[{"_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",5977038,"mediaKeyId","5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337","parentId",5833891,"title","Resident proposes three-tier neighborhood, district and greater community councils; commissioners ask feasibility questions","audioSeconds",468,"startMs",4484000,"endMs",4952000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337&start=4484&end=4952","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337/thumbnail_4484000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5977038/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Resident-proposes-three-tier-neighborhood-district-and-greater-community-councils-commissioners-ask-feasibility-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977038-f76cf8e88f122315c93020e077ac97c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197239&Signature=FqFwLYH8xB6gdy0QibS7cfUS7bsBtayHEcQEI8GCAbJmCtp3Sf7nl1EYOltq~9JpvnoSUU83B-B0hL3rY9uMdQrBOgricoCUVKz85wkRBCGO-csF5VrebkQSlG6KuvDFfGEU9GII2b8Y8WmHU9866HiCiO9PQFuRJsak6cj~QhizR~x8EQL1ugbni4WtP3i5LxrTpqTcw4ZfltxU~NeM6yfXEVBxGcJaRxcmV-uw7~PS2FWerpxNojdmB7IHvNOrkABT91bkuDQO~RpqlYoHKqi5OyIA2dNgtySzkEhLAynJeXwuLcAxf6cdymPKc6dWhgOyiP7t-eLz2Rn25~5Oqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Butte-Silver Bow, MT","date","2025-09-23T00:00:00Z","article","Butte-Silver Bow — A member of the public proposed a three-tier model of neighborhood community improvement councils, district assemblies and a Greater Butte‑Silver Bow Community Council that would nominate delegates and forward consensual neighborhood project recommendations to the council of commissioners.
At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, Ed Bandraub presented a written proposal and urged the commission to include language in the charter authorizing community councils and an annual district assembly that would select a delegate to a Greater Butte‑Silver Bow Community Council. “There shall be authorized a Greater Butte Silver Bow Community Council to advise the council of commissioners,” Bandraub read, urging that the body consist of one delegate from each commissioner district and that neighborhood councils be charged with bringing consensual neighborhood improvement project proposals forward.
Commissioners thanked Bandraub for the submission and said they would add his written material to the record and deliberate. Some members expressed practical concerns about feasibility and volunteer capacity: Commissioner Cindy Perdue Dolan said she supports neighborhood councils in principle but worried that creating three formal layers could add bureaucracy and make public engagement harder to sustain. The commission agreed to add a future agenda item specifically titled “discussion of neighborhood councils and community councils” so residents who want to talk about the idea can present in a forum designed for dialogue.
Public‑engagement context: Commissioners reported robust turnout at recent open‑house events and encouraged residents to complete the commission’s survey. Staff noted the survey’s preliminary results and promised to make compiled responses and the sticky‑note comment summaries available to commissioners.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bi-Weekly BSB Local Government Study Commission Meeting Sept. 22nd","oneSentenceSummary","A resident and longtime public commenter proposed a layered structure of neighborhood community improvement councils, district assemblies and a Greater Butte‑Silver Bow Community Council to increase public participation; commissioners asked for the idea to be put on the record and considered alongside other public input.","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},5977043,"Commissioners weigh charter fixes to clarify fire services after conflict between local ordinance and state law",1380,1215000,2595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337&start=1215&end=2595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337/thumbnail_1215000.jpg","/articles/5977043/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Commissioners-weigh-charter-fixes-to-clarify-fire-services-after-conflict-between-local-ordinance-and-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977043-56601a75f401eb58b0b9ef15518ac447/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197239&Signature=B9T-PwoyUOhTzuMzAo8wyYeNOJdQzn18bDXiEiTDd2Y62RdqZmYLquiKCMtemZutJWI-iSOxhJom5bD2zSOwZWYhVPQZeACINhPYcBvZKR5Qujt-r473ok-pAjrB0aRZ4hB0y8bh3byrc-9~8CtRBOwP6zLPNwxEW9Hj30W-JCvBkrCiPgnyaC2iEheN4ajFUUqoRcNTST62Fl2GH0d1h759FOIKhmSWtzpzkvsuFvbNgulAAHetl-7ZOmBp6Yzm2WQfVATi5L5zzSSor~b7RMrWlWuuTeqhFlinJpMj-hTnPUpHpsItR-Pj-tWFY7fUYIfcE21vaTRJVvt9FqF5ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Butte-Silver Bow — The Charter Study Commission examined a recurring legal issue over the governance of fire services after staff identified conflicts between a local ordinance that centralizes command and state law that preserves volunteer fire departments’ independence.
Matt, the staff presenter, told the commission that ordinance 2‑16040 (referred to in the meeting as “ordinance 2 dash 1 6 dash 0 4 0”) attempts to centralize command of fire services under a county director, but state statutes — cited verbally during the meeting — include provisions preserving volunteer departments unless the charter specifically provides otherwise. “2‑1604 attempts to centralize the command of all fire services,” Matt said. “However, 07/2010 explicitly stated that all volunteer fire departments and companies or districts, you know, that were existing at the time of consolidation were unaffected.”
Why it matters: The commission was told ambiguous or conflicting local language could invite a judicial ruling to determine whether county ordinance or state statute governs the legal authority over volunteer fire districts, a question that would affect budgets, governance and the status of volunteer boards.
Legal citations discussed in the meeting included references to charter sections (Article III), local ordinance “2‑16040,” and several verbal citations to Montana Code sections (verbatim in the meeting as, for example, \"section 7 dash 3 dash 7 0 1\" and references to \"7 dash 1 dash 1 1 1\"). Staff recommended that the cleanest resolution is to place precise language about a director of fire services and the status of volunteer, rural and contract fire departments into the charter itself so the charter — as a superior local document for structural government matters — expressly addresses any consolidation or authority questions.
