[{"_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",6655008,"mediaKeyId","5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6","parentId",5423052,"title","Public commenters press Helena officials for transparency on arrest, urge no cooperation with ICE and protest monument changes","audioSeconds",442,"startMs",2118000,"endMs",2560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6&start=2118&end=2560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6/thumbnail_2118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6655008/Helena-City/Lewis-and-Clark-County/Montana/Public-commenters-press-Helena-officials-for-transparency-on-arrest-urge-no-cooperation-with-ICE-and-protest-monument-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655008-f0465ff5c66bce790a8cf79fdda818ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021499&Signature=h9vCbwTJkCOYaYp4MEW05VAezTez3LZjkp6YfkAlapE8YPJHWiTXnWWQjEcKBoJDWtctulIY8J6eIUnhbBdMMAXXvU0CbJEFDDoK1vRs76gjabJOg3KLT~~bqHSMHAJedjcn3Z5vfZQgroXH8YU-seknyCdEbBY215f~VolsXlNcLnRxPhTKKVzI6Kn49avhuEdaZxBLG-rW1M3WUsPux6dQ1UL5DRB1U-E5nneDYLKkmsNOX7c09Tqw6e~9AvRmU4v2jJzAMxHb1FqQjg5hEys0ZUtJKMWCia-61fz50dN6DrqSTv00s45HCemwOnOxHEdGyyQrZgyKHQeBr-Rkmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Helena, MT","date","2025-07-17T12:47:21.117Z","article","During public comment at the July 16 Helena City Commission administrative meeting, several speakers raised civil-rights and law-enforcement concerns and asked the commission to review local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Jessica Saxon, a self-described civil-rights advocate and litigator from Washington, D.C., framed her remarks around the U.S. Constitution, citing the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments and asserting that Montana law permitting charges by information rather than indictment is unconstitutional. Saxon said she was providing public notice in accordance with federal rules and noted litigation is underway on related issues.

Tammy Doughty, who described herself as a civil-rights litigator working with Saxon, said the group has been traveling nationally to provide notices and indicated they intend to bring constitutional challenges on behalf of people they say are incarcerated unlawfully. Doughty referenced the U.S. Supreme Court decision Hurtado v. California (1884) during her remarks.

Resident Shani Henry spoke about the arrest of Christopher Martinez and said video of the apprehension raised concerns that federal officers she interpreted as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cooperated with Helena Police Department officers. Henry said the arrest had “destroyed” a family and urged the city to refuse to cooperate with ICE, to provide full transparency about the incident and to review officer conduct and training.

Kevin Hammond urged the commission to take a public stand after he said members of the LGBTQI community had been erased from the Stonewall Monument and urged the city to oppose erasure and to stand with marginalized groups.

No city official responded with new information during the public comment period recorded in the administrative meeting transcript. City staff later said there was no public comment online at one point, and the meeting moved on to other business. The speakers requested city review, transparency and, for some, a refusal to cooperate with ICE.

Ending: The concerns raised during public comment prompted requests for transparency and policy review; the commission did not take formal action on these items during the administrative meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Administrative Meeting - July 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment at the July 16 Helena City Commission administrative meeting, several speakers raised civil-rights and law-enforcement concerns and asked the commission to review local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.","taxTitle","Helena City, Lewis and Clark County, Montana","taxId",52732,"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},6655015,"City HR director outlines minor personnel-policy revisions; full commission approval planned",209,717000,926000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6&start=717&end=926","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6/thumbnail_717000.jpg","/articles/6655015/Helena-City/Lewis-and-Clark-County/Montana/City-HR-director-outlines-minor-personnel-policy-revisions-full-commission-approval-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655015-a95d72903b633705ee9697aec3eda986/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021499&Signature=FYcwNiKmWuzQKsWxs39u6v8rrX~jgEUX39we6zpljanvyLVBm3jqIquIOl68l6j559w~I~FzSpFfUH0XcYcuQt6QEK20qoNv~EzCGY3zwBq9af4sl5P7izCbDGuapml7edkgp32Viw9bicUkb6HcJlfD~ZCuoCs2r3Sa3Mys0ajzVK5tx84igzpjwBSdVatthQ~o3mTQydJqkXdEIqEiXe9HUSAx38E1jVKQk4HJ9f9WXLn7xPlXxYbll9G6vWxTkHJ4gyDVMl166V9CHs~97pOn-rF4XkdzUmqCVQ6nEnfe1BJ2juHBdZbTnl6W-Amctqeai-bvb0Iz9rJKbNLYmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Renee McMahon, the city’s HR director, briefed the Helena City Commission on July 16 about four updates to personnel policies that staff describe as largely procedural adjustments tied to a new payroll and timekeeping system.

