[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6204676,"mediaKeyId","3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326","parentId",3778440,"title","Dozens of residents urge Butte‑Silver Bow to adopt or fly pride flag; council took no vote","audioSeconds",553,"startMs",4646000,"endMs",5199000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326&start=4646&end=5199","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326/thumbnail_4646000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204676/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Dozens-of-residents-urge-ButteSilver-Bow-to-adopt-or-fly-pride-flag-council-took-no-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204676-5d60ae885e6220df7f403bdbeea815a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613571&Signature=kSh2cEkG6YcdvVcdB~w-9ZqhTB4tHD2Klv6bLZWUPDDHwy1dzKXx2vGqFDHiK1MyPylLheTqrOyD6LVGNHfGUShGXYhtJbbLAbenQcj0qohq-d-9Tpp08G0cra2oRraAg9bH9JvAWPy3G2LF7k7B0qpy-qxWCIep8QqAj7vTHnVnSF1BJ0f5fA6y10DKVwIwTPUL5W3ANmfbLBTjcE6XnP1KidSWiu4pRngain3iOE8lC8rMeb6oetXEDBnSCxufb~WockQHAE2Z29PnSj1NzdnIlHh6nMUanbcrIrw2DoClhjEYsqFbHChLLEjZrC0aKGEHDYwPxZf4j~hdiYazBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Butte-Silver Bow, MT","date","2025-06-12T01:26:51Z","article","Dozens of residents used the public‑comment period at the June 11 Council of Commissioners meeting to urge Butte‑Silver Bow to adopt the pride flag or to fly a municipal pride flag during June.

Speakers representing community groups and residents framed the request as a matter of inclusion and public visibility. Heidi Doxey, president‑elect of the Butte Pride Foundation, told the council: \"The pride flag is a symbol of inclusion, support, and love.\" Doxey asked the county to adopt the historic pride flag and its variations as official flags to fly over Butte‑Silver Bow.

Other speakers echoed that appeal. Henry Seton of the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana said the ACLU supports the action and that, in his view, the city would be legally protected if it chose to raise the flag: \"It’s our opinion as an organization that the city of Butte is well within its right legally to raise this flag and to show LGBT residents that they're welcome here.\" Several speakers described personal or family connections to the LGBTQ+ community; Zoe Axholm, a U.S. Army veteran and registered nurse, quoted Maya Angelou to underline the point: \"The truth is no one of us can be free until everyone is free.\"

Why it matters: Adopting or flying the pride flag is a symbolic action that residents say signals municipal support for inclusion and safety for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. Several speakers referenced similar actions in other Montana cities and urged Butte to follow suit.

Speakers who addressed the council included representatives and residents from a range of organizations: Heidi Doxey (Butte Pride Foundation, president‑elect), Paisley Wanamaker (Walkerville resident), Haley Nielsen (resident and District 10 constituent), Connie Thompson (resident and Montana Tech alum), Jenny Ellis (District 9 resident), Han Pate (Catalyst Montana community organizer), Julie Crowley (resident), Henry Seton (ACLU of Montana), and Zoe Axholm (registered nurse and veteran). The speakers requested adoption or designated flying of the flag, but no formal motion or vote was scheduled during the meeting.

Ending: Council members did not act on the requests during the meeting; speakers said they would continue outreach to the council. The public comment record will remain part of the meeting minutes for commissioners to consider at a future agenda item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 11, 2025, Committee of the Whole Agenda","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment, multiple residents and advocacy groups asked the Council of Commissioners to adopt or fly a pride flag for the City‑County. Speakers included representatives from the Butte Pride Foundation, Catalyst Montana and the ACLU of Montana; no formal council action was taken at the June 11 meeting.","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},6204681,"Community development presents Butte Wayfinding Plan; officials weigh funding and maintenance",2218,303000,2521000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326&start=303&end=2521","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326/thumbnail_303000.jpg","/articles/6204681/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Community-development-presents-Butte-Wayfinding-Plan-officials-weigh-funding-and-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204681-601f12be3a50e3d1b49d7b643b4fc369/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613571&Signature=Px2NGCPSJ0y6cqqymBPP4-YlHXIpNeBehf5Vv86G29gKBz9K880HmStmsPDRWfcnn3oT1xmPZ-~aC0zDHXFAVbTDjU1sOBe4xSfjpRsm4RibAiqaiPRPj1TcqEUbCf6TE9f6X4z65r~PX1t9u7r0Zu1T2yDzuQx8e-nsYYPYVMX4-g9wEgrrtwBRD8ltNipclPmfEd91lNheY3pzMe7GdldyxGflDGTf0GlHJqeG4MfbZ32vgWKWEpHqqjHEp~zrKvUmhQw7ucWcVPqcZT5XLkJ~JrE0aL-mcvxx82yvdzvgYTFIcoR3wgMZdcaZTaYVUM59I47gJNQtQDOhujYItQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Karen Burns, Butte‑Silver Bow community development director, presented the Butte Wayfinding Plan to the Council of Commissioners on June 11, describing a comprehensive, branded signage system designed to guide drivers and pedestrians to uptown destinations.

The plan, adopted as a priority from the 2022 Uptown Master Plan, recommends design standards, sign types (vehicular and pedestrian), placement specs and a catalog of recommended sign locations. Burns said the plan uses the Butte TBID branding, includes more than \"well over probably 250 different signs that would be placed within our community,\" and that the project will be phased because the full implementation cost is “extensive.”

Why it matters: Consistent wayfinding signage aims to channel visitors off the interstate into uptown businesses and trails, support tourism and encourage walking and biking; the plan also identifies priority routes for initial implementation and construction specifications so signs have a uniform look.

