The Billings City Council holds public hearings Monday on starting the process to dispose of Ramada Park and the Minnesota Avenue parking lot, and on fiscal 2027 budget amendments, and, on its consent agenda, a resolution authorizing the sale of up to $15,045,000 in tax increment bonds for the South Park pool. On Tuesday the Laurel City Council considers a resolution declaring an emergency over the failure of two 30-inch raw-water transmission lines, and Rosebud County commissioners take public comment in Forsyth on a NextEra tax abatement request for a solar and battery storage project. Several county courthouses and offices close Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.
Billings and Yellowstone County
Billings City Council
The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in Council Chambers on the fifth floor of City Hall, 316 N. 26th St. (agenda).
Three items on the regular agenda come with public hearings:
- Fiscal 2027 budget amendments: $95,000 in the Planning Fund from a Prohousing grant to contract for pre-approved housing plans, which may include accessory dwelling units, that property owners could download from a city website, and $184,000 for the first phase of third-floor HVAC repairs at City Hall, paid from cash reserves and county rental income (staff report).
- Resolutions of intent to dispose of the Minnesota Avenue parking lot, about 0.6 acre, and Ramada Park, about 1.1 acres in the Pineview Subdivision. Staff reports say this is step one of two: adoption takes six votes and does not authorize a sale, which would need a second notice, hearing and vote.
The consent agenda includes:
- A resolution authorizing the sale of up to $15,045,000 in tax increment bonds from the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District for the South Park pool project. The fiscal 2027 budget approved $10 million from the district for the project, and the parks department expects naming rights and other fundraising to add to it, the staff report says.
- Final approval of the sale of $9,815,000 in Series 2026 storm sewer revenue and refunding bonds to Robert W. Baird & Co. at a true interest cost of 4.427%, which staff estimate saves about $144,387 in interest on 2013 bonds.
- An amendment to the city's water carriage agreement with the Billings Bench Water Association to replace the Canyon Creek Flume. The $2.87 million project has about $1 million in federal money; the city would front the association's $935,000 share and recover it through lower carriage fees (staff report).
- Fiscal 2028 equipment and technology replacement plans of about $14.3 million and $1.1 million.
- A sole-source contract with Vector Airport Systems to bill and collect non-airline landing fees at the Billings airport for 20% of what it collects, and an $80,000 hazardous materials grant and a $46,340.80 opioid abatement grant for the fire department.
Public comment is taken on consent items at the start, during each public hearing and on non-agenda items at the end, three minutes per speaker with sign-in. Written comment goes to Council@billingsmt.gov or the City Clerk, P.O. Box 1178, Billings, MT 59103.
Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners
Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Room 309 of the Ostlund Building, 2825 Third Ave. N., Billings (agenda). The meeting opens with a presentation on renewing the county's memorandum of understanding with Beartooth Resource Conservation and Development, followed by a MetraPark safety and security update on the regular agenda. The consent agenda includes:
- A contract with KLJ Engineering for a phased update to the infrastructure master plan for the Lockwood Targeted Economic Development District, estimated at $99,876 on an hourly basis with work to be done by Jan. 15, 2027 (contract).
- A "judge summary scope" for the Sletten Construction courthouse renovation: a cost summary gives a rough estimate of $121,297.86, including a 20% contingency and design, to remove the mezzanine and reconfigure the jury box in Courtroom 112A, raise ceilings in Courtroom 101A and a jury suite, and add outlets in a clerk area. It says the work would add 10 weeks and that the final cost will be confirmed after design.
- A memorandum with RiverStone Health under which the county attorney's office would pay $55,000 for July 2026 through June 2027 to support the Yellowstone Valley Children's Advocacy Center.
- The county's participation in the national opioid settlement with Albertsons and new MetraPark rates from Best Crowd Management.
Public comment is taken on agenda items near the start and on any county business at the end, three minutes each. The Thursday, Nov. 12, Commissioners Discussion agenda had not been posted; it will appear on the county's discussion agenda page.
Consolidated Yellowstone County Zoning Commission
The commission meets at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in City Council Chambers, fifth floor, 316 N. 26th St. (agenda). It holds a public hearing on Special Review 337, listed as a delayed item, a request to allow a campground of nine camping cabins, one house, an office and laundry cabin and a shop on about 54.7 acres at 4204 Old Blue Creek Road, zoned agriculture, with a variance from a 10-acre to a 5-acre minimum per dwelling unit. The commission decides the variance and makes a recommendation on the special review to the county commissioners, who will hold their own hearing at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1. Written comment goes to plnonline@billingsmt.gov before noon on the meeting day. The City-County Planning Board's Nov. 10 meeting was canceled for lack of agenda items.
Laurel City Council
The council meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Council Chambers, 115 W. First St., after a 5:30 p.m. Budget/Finance Committee meeting (city portal). Items include:
- Resolution R26-110, declaring an emergency from the failure of two 30-inch raw-water transmission lines, authorizing limited emergency contracting without advertised competitive bids and setting scope, cost and oversight controls. The agenda does not list a cost.
- A public hearing on Budget Amendment No. 2 for fiscal 2026-27, and Resolution R26-107, which would add $48,330 to the fire, ambulance and police building capital fund for new garage doors, with a Billings Overhead Door contract.