McMahon said three of the updates involve sick leave, overtime/comp time and time reporting. She told the commission that a change clarifies that comp-time payout also applies after reclassification and that payroll correction adjustments must be submitted by 1 p.m. on the Monday of payroll week to allow processing. On sick leave, McMahon said the 160 hours of maternity leave provided by the city is now explicitly prorated for part-time employees.

She also noted more substantive cleanup to remove outdated practices, including eliminating an outdated process that allowed employees to receive advance checks for travel expenses, and updating travel reimbursement and per-diem rates to current levels. McMahon said the changes reflect current practice since the city implemented Tyler Technologies payroll and time-and-attendance systems.

McMahon asked permission to bring the updated policies forward for ultimate approval at a full commission meeting; staff said they would place the items on the upcoming meeting agenda for adoption.

Ending: The commission did not vote on the policy changes at the administrative meeting; HR staff said they will present the revised policies for commission approval at a future full meeting.","Helena’s HR director presented four mostly technical changes to city personnel policies — sick leave, overtime/comp time, time reporting and travel reimbursements — and said staff will bring the updated policies to the full commission for adoption.",{"_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},6655019,"Helena staff report successful bond sale process ahead of vote to authorize $7 million GO bonds for fire station",969,912000,1881000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6&start=912&end=1881","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6/thumbnail_912000.jpg","/articles/6655019/Helena-City/Lewis-and-Clark-County/Montana/Helena-staff-report-successful-bond-sale-process-ahead-of-vote-to-authorize-7-million-GO-bonds-for-fire-station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655019-c0edcc086daad3dda1eec8888f8e090b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021499&Signature=oCphCVZsnmSX9eV86HwLH1J9b~sCzixO6eq--P6iUGQdOQTd-qN-Npi34s3luf~nOVv0VY-d6khdymM8HPkTzSLtbjP~KlA3Tq9OBSsYJeHXw~ZBZMqSXMyGW2XHLQmgpZIrqQsJLruShCbdBcwSomdrN3Fo-gqL0tS9DfLkpGB23d~kUCcJTHiGxb8UMixgbE2nbuqFi0ocGIqp~KQ~SElDn3Roccnlm3IliITzW1wLrzUOt0nor-fQrhsGGOv10o~yKkqB9zS1wurVRHU47WSTiNnHZnv2aViSGhUifl7O~Dmhq2lDgLfi7Gac7Kv4p7E39rKOtGyHGzQ9iyu22A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff told the Helena City Commission on July 16 that the city’s process to issue general-obligation (GO) bonds for a new fire station and training center has produced strong investor interest and a favorable credit rating, and that a formal resolution to authorize the sale will be brought to the commission for adoption at the next meeting.

Finance director Dan (title given in meeting) summarized the rating and bidding process, saying the city received a positive rating from S&P Global and strong market interest when bonds were offered. Dan said, “we ended up with a premium on the bonds of $372,147,” and that the low competitive bid came from Piper Sandler. He reported the awarded interest rate was 3.787% and that 13 bidders submitted proposals.

The bonds would finance land acquisition and construction of a new fire station and a training center. City Manager Burton, Community Development Director Christopher Brink and Fire Chief John Campbell participated in the rating presentation to S&P Global, according to staff. City Controller Eliza Salonga and the city’s financial advisor, Stephen Scharf of Baker Tilly, also took part in preparing the information for the rating agency and bidders.

