[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6267120,"mediaKeyId","3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee","parentId",3077320,"title","Study Commission approves April 14 minutes, schedules EOC relocation for April 28 tech work","audioSeconds",179,"startMs",441000,"endMs",620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee&start=441&end=620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee/thumbnail_441000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267120/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Study-Commission-approves-April-14-minutes-schedules-EOC-relocation-for-April-28-tech-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267120-06ec23f3ab03eb9685c2c54b65330122/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116200&Signature=IO-UziHaXwji0nkyud6d29klGajNGg3pW6E2WAgEeIG2gYfgCo4d-j9emjV~fUReSQQNhwzms9b9RAW0AO9qdr7UTXyX~RdWR0ewOsPsVPXkMNg0sJy7zMRmWqakAF94jB5EVPDlaB40hMsURbqZ180wqIY1jHrvu9NJUrcHY96u2VWGgFCuthz6tmYMHRq5AZhsH3-nsNG2OS-kT3VRA-5ahAPFTOP5WwM4M0ThtQNX2n2xAB7TLiGWHAS4s2idyRRUSndg3o45pv7cIRdMB8SAtIEdeioK9HclSSItv7FPUGeMhy9R0U~0JAF~W2JykCC3J055FXnaDmeFPN2l2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Butte-Silver Bow, MT","date","2025-04-22T08:48:11.63Z","article","The Butte-Silver Bow Study Commission approved minutes from its April 14 meeting and discussed a scheduled technology refresh that will temporarily take the regular meeting room offline the week of April 28.

Jason Parrish of the county IT department told the commission staff will perform a technology refresh and streaming-software and hardware replacement the week of April 28 and that the Emergency Operations Center on Wynne Avenue is available as a temporary meeting and broadcast location.

The commission recorded a motion to approve the April 14 minutes (motion moved and seconded on the record at the April 21 meeting; vote recorded as in favor, no opposed votes stated). The commission later recessed and scheduled its next meeting location at the Emergency Operations Center for the period of the technology work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 21, 2025, Weekly Study Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Study Commission acknowledged a scheduled technology refresh for the meeting room the week of April 28 and approved minutes from April 14; the commission and staff arranged to use the Emergency Operations Center while AV work is completed.","taxTitle","Silver Bow County, Montana","taxId",29956,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267125,"Clerk and Recorder outlines election workload, text alerts and need to recruit and pay judges",2250,8940000,11190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee&start=8940&end=11190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee/thumbnail_8940000.jpg","/articles/6267125/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Clerk-and-Recorder-outlines-election-workload-text-alerts-and-need-to-recruit-and-pay-judges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267125-9bc9571629c352aaac7f3dd2c1bdc5bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116200&Signature=hm83hb-SqF~pl1K4YUheqIU8rhV4fHmsWdJr2gMFW0VXUaes-zge4Lk5DN8965CrI8cycyP11tetAooOMjh4CBbZR4~HyuPXuK7WhfgpRY97Du6oop0QZMGRIsYyR2anOQ3XwBkHIAab~U10IrQ7JrBzQ5V5QihpimhkZiWfSSvCcHLXoKsIXrLwSPdyWJesW~KAvl74uxRioClp2G-oln9U7o9telGu9IquS-31o0ycWN1LTNsUpDtj9v2KNSlxdMTNg0WXuDwbB9op5iPG-lTX7JVzJ6TFQy5xHwjuS0k4-OgcIBgL-mtYSmM-~TO8Z4RIWAxhWLRCHVPPXZG8Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cindy Sherman, Butte-Silver Bow’s elected Clerk and Recorder and election administrator, briefed the Study Commission on April 21 about the office’s record-keeping and election responsibilities, the county’s use of text-message notifications for voters, and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining election judges.

Sherman described the clerk-and-recorder role as the county’s records custodian for deeds, liens, vital records and meeting minutes and said the office also processes vendor payments and maintains the authorized signatory list for county claims. As election administrator she said she oversees voter registration, runs all municipal, special and federal elections administered by the county, maintains voting equipment, and recruits and trains election judges.

“We have 300,000 texts available to us, and we’ve only used like 5,000,” Sherman said when describing the Text My Gov service the office uses for targeted messages (for example, notifying voters of undeliverable or rejected ballots). She said the county has had good responses to text notices and has used the service for election-judge scheduling and training reminders.

Why it matters: As the county’s population and the number of special-district elections grow, the clerk’s office said it needs stable staff, clear procedures and reliable outreach tools to maintain accessible and secure elections.

Key details

- Office responsibilities: Sherman said the office preserves historic records, manages vouchers, maintains databases of authorized claim signers and collaborates regularly with other county departments.

- Election administration workload: Sherman noted there have been many local elections in recent years (water and sewer districts, volunteer fire districts, school elections) and that each election requires a schedule of filing deadlines, proofs and equipment testing.