Commissioner questions focused on whether moving duties into the charter would remove conflicts. Matt replied that placing specific director duties and the treatment of particular volunteer districts into the charter would likely resolve the municipal/ordinance conflict: “If it's in the charter, then it gets rid of the conflicts perceived or not,” he said. Commissioners pressed for precision: several asked that the charter explicitly identify which volunteer or rural districts would be affected, and that staff compile the underlying fire district boundary resolutions.
Data and next steps: GIS staff were already working to compile all historical resolutions and produce an accurate set of fire‑district boundary maps. Commissioners asked for those maps and the underlying resolutions before the commission makes final language recommendations. Matt and County Attorney Andrew Enruth said that, if the charter does not clearly lay out the director’s duties and the county intends to change volunteer department governance, the next legal step — if disagreement remains — could be district court review and possible appeal to the Montana Supreme Court.
","Staff and commissioners discussed inconsistencies between a local ordinance that centralizes fire services and Montana statutes protecting volunteer fire departments, and recommended putting clear director-of-fire-services authority into the charter to reduce legal conflict.",{"_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},5977048,"Study commission reviews options to shrink commission, add city/county manager; timeline, costs unclear",3264,437000,3701000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337&start=437&end=3701","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5833891-44ee1d5c8e480f48a67db5cc96a93337/thumbnail_437000.jpg","/articles/5977048/Silver-Bow-County/Montana/Study-commission-reviews-options-to-shrink-commission-add-citycounty-manager-timeline-costs-unclear","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977048-d6cb5f26e68b70210ba9be115cf0f419/orig.mp4?Expires=1775197239&Signature=JDLnB4lSpE22nwh4lahJD4PPvkRG4wmjHtzu33vVqoowQsgB3edizJq1Vg0EtuRxQj5gDOrKlthGdgE7-YE-a2bMrrDkvdXJck22Do4I5txRAqJ2PtbC4ZNw5VMvCupscnijan48ejGxWTxd9NumX1y4hZqX-EK5TLImwFBiK-31EjQT3mkpM~9TabCr8EyJAPuDtunDIlI8Ugop-ffRnqWrHV1VPkGIO6OrYENc~ZW6OjwrvVKVSsclOkqCoHA4zeYUf1KZ2wY~eQ-vPCWOpeaN8jNBsufPcB-RhgEbBAf15BGbJpS1Sa17TjG9WZbdOolGPMblamAczhdSvvXfWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Butte-Silver Bow — Members of the Butte-Silver Bow Charter Study Commission discussed whether to recommend shrinking the elected commission and adopting a commission–manager (city/county manager) form of government, but said voters would need clear ballot language and the county would face budget and implementation questions if they approve a change.
The commission heard a detailed memorandum from Matt (staff member) explaining that moving to a smaller, possibly full‑time commission and a city/county manager would require substantial edits to Article III of the county charter, and that charter language must be precise on responsibilities, staffing and transparency requirements. “If the commission decides to go to a smaller commission, fewer commissioners,” Matt said, “it will require significant change to Article 3 in our charter, particularly if we go to a manager, commission slash manager style, government.”
Why it matters: changing government form affects who hires and fires, how budgets are set and who holds executive authority. Commissioners and staff emphasized voters should know the practical effects — including likely new salaries, staff, and staggered election schedules — before approving a charter amendment.
Commissioners asked about timing, ballot wording and cost. County Attorney Andrew Enruth told the panel a change adopted by voters would not automatically be implemented overnight: “You would be realistically looking at at least 1 budget year … and most likely 1 to 2 years,” Enruth said, describing steps including setting a sunset date for the current structure, drafting implementing ordinances, and holding staggered elections for new seats.
Commissioners also pressed for clearer ballot language. Several members said a simple referendum question is typical — for example, whether voters prefer to retain the current chief-executive/council system or move to a city/county manager — but that the commission’s work must provide enough detail so voters understand what they will be approving. Commissioner Casey asked whether an odd number of commissioners would eliminate the need for a tie-breaking vote; Matt replied it could but cautioned absences can still produce ties, so the charter should provide a tiebreaker mechanism.
Budget and staffing questions rose repeatedly. Commissioners noted a smaller full‑time commission could increase personnel and salary costs: “You have to look and make sure their budget’s correct. Do they need to raise more mills in order to cover, hypothetically speaking, 6 county commissioners full time salaries … plus what do they get in their budget? Do they have staff?” Matt said. He and Enruth recommended the commission present basic implementation details to the public so voters understand tradeoffs.
Process and public outreach: Commissioners discussed ballot timing for a November 2026 election cycle and whether the charter text must be final before the election. Matt said his team and Deputy County Attorney Sean Peterson are preparing follow-up memoranda that will recommend whether the charter language must be provided to voters up front; his “gut feeling” is voters should know the language they will be approving. Commissioners noted Montana State University Public Service/School of Government materials may be available as drafting templates or explanatory comparisons.
What’s next: The commission scheduled a public hearing and additional outreach; staff will prepare a more detailed memo about ballot question wording, estimated timing for implementation, and the budgetary uncertainties accompanying a shift to a manager form of government.
","The Butte-Silver Bow Charter Study Commission discussed options to reduce the size of the commission and move to a city/county manager form of government, with members and staff warning the change would require charter edits, voter approval and likely a one- to two-year implementation period dependent on budgeting and election timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident proposes three-tier neighborhood, district and greater community councils; commissioners ask feasibility questions

Commissioners weigh charter fixes to clarify fire services after conflict between local ordinance and state law

Study commission reviews options to shrink commission, add city/county manager; timeline, costs unclear