Dan said about $145,000 of the premium will cover bond insurance costs and that approximately $227,000 of the premium could be used for project costs, providing added contingency for the project. He told the commission that the official statement for bidders was completed after receiving the rating and that staff planned to present a resolution on Monday to authorize the sale.

Mayor Collins and several commissioners praised staff for the work assembling the financial, economic and capital planning documentation that informed the rating call. Commissioner remarks noted recent city financial-policy work and long-term capital planning as background for the favorable market reception.

No formal commission action on the bond sale was taken at the July 16 administrative meeting; staff said a resolution to authorize execution and sale would be placed on the upcoming meeting agenda for adoption.

Ending: The commission will consider the resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of the bonds at its next meeting. Staff materials presented at the July 16 meeting included the rating call summary, the city’s capital plan and the bid results summary provided by the financial advisor.","City staff reported a competitive bond sale and a strong credit rating in advance of a resolution scheduled Monday to authorize the issuance and sale of up to $7,000,000 in general-obligation bonds to buy land and build a fire station and training center.",{"_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},6655003,"Helena Citizens Council shares results of ‘love notes’ outreach at art block; suggests wider public sharing",604,513000,1117000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6&start=513&end=1117","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5423052-0fe9314a7e8861244187f04962b6bee6/thumbnail_513000.jpg","/articles/6655003/Helena-City/Lewis-and-Clark-County/Montana/Helena-Citizens-Council-shares-results-of-love-notes-outreach-at-art-block-suggests-wider-public-sharing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6655003-e646cd5c8a1b58aa620b71015e48ca40/orig.mp4?Expires=1776021499&Signature=BBMk~Uqjm-syA7iqJp8IX9g1I0X-r291Uks1XADQ4Yrf1amqCdEn8~EgRLZ7bImkfw39N7zEyZUvti6z85kdhOgaUfmcmZz5B1sOePDXdXcKHGfOWWaksrQi9~nCo3PglxRS1Z4r1CDaRgwtj2dPEby-TE~H6sHg2IBkVXGHwsVh-Pu~Sh28FzzbX8IO815OIx~Pj0tu9EnLPUVHJBUxOEeAMacIHn~CAGA7shG9dUCGaNPGIylT6F2LNbxFsRaqdpPhDfOeYsB8vaGM9f3CvvVjwl9QRdz6mhhL2YaS3g12vrw4CcavScuvcf1LHBYnFgB5Ky9VGlMUcprHccOHig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Helena Citizens Council (HCC) reported to the Helena City Commission on July 16 about an outreach activity at a recent art block where residents were invited to write “love notes” about what they like or want improved in Helena.

Ted Hector, identified at the meeting as the chair of the Health Assistants Council and speaking as an HCC representative, described the activity as “a really, really fun project” and said the HCC collected feedback the group summarized in a letter sent to commissioners. Hector recommended continuing the activity and noted the project was inspired by the book The Love of Cities by Peter Kageyama.

A representative identified as Anne Hossareth was also mentioned in the meeting as having helped compile the results and move the project forward. Commissioners asked whether the report would be made publicly available; Hector and other HCC representatives said they would like to share the results broadly and continue developing a plan to do so.

Organizers said participants were asked to write both what they love about Helena and constructive “buts” describing improvements they wanted to see; staff said the feedback included both praise and constructive suggestions.

Ending: HCC representatives said they will continue the initiative and requested guidance on how to share the compiled feedback publicly; no formal city action was recorded at the administrative meeting.","Representatives of the Helena Citizens Council reported results from an outreach booth at a recent art block event where residents posted \"love notes\" about the city; organizers recommended making the compiled report public and continuing the project.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press Helena officials for transparency on arrest, urge no cooperation with ICE and protest monument changes

City HR director outlines minor personnel-policy revisions; full commission approval planned

Helena staff report successful bond sale process ahead of vote to authorize $7 million GO bonds for fire station

Helena Citizens Council shares results of ‘love notes’ outreach at art block; suggests wider public sharing