- Judge recruitment and pay: The clerk said the majority of election judges are paid about $12 per hour; specialized roles such as tabulation judges and floor managers are paid more. Sherman said many jurisdictions struggle to recruit younger judges and that the office plans outreach at public events to encourage new volunteers.

- Salaries and staffing: Sherman reported her annual clerk-and-recorder salary as $90,260 plus a $2,000 election-administrator stipend. She listed staff pay ranges and said she is evaluating whether parts of the combined clerk/election responsibilities should be split into discrete positions as the county grows.

No formal action was taken. The commission thanked Sherman and discussed future coordination on public outreach and cybersecurity for election systems.","Elected Clerk and Recorder Cindy Sherman told the Study Commission that elections administration and voter registration are growing in complexity, that text-message outreach has been effective, and that recruiting election judges remains difficult with most judges paid about $12 per hour.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267130,"MSU expert briefed commission on optimal board size, charter powers and manager options",1261,3195000,4456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee&start=3195&end=4456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee/thumbnail_3195000.jpg","/articles/6267130/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/MSU-expert-briefed-commission-on-optimal-board-size-charter-powers-and-manager-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267130-1b29438ba2364a0b9f301937dcabc8ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116200&Signature=F27iJJ6e~q9V7PjuYMlRfSC1PGkVoKUxbyTiR09IC~hMrqaxFSLk0Lbx9Arot3xTflX7NSJIKl7cL1PA3NUIjpJqyLoBfWxqyVdzVBhSUvRfLFx6OhMoUPowDGse-t1r3MxxxvweS3iBU2fAOhCnPHU5tlWXWeRwZbLLLID2nPJpeuWwJZ~WFcztxJxYpnYPWEIh6fF3gboIG68B1H2GMJQ1tQWpOoW2WzhcclXIOlzgm03f1SN5WEgWsJplSbBGrBtv3FZa7Nr8kQse0aRv0L4iK9fHyYzaIPNhA89ELoFheF0JnWjnPvT4poXHLK0n3Q8Myy6ASIFFNYTISZ17Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dan Clark of the Montana State University Local Government Center told the Study Commission on April 21 that research and comparative charters show advantages to smaller commissions and explained the options for adding a professional manager or modifying the chief-executive role in the charter.

Clark said studies commonly find an “optimum” board size of five to seven members for deliberative effectiveness, though he advised the commission to consider local circumstances, including the county’s consolidated government and rural areas.

“Five to seven, they find that there’s less ability to hide,” Clark said. “Decisions can be more streamlined with 5 to 7. And if you get diverse opinions represented on that board, you can get, you know, good conversation.”

Why it matters: The Study Commission’s work includes reviewing representation, districting and executive structure. Clark said revisions to the charter or a shift to a manager form of government can be put to voters, but each approach has trade-offs in continuity, accountability and administrative capacity.

Key points Clark made

- Charter versus state code: Clark described a charter as “your local written constitution” that can grant self-governing powers, noting that municipalities with charters can customize governance where state law does not expressly prohibit it. He advised caution with embedding detailed statute citations into a charter so the charter does not become quickly outdated.

- Manager options: Clark outlined choices used elsewhere in Montana — an appointed professional manager with a ceremonial mayor or a manager with a presiding chair drawn from the commission. He described typical manager duties (administration, department hiring and budget development) and noted how a manager prepares the budget and works with the commission on priorities.

- Size and representation choices: Clark said smaller bodies often promote fuller engagement and faster decision-making, but also noted trade-offs: at-large elections in growing communities can concentrate representation in the urban core, so some communities adopt district or hybrid systems to ensure rural neighborhoods are included.

Commission concerns and legal points

Commission members raised a statutory threshold tied to taxable valuation (a $50,000,000 figure invoked in discussion) and asked whether that constrains the commission’s ability to change its size. Clark said the charter’s self-governing powers can give flexibility and that he had not found a compulsion in Title 7 that would prevent a locally adopted structure; he suggested the county attorney’s office for definitive legal guidance.