- A final plat for the Cherry Hill Subdivision, 4th Filing, with annexation and zoning.
- A $20,000 increase in Interstate Engineering's planning contract and an agreement giving the city access to $368,000 in PRO Housing 2 grant money for work required by the Montana Land Use and Planning Act.
- First reading of Ordinance 26-5, adopting the state's updated building, energy and pool codes, with second reading set for Nov. 24; and a contract with Ace Electric.
Comment is limited to three minutes per speaker.
Stillwater County
Board of County Commissioners
Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, and 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the West Annex Boardroom, 431 Quarry Road, Columbus, according to the week's agenda. Tuesday at 10 a.m. is a critical minerals update. At 2 p.m. Thursday the commission opens bids for a new law enforcement building; the agenda lists "Dick Anderson, Billings, MT" with the item without stating its role, and gives no estimate. Public comment is taken at the start of each meeting and on each item, three minutes each.
Carbon County
Board of County Commissioners
Commissioners meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Thursday, Nov. 12, with public comment at 8:35 a.m.; the agendas do not list a location (meetings page). Tuesday's agenda lists a facility use agreement with Red Lodge schools for a wellness event, a WIC nutrition program agreement with RiverStone Health and, at 10 a.m., the Albertsons opioid settlement participation agreement. Thursday's agenda lists an environmental health update and a county attorney item.
Red Lodge City Council
The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at City Hall, 1 Platt Ave. S., and on Zoom (agenda). It holds a public hearing and first reading on Ordinance 966, a first amended airport boundary ordinance, and considers an amended resolution on the Montana Main Street Program and authorizing the mayor to sign an airport grant. Monday committees take up a fire department contract, the city judge's reappointment and a tennis court resolution.
Custer County
Board of Commissioners
Commissioners meet at the Custer County Courthouse, 1010 Main St., Miles City (week's agenda). Monday, Nov. 9, at 9:45 a.m. they consider awarding the bid for the landfill scale project; at 11:30 a.m. they discuss and may act on a firefighter property agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; and at 1 p.m. they discuss and may act on an automatic mutual aid agreement between the Miles City and Custer County fire departments. A city-county meeting is at 6 p.m. Monday at the Community Senior Center. The courthouse is closed Wednesday, and the election canvass is at 10 a.m. Friday. Public comment is taken daily under unscheduled matters; 406-874-3343.
Miles City City Council
The council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at City Hall, 17 S. Eighth St., and on Zoom, ID 4062343462, passcode 59301 (agenda). Under new business it considers three tax increment district business assistance grants totaling $74,153.88: $21,000 for sidewalks at Recreation Lanes, 115 S. Seventh St.; $15,812 for HVAC at Otium Brewing, 21 S. Ninth St.; and $37,341.88 for roofing and HVAC at Vintage and Rustics, 813 Main St. Also listed: waiving permit fees for donated Connors Stadium improvements, putting fire equipment sale proceeds into the fire capital fund and canceling the Nov. 24 and Dec. 22 meetings. Comment is taken under Request of Citizens at the start.
Dawson County
Board of Commissioners
The commission meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the courthouse, 207 W. Bell St., Glendive, a date moved from Election Day (agenda page). It holds public hearings on an amendment to the county's development regulations, whose updated draft would set a 250-foot maximum structure height in the county outside Glendive, Richey and two zoning districts, and on an amendment to the subdivision regulations shared with the City of Glendive and the Town of Richey. New business includes a contract for Dawson County's sanitarian to serve Prairie County for $6,781 plus mileage, a $19,679.75 budget amendment for a Healthy Montana Families grant, and the fiscal 2027 MSU Extension agreement, with $41,000 from MSU and $71,251.91 from the county.
Glendive City Council
The city's Street and FUPR committees are listed for Tuesday, Nov. 10, on the agendas page; no agenda had been posted online, and the city also posts agendas on the City Hall door. The council's next regular meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Rosebud County
Board of Commissioners
The commissioners' board meeting is at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 (week's agenda). The consent agenda includes a fairgrounds RV camping fee increase, Resolution 2026-32 rescinding Resolution 2026-28, which established a Rosebud County PACE program, and approval of a legal notice for a Dec. 1 public hearing on establishing a C-PACE program. At 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, commissioners hold public meetings at the courthouse, Commissioner's Office, Forsyth, to take comment on a tax abatement request from NextEra for a solar and battery energy storage project about a mile east of Forsyth. The courthouse is closed Wednesday. Commissioners accept comment any day on matters in their jurisdiction; 406-346-2251.
Prairie County
Board of Commissioners
No regular meeting is scheduled this week; the Nov. 6 agenda sets the next one for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the courthouse in Terry.
Treasure County
Board of Commissioners
No agenda for a meeting this week had been posted on the county's commissioners page. Meetings are held in the Treasure County Courtroom in Hysham; 406-342-5547.
Further out
Yellowstone County commissioners hold their hearing on the Old Blue Creek Road campground at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Rosebud County commissioners are scheduled Tuesday to approve notice of a Dec. 1 hearing on a C-PACE program.
Who sits on each board, when it meets and how to comment: Eastern Montana local government.
