Council holds resolution on unsold tax-deeded parcel in remediation area pending agenda correction

The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners voted to hold a resolution that would classify certain unsold tax-deeded parcels as property to be retained by the city and county because of environmental remediation concerns.

Lori Baker Patrick, who spoke for staff and the land sales committee, said the parcel at issue is a "little tiny parcel behind Tech" that lies inside a remediation area and is surrounded largely by property owned by ARCO. She said the committee recommended that Butte-Silver Bow keep the parcel until additional remediation is completed and then return it to tax sale if appropriate.

Council members and staff noted a paperwork error in the meeting packet: the resolution had been introduced at the prior regular council meeting and routed to judiciary for second reading, but the copy was not attached to the materials provided for this session. Staff confirmed the item should appear for second reading once the packet is corrected.

An unidentified member moved to hold communication number 202-5486; Trudy Healy seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote. The council indicated the resolution will be placed on a corrected agenda for final reading and possible action at a later date.

Members asked staff to confirm the parcel’s location and ownership pattern; discussion identified the site as west of the Orphanboy Mine near Montana Tech. No change of ownership or sale was finalized at the meeting; the action was procedural (a hold) to allow the record and packet to be corrected and for remediation to proceed before future disposition.

The council then moved on to other business and adjourned.