No formal vote was taken. Clark provided written materials and sample charter language to the commission and recommended the study commission consider a small slate of concrete options to present for public input.","A representative of the MSU Local Government Center told Butte-Silver Bow’s Study Commission that research favors smaller deliberative bodies (commissions of five to seven) and explained charter versus statutory options and how a city/county manager role might work.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267135,"Butte-Silver Bow emergency director outlines duties, warns of funding uncertainty and cyber risks",350,702000,1052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee&start=702&end=1052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3077320-97c5c81d3e4a2731174b0074af5257ee/thumbnail_702000.jpg","/articles/6267135/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Butte-Silver-Bow-emergency-director-outlines-duties-warns-of-funding-uncertainty-and-cyber-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267135-1a50f14e413cc5769b33e39adfe1c8be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771116200&Signature=LdK6v8gzr5P2cFk6PaR1wPxMej~JaLgE8vvRIZYkYi3qT9~X-pmiL-sF-gPzgTyMiJK5XY8wV~7ZKUmi0jOcftuhCz72Yd86zHl5iN1Md9-hiyAEFJYUxWUJ6xcSKCn7V3X8FymzOiVDLwNoWxMmsHL5IRIUkuJBpjXTVmwuBd5wNvu158cMEA5TVvCOipuM5FHQmptbTm-Pj5mQeEVTnCfyk0sk8yg9Fh7KLtZtzYpD2jM17ogv0kXvdqiqpMfwiZyij4UOYuYAi5~NEXKCfhMj0gkB~cblDpUj4FAvG8FemzJtC8QIfBiGkAKZpwhnx2Z2sLeoFlqdMW~vBpUIyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lisa Carey, director of Disaster and Emergency Services for Butte-Silver Bow, told the Study Commission on April 21 that her office manages planning, the Emergency Operations Center and public alerting systems and is increasingly concerned about unstable federal grants and cyber threats.

Carey, who said she is responsible for developing and implementing “a comprehensive emergency management program that aligns with the National Incident Management System,” described core duties including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery; maintaining the EOC and a mobile command vehicle; coordinating exercises; and operating public alert systems such as IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System).

“The program integrates the core principles of emergency management, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery through multi agency coordination to protect the lives, property, critical infrastructure and the environment,” Carey said. She added that the office must remain “24/7 operationally ready” to activate the EOC and to issue emergency notifications by text, phone and social media.

Why it matters: The department is the county’s coordination point for major incidents and for public alerts. Carey signaled that uncertainty about federal grant programs could reduce local capacity to maintain that role and to keep equipment and staffing current.

Key details and concerns

- Funding uncertainty: Carey said federal grant programs are being “paused and reformatted” and that some awards have been pulled back. She noted the county has historically supplemented preparedness work with federal and state grants, and said, “we have brought a lot of money in from these emergency preparedness grants over the last, you know, few years and over the last decade. Probably close to $3,000,000 just through our department over the last decade.”

- Staffing and retention: Carey described a very small department staff and turnover among related positions (for example, public-health emergency preparedness staff). She said staffing instability limits the department’s ability to lead continuity-of-operations training and other resilience work.

- Mutual aid and regional assistance: Carey described mutual-aid agreements and informal regional assistance, including state- or EMAC-level responses for major incidents. She said formal mutual-aid documentation and prearranged support help jurisdictions share facilities and personnel when needed.

- Mobile command vehicle and field communications: Carey described the mobile command vehicle as a Winnebago outfitted with base radios, computers, TV monitors and a deployable internet capability (she referenced an upgrade to Starlink-style satellite service). Carey said the vehicle can provide local radio communications and a limited internet hotspot if cell service is down, and that it has been used to support previous incidents.

- Exercises and after-action work: The DES office runs tabletop, functional and full-scale exercises and produces after-action reports to address gaps identified in drills.

- Cybersecurity: Carey said the county and DES have coordinated with IT on backups, network segmentation and cloud options to reduce ransomware and fraud risks. She described efforts to obtain grants and training to harden county systems and increase end-user protections, including employee phishing tests and outside trainings sent to IT staff.

Commission questions and follow-up directions

Commission members asked for more detail about mutual-aid arrangements, mobile-command capabilities and the mobile vehicle's age and equipment. Carey described recent mutual deployments (for example, to Cascade County) and said mutual aid is usually reciprocal, often with lodging and limited cost recovery handled by the requesting jurisdiction. On the mobile vehicle she said it is stocked with radios and computers and noted the vehicle’s ability to receive a satellite internet feed.

Carey also told commissioners she has requested CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training for the public and will pursue additional training opportunities if sufficient community interest emerges.

No formal action was taken. Carey answered commissioners’ questions and the commission recorded the briefing for its review.

Sources and attribution

All direct quotations and program descriptions in this article come from remarks by Lisa Carey, director of Disaster and Emergency Services for Butte-Silver Bow, at the April 21, 2025 Study Commission meeting.","Disaster and Emergency Services Director Lisa Carey described the department's responsibilities, mutual-aid arrangements, mobile command capabilities and growing cybersecurity and staffing concerns at the April 21 Study Commission meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Study Commission approves April 14 minutes, schedules EOC relocation for April 28 tech work

Clerk and Recorder outlines election workload, text alerts and need to recruit and pay judges

MSU expert briefed commission on optimal board size, charter powers and manager options

Butte-Silver Bow emergency director outlines duties, warns of funding uncertainty and cyber risks