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Council reviews development updates, water agreements and capital change orders; officials press for financing details
Summary
Councilors heard updates on the Faradyne development agreement extension, a master water service agreement with Trout Unlimited, an EDA amendment for the Silver Lake Improvement Project, and a Moulton Water Treatment Plant change order; commissioners pressed the developer for investor details and public-works staff for cost clarifications.
On May 6, 2026, the Butte-Silver Bow Council heard several substantive updates on local development and infrastructure projects and asked for clearer financing and cost details.
Economic Development Coordinator Kala Lappin presented an amendment to Faradyne Power Systems' development agreement (Communication 2026-222). Commissioner Jim Fisher questioned why the agreement was being extended again after previous extensions; company representative Nichols said Faradyne has completed multiple fundraising rounds, is seeking about $15 million to start construction and has spent approximately $7 million on initial engineering and facility upgrades. The council concurred and placed the amendment on file.
Public Works Director Mark Neary presented a five-year Master Water Service agreement with Trout Unlimited and the Natural Resources Damage Program to negotiate water purchases at critical times for the water division (Communication 2026-226). Neary described this as a framework agreement without a fixed price; in discussion he referenced a working figure of $100 per acre-foot and noted negotiations would set detailed terms. Commissioners also discussed pump and operational costs—staff estimated ongoing pumping at roughly $11,000 per month and said new pumps were expected later in the summer.
Neary also presented an amendment (No. 1) to the Financial Assistance Award with the EDA for the Silver Lake Improvement Project (Communication 2026-231), saying scope changes removed the east-end gravity outlet without requesting additional EDA funds; he identified prior local spending around $753,000 and an EDA grant contribution of about $300,000 toward the match. Separately, Change Order #4 for the Moulton Water Treatment Plant filter replacement (Communication 2026-246) was explained as addressing omitted design elements from the original 1999 system; the council concurred and placed related agreements on file.
Action taken: the council concurred and placed these items on file and requested clearer cost breakdowns and project schedules from staff and developers where details were questioned.
