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Commissioners approve solar permit extension, planning board appointment, vendor for county master study and a May balloon rally
Summary
At the March 12 meeting the board approved a one‑year extension for the Battle Butte Solar conditional use permits, appointed Carl Anderson to the planning board, accepted DOWL as the recommended vendor for the county master study (state-funded), approved polling-place resolution and granted a special‑use permit for a May balloon rally.
The Stillwater County Board of Commissioners cleared a series of planning, vendor and event items on March 12, 2026.
Planning: The board approved a one‑year extension for the Battle Butte Solar 1 and 2 conditional use permits. Contract planner Forrest Mandeville said the original permit application was submitted Sept. 26, 2024; Puget Sound representatives (Brian Carrico, Sara Leverette and Kyle Sullivan) said they expect construction in late summer 2026 and operations by 2028. The extension keeps the original conditions in place and allows the applicant until March 26, 2027 to meet those conditions. Commissioner Webb moved to approve the extension; Commissioner Riveland seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Appointments and vendors: Commissioner Steve Riveland moved to appoint Carl Anderson to the County Planning Board for a term ending January 2028; Commissioner Roger Webb seconded and the motion passed 3-0. David Stamey of Disaster Emergency Services briefed the board on a procurement for a Stillwater County Master Study; seven firms responded to the request for proposals and the review panel (GIS and flood plain) recommended DOWL. Stamey said the work will be funded by the State and requires no county funds; the board approved DOWL as the recommended vendor 3-0.
Events and administrative items: The board approved Resolution No. 2026‑07 designating polling places (3-0). The board also granted a special use permit for the Woltermann Memorial Airport Balloon Rally scheduled May 29–31, 2026; Lisa Westerfelt of the Columbus Fire Association said eight balloons are confirmed. The meeting record shows routine staff reports from Road and Bridge, Flood Plain, Website, Facilities, Disaster Emergency and GIS before adjournment.
Next steps: Permits and vendor recommendations were approved; the transcript does not record final contracts for the master study or firm construction start dates beyond the applicants' projected timelines.
