, Shea, and Boyle were excused. All votes were 9-0 unless noted.

Public Comments & Testimony

Susan Schultz (2931 Amherst Avenue): Expressed urgent safety concerns about the intersection of Amherst and Sheridan, citing at least five accidents since 2021. Described a recent crash involving three 15-year-olds without licenses, airbag deployment, and emergency room visits. Requested installation of a traffic light or speed bumps, noting her fence prevented a car from hitting her house.
Evan Barrett (807 West Silver Street): Thanked the council and commented on Communication 435 and Council Bill 03 regarding the moratorium, expressing support. Reported hearing from Anaconda about interest in a data center, including a visit from Trump administration representatives, a 900-acre parcel, and potential use of Butte water. Advised transparency from Butte government regarding any involvement. Also noted divided public opinion on the data center concept.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes of October 7, 2026 regular meeting and October 12, 2026 special meeting (9-0).
Approved consent agenda items A1-4 and B1-26 with friendly amendments from Commissioner Thatcher (correcting dates and street names) and segregations of items #8, #9, and #26. (9-0)

Discussion Items

Bid Opening – Solar Speed Radar Signs: Five bids were received, ranging from $56,062.20 (Western Systems Inc.) to $97,060 (Norman Equipment). Referred to Public Works Department for recommendation (9-0).
Sole Source – Aqua Aerobic Systems: Director Neary requested a public hearing for sole source procurement of super fine powder activated carbon (SPAC) for Basin Creek Water Treatment Plant, used for taste and odor control. Cost ~$8,000 per tote, 2-4 totes per year, vs. $1.32 million for an in-house mixing system. Public hearing opened and closed with no opposition.
Firefighter Life Insurance Policy (Item #8 – Communication 2026-512): Director Osborne presented agreement with MetLife for $20,000 line-of-duty death benefit for 119 volunteer firefighters, annual premium $20,664 ($173 per firefighter). Coverage is $20,000 for those under a certain age, $10,000 for older firefighters. Funded from fire fund. Approved (9-0).
Traffic Safety Request (Item #9 – Communication 2026-513): Susan Schultz's request for a light or speed awareness at Amherst and Sheridan was referred to the Public Works Committee for further discussion (9-0).
Firefighter Staffing MOU (Item #26 – Communication 2026-532): Director Worm and Chief Osborne explained a collective bargaining agreement to use $100,000 from FY27 budget for overtime to bring staffing at South Side station from two to three firefighters per shift when reduced due to call-offs or sickness. Approved (9-0).
Street Vacation – Alabama Street (Communication 2026-515): Petitioner Eric Stevenberg seeks vacation of a 17,000 sq ft unbuilt street portion for $500 fee (per street vacation ordinance). Debate: Commissioner Fisher questioned fairness of $500 vs. market value; others noted the land is steep, rocky, and needed for a building setback. Approved with direction to prepare resolution (9-0).
Street Vacation – Berlin Street (Communication 2026-516): Petitioner Jeffrey D. Hoffman seeks vacation of a 6,000 sq ft unbuilt street portion in Williamsburg for $500 fee. Land is a hole needing fill. Approved with direction to prepare resolution (9-0).
Final Readings: Resolution 2026-63 approving transfer of property in Railpark Minor Subdivision to Silverbow Rail Park RE2 LLC passed (9-0). Resolution 2026-64 granting conditional approval of Quarry Meadows Major Subdivision passed (9-0).

Key Outcomes

All votes on consent agenda, individual items, and resolutions were 9-0.
Chief Executive's Announcement: Gallagher accepted an invitation to visit Israel with a Pacific Northwest delegation (Oct 31 – Nov 6, 2026) at no cost to local government, to discuss infrastructure, critical minerals, and economic development. Also cautioned against rumors about data centers, noting that any water use would require council approval.
Referrals: Solar speed radar sign bids to Public Works; Schultz traffic concern to Public Works Committee.
Ordinance Review: Commissioners expressed intent to revisit the street and alley vacation ordinance (Code Section 362) due to perceived low fees.
Next Steps: County attorney to prepare resolutions for Alabama and Berlin Street vacations; Judiciary Committee to review resolutions.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the Beauty Silver Bowl Council of Commissioners regular meeting for Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 to order clerk. Could we have a roll call? Nine present, three absence. Please note that Commissioner Morgan, Commissioner Shea, and Commissioner Boyle are excused from tonight's agenda. Commissioner Walker, could you leave us in the pur and the pledge? Okay. Welcome. Good evening. My name is Susan Schultz, and I live at uh twenty-nine thirty-one Amherst. The nearest Cross Street is Sheridan Avenue. And there's been a number of accidents at that intersection since I moved in in 2021. There's been at least five that I can remember, but this last one that happened a couple weeks ago was a fifteen-year-old girl coming out of Sheridan. She was stopped. And a lady was coming down Amherst. The fifteen-year-old pulled right out in front of her. Everybody's airbags, all the airbags went off. There were three fifteen year olds in the one car with a kitten. None of them had a license. All their cars had to be towed. All four of them had to go to the emergency room. The people drive, I mean, I know the uh speed limits 25. Nobody adheres to it. So something needs to be done, especially at that intersection, because it is a thoroughfare coming over from Sheridan. Sheridan goes straight over to the country club and Amherst, you know, is a major thoroughfare. So it's getting bad down there. They need to have something. Speed bumps, I don't care. A light would be wonderful. You have one down on Farragut in Amherst. Why can't there be one on Sheridan and Amherst? Something needs to slow these people down. I have a really hefty fence around my property. It's a two-inch steel pipe that's been welded all the way around my property, and that's the only thing that saved my house because that girl was headed straight for this side of my house. She would have gone right through it. So something's gotta be done. I've got pictures of it showing her literally up against my fence. Okay, it's just getting bad over there. Something needs to be done. So I'm asking the commission to please put in a light at that intersection. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Schultz. Is there any other public comment on any item on tonight's agenda? Mr. Chief Executive, members of the council. Evan Barrett, 807 West Silver Street, uh in Butte. The uh let me let me first uh thank you for your service. I know you guys got a lot of stuff in front of you all the time, and I I I admire watching you plow through it all. And I'm not here every meeting, but it's sure it's good to see things going, and especially now when people are trying to figure out well, what should be the shape of our government?

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