Judiciary committee advances fire-district boundary ordinance, schedules June 24 public hearing

The Butte-Silver Bow judiciary committee moved council bill/ordinance 2026-02 to second reading as amended and scheduled a public hearing for June 24, 2026.

County Attorney Enri told the committee the amended ordinance replaces lengthy "meets and bounds" boundary text with two exhibits and a map attached to the ordinance so the legal description remains available but is not embedded in the body of the code. Enri said the exhibits and map will be available at the Clerk and Recorder's office if the ordinance advances.

Commissioner Thatcher made the motion to advance the bill and set the hearing; Chairwoman Sheay opened the item for discussion before the vote. Committee members sought clarification about which exhibits would be included: one exhibit contains the original uniform fire district description, the second contains the expanded area description, and the third attachment is a map showing both outlines together.

The committee voted to move the ordinance to second reading as amended and to schedule the June 24 public hearing. The motion passed, four yays to two nays.

County Attorney Enri said staff can provide a redlined copy showing the changes if the council requests it. The ordinance, as discussed, amends chapter 2.16 of the Butte-Silver Bow Municipal Code to revise the jurisdictional area for the fire department and will proceed through the normal public hearing and second-reading process.