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Civic Center manager warns of succession and facility limits; asks for staffing and HVAC upgrades
Summary
Butte Civic Center manager Bill Melvin told the Study Commission the venue faces staffing, aging infrastructure and succession challenges that limit what the facility can host and grow, and urged planning to hire an assistant manager and address a 73‑year‑old HVAC system.
Butte — The Butte Civic Center’s long‑time manager told the Butte‑Silver Bow Study Commission that staffing shortages, an aging facility and a planned retirement pose near‑term operational risks and limit the types of events the arena can host.
Bill Melvin, who described responsibilities taken largely from his job description, told commissioners on May 19 that the center handles bookings, prepares contracts, collects rental fees and "prepares the annual budget for civic center operations." He said volunteers are essential but that the facility needs paid continuity: "I will be totally retired by mid March. The hope is to hire an assistant manager by December 25, 2025, allowing time to train that person and follow with a smooth transition," Melvin said.
Why it matters: The civic center is a community hub for sports, arts and conventions. Melvin said limitations on staff and outdated building systems affect the center’s ability to recruit larger concerts and modern productions.
Melvin described critical problems as recruiting qualified staff, budget constraints, storage and keeping up with technology. He urged the commission to consider the manager title be changed to "director" to recognize the breadth of responsibilities. "I asked for that a long time ago," he said.
Facility specifics Melvin provided: - Age and condition: the building has a 73‑year‑old air‑handling system; he called HVAC replacement "really, really expensive." He contrasted that with the backup generator installed in February 2008. - Event limits: wooden roof trusses and rigging limits have caused some large shows to decline because the engineering limits how much weight can be suspended. - Upcoming capital items: new scorer’s table, new main basketball floor, sound system upgrades and completion of a parking lot project.
Succession and staffing: Melvin said he and assistant manager Crystal Carlson are the core financial custodians: "We're the only ones that have the combination to the safe. If one of us two isn't there, the events don't go on." He said Crystal currently makes $58,500 and that he makes $92,107.
Costs and program needs: Melvin provided a wish list including floor machines and an HVAC overhaul; he said much of the Civic Center’s work operates on thin margins and relies on volunteers for major events.
What the commission did: Commissioners asked follow‑up questions on staffing, the feasibility of a new facility and the potential role for a paid director. Melvin suggested that a larger campus development (convention hotel + attached convention center) would be a long‑term vision, but said such a project would be expensive and would need a feasibility study.
Ending: The commission will include the Civic Center’s staffing and capital priorities in its ongoing review of organizational structure and facility planning.
