City and County of Anaconda-Deer Lodge

Key discussions included the authorization of claims totaling $314,761.01, which covered funding for the Historic Resources Board and a major expense for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Blower Replacement. Unfinished business involved approving the reappointment of Terry LaValley to the Historic Resources Board and the appointment of Marc Arment to the Communications Board. Under New Business, the Commission approved the ADLC 2026 Street Improvements Project, estimated at $1,489,715.00, and the Memorandum of Understanding with former CFO John Sholey for temporary consulting services. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the potential acquisition of the Wells Fargo Building, leading to the approval of a commercial appraisal not to exceed $25,000.00 to assess the feasibility of the donation, which could provide much-needed space, potentially allow for the return of driver's licensing services, and accommodate the Food Bank in a new facility constructed near the Metcalf building.

The meeting involved the election of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for the Economic Development Board. A key discussion revolved around Unfinished Business concerning the Conflict of Interest Statement standardization. New Business featured two major non-profit funding requests competing for $50,000. The first request was from Project Care (Food Bank and Emergency Assistance) regarding the relocation of their facility; the Board expressed significant concerns about the structural integrity and aesthetic impact of the proposed donated building but ultimately made a motion to pledge $50,000 available in the next fiscal year (July 1, 2026) to allow time for developing alternative plans, such as an addition to the Metcalf Center. The second request was from Lincoln Primary School for playground improvements, including stormwater management, inclusive equipment, and a walking track, total costs estimated around $450,000. The Board approved a motion to allocate $50,000 to the Lincoln Primary School Playground project, available in fiscal year 2025-2026.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the July 30, 2025 minutes, with one correction noted. Key discussions involved the nomination and vote for the 2026 Airport Board Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. The Manager's Report covered declining operations and fuel sales, a noted issue with landing lights not activating promptly (which requires investigation), and the ongoing challenge of ensuring personnel sign in at the pilot's lounge for accurate traffic determination. The manager plans to address the removal of scrap copper found in the Pilot's Lounge loft, with any resulting funds needing board direction. Repairs were completed for a surge protector issue and a gate timing issue. There was discussion regarding fuel prices, confirming they will not be lowered soon. The potential transfer of fuel farm operations to Deer Lodge County was reviewed, noting a previous RFP yielded no successful bidders, although one staff member expressed personal interest. A query was raised about implementing flowage fees for emergency personnel using airport fuel during fire season. Under the Consultant Report, the board awaits an answer regarding the IIJA status by the next meeting. A significant conversation occurred regarding current hangar leases, particularly those not being used for aviation activities or where lease payments are delinquent, with a strong sentiment for the County to terminate these leases if renewals are not returned by the deadline or if the space is misused.

Key discussions included the review of the financial report, noting satisfaction with spending earmarked funds for community benefit, and the acceptance of the DUI/MIP report, which showed four refusals for breath testing among ADLC DUIs since the last meeting. Unfinished business involved the approval of a purchase request for breathalyzers for the School District. The task force also reviewed feedback from the CHEERS! TO SOBER DRIVERS program, noting implementation challenges at some establishments regarding card and coaster distribution, and decided to use gift cards for future distributions to generate new interest. Additionally, funding was discussed and approved for a MIP/Youth Group request.

Discussions centered on unfinished business, including the Phoebe Hearst Bronze project, for which funding updates were provided and approval was granted for ordering a specific drape within a set budget. Guidelines for pictorial cancellation stamps were also noted as having changed. Event planning for the June 13, 2026 event included finalizing timelines for publicity and ticket sales, and determining award categories, resulting in a motion to request the CEO to provide welcome comments at the bronze dedication. The speaker series planning involved finalizing the March advertisement wording to focus on state champions and establishing an advertising information submission deadline six weeks prior to an event. The board also discussed the awarded $9,000 Montana 250 Grant for eight oral history recordings and determined to brainstorm potential interview candidates. New business included planning for America's 250th Birthday observance, resulting in a motion to host an organ concert and a patriotic movie screening in May, and deciding to participate in the May 9th Sportsman's Club Conservation Day by having a board information table. An announcement was made regarding the need to follow up with the Leader newspaper about speaker series features, and a delay in the CLG grant application timeline was noted.