Funding and maintenance questions came from several commissioners. Commissioner Thatcher asked whether the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) could fund implementation; Burns said she expects to request implementation dollars from TBID after securing additional planning funds. Commissioner Callahan asked whether signs would be attached to existing utility poles; Burns replied, “These will be mounted on their own poles. They will not be placed on any other pole that's belongs to anyone else.”

When asked about ongoing maintenance and repairs, Burns said the plan specifies sturdier construction than typical street signs and that placement is chosen to reduce damage risk; she added that the county’s sign shop might be able to fabricate replacement pieces but that initial production may require specialized vendors. She said the plan was funded in part by a Montana Main Street planning grant, the URA and the Tourism Business Improvement District, and that the county has an outstanding grant application to the U.S. Department of Commerce for implementation funds.

The council then moved to place the wayfinding communication on file; the clerk recorded a unanimous voice vote of 11–0 in favor.

Ending: Burns said she will post the full wayfinding plan on the Butte‑Silver Bow website and prepare RFPs for phased fabrication, mounting and installation as funding becomes available.","The Butte Wayfinding Plan, part of the 2022 Uptown Master Plan, proposes a system of pedestrian and vehicular signs across Butte‑Silver Bow; director Karen Burns outlined funding partners, an implementation phasing approach and next steps for engineering and fabrication bids.",{"_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},6204685,"Council keeps June 18 bid opening for economic development mill-levy grants after short-notice debate",3437,1338000,4775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326&start=1338&end=4775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778440-da32274a90f34223a3c4e72ded396326/thumbnail_1338000.jpg","/articles/6204685/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Council-keeps-June-18-bid-opening-for-economic-development-mill-levy-grants-after-short-notice-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204685-64fcae9da278e326a9a6841992b5bc1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613571&Signature=eqd8TnmVPyI2wy0YyEewAFCV-aksqtSKhEtmewfa0PXHca0xN9eqaCJHWTcCNDF28y76bSHVua~KawfTm~qLHMQVCadSEftMRv0~F-b1vkaS-LydwP9EdNZCXgsodYCuID4AEuyDybIOFOyqdco5IiZ94I8vak3RnHEcWCApOBxzg0A~eGqSvJSIQh2ojuvcUmG5hmPRoDOxq64T4RBLlCPeZfmjJI~Ecih28HK8cmVNYXUV2jHHnz16UTUEGDLjzDvvy3YKfJ5U~KPXfRq3m5aOHzrXSOdn2F8UVTgRzkKFbxU-ME8bJ9mPsYgZ0bIBmbb~ujfIzgAmNWnZArRHow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Butte-Silver Bow commissioners voted 9–2 on June 11 to keep the original June 18 date for opening proposals for the fiscal‑year 2024 economic development mill‑levy grants after hearing updates from several prior recipients and a sustained debate about whether applicants had enough time to prepare.

The decision came after Commissioner Bill Anderson (District 10) apologized to presenters for what he called a rushed schedule and asked Community Development Director Karen Burns to give an update on the program and the RFP process. “There is a little bit of a greater amount of money available for this year's fund. There's about $100,000 just a little over $100,000 to be allocated in 2025 to the new applicants,” Burns told commissioners.

Why it matters: The mill‑levy grants fund local festivals, nonprofit events and small capital projects; choosing to keep the June 18 opening preserves the timeline for the county to receive and open proposals within the current publication schedule and to refer them to the Economic Development Committee for review.

Commissioners and applicants spoke at length. Representatives of last year’s award recipients briefed the council on how they used the funds: Jeanette Cough of the World Museum of Mining said the money helped move and prepare the Durant railcar and that staff now expect to move the Durant in mid‑July; Jocelyn Dodge of the Motherlode Butte Center for Performing Arts said grant money helped replace old wooden stage risers with portable units; Bridal McDonough said allocation helped cover lodging for performers at the Montana Gaelic Festival after a rainy year; and George Everett of Main Street Uptown Butte said the Montana Folk Festival used a $12,000 grant for on‑site security, supplemented by sponsor dollars.

Several commissioners asked whether extending the RFP deadline would be feasible. Burns said the RFP had been published twice in the Montana Standard and posted to the Butte‑Silver Bow website and that published deadlines typically close at 7:30 p.m. at the clerk and recorder’s office. “This has been published twice in the Montana standard, and it has been published to the Butte SilverBow website,” Burns said.

Commissioner Eoin O'Leary moved to amend the communication and extend the opening to June 25; Commissioner Thatcher offered a substitute motion to hold the communication in abeyance and keep the June 18 opening. After a call for the question passed, the substitute prevailed: votes recorded were 9 yes, 2 no. The council clerk recorded the outcome as “9 yay, 2 nay.”

The council directed that proposals opened on June 18 be forwarded to the Economic Development Committee for detailed review. Commissioner Anderson said he will call a special meeting of that committee to review proposals and notify applicants and committee members of the date and scoring process.

A number of commissioners urged broader public notice to reach potential applicants ahead of the existing deadline. Burns said she could post an amended notice on the Butte‑Silver Bow website if the council elected to extend the deadline, but that an additional Montana Standard advertisement would not run in time before the June 18 meeting.

Ending: With the motion resolved, the county will open proposals on June 18, refer submissions to the Economic Development Committee for scoring, and commissioners said they would schedule a follow‑up special meeting to consider award recommendations and whether any funds need to be carried into the next fiscal year.","After presentations from last year’s grant recipients, the Butte‑Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted 9–2 to keep a June 18 opening date for proposals for the fiscal‑year 2024 economic development mill‑levy grants, rejecting an amendment to extend the deadline by one week.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dozens of residents urge Butte‑Silver Bow to adopt or fly pride flag; council took no vote

Community development presents Butte Wayfinding Plan; officials weigh funding and maintenance

Council keeps June 18 bid opening for economic development mill-levy grants after short-notice debate