Silver Bow County commissioners delay action to study illegal dumping around Alley Rally and landfill

SILVER BOW COUNTY, Mont. — Silver Bow County commissioners on June 25 discussed repeated illegal dumping near the Alley Rally site south of the MAC Center and at nearby stretches of Iron Street, and voted to hold proposed ordinance changes for two weeks while staff collects additional data.

The discussion began after Commissioner Healy raised complaints from constituents about loads of household trash left on Iron Street after Alley Rally closes, saying people "drive along Iron Street and dump their garbage on Iron Street," including "tires, you know, mattresses." The remarks prompted multiple commissioners and county staff to outline enforcement and outreach options.

The issue matters to residents and county operations because staff said uncovered or unpaid loads are contributing to repeat roadside dumping and the countywants a reliable enforcement path if it changes the landfill ordinance. Director Neri reported that enforcement of the landfilluncovered-load fee has occurred "38 times since 2020," and that the landfill is open seven days a week for 10 hours a day. Neri also said the county had previously distributed about 200 tarps to residents.

During the meeting, Sheriff Lester offered limited operational options. "We can tell our officers to patrol that area," he said, but added officers cannot investigate dumping unless they observe it or have identifying evidence. Lester supported using county communications to remind residents of disposal options and rules: "if the alley rally is closed ... you need either dump at the alley rally or you need to dump at the landfill."

Commissioners debated enforcement and prevention strategies. Commissioner Callahan suggested allowing people to dump rather than turning them away, and using photographic evidence to issue tickets: "Let them dump in the dump so then they don't go dump somewhere else," he said, adding that an automatic photo-based ticketing system could reduce staff burden. Director Neri suggested examining a card or tag system tied to drivers' licenses to verify local taxpayers and enforce fees, noting that Billings will start a related system July 1 as an example.

Other ideas discussed included signage, rotating Alley Rally locations to spread effects among districts, a short-term billboard campaign, distributing tarps, and testing a camera that would capture uncovered loads for automated enforcement. Concerns noted by staff included the cost of signs, the staffing time required to process camera evidence, and difficulty proving a truckorigin when people travel from outside the county to dump.

After discussion, Commissioner O'Leary moved to hold communication number 2025-297 (also referenced in the record as 202-5297) so staff can return with more data; the motion passed 6-0 and the item was held in abeyance for two weeks. Commissioners asked staff to gather enforcement statistics, examples from other jurisdictions, and cost estimates for cameras or a card/tag system before reintroducing ordinance language.

The meeting record shows no immediate ordinance change; commissioners instead directed further study and outreach. The county will revisit the communication and any proposed ordinance revisions after staff reports back with the requested data.