Billings City Council

The Gazette reports that Police Chief Rich St. John told the Billings City Council Monday that the “misdeeds of a few officers should not be a broad-brushed opinion of how the Police Department operates.” St. John was referring to the controversy over revelations that three officers were punished for having sex with a woman on city property, some while on duty, as well as another case in which a

Hammes Company President Bob Dunn, who has helped transform the vision and expectations for the One Big Sky Center project, visited Billings on Monday to meet with business leaders and the Billings City Council. Since the plans have shifted from the original concept of Montana’s two tallest skyscrapers to revising Billings’ two most important districts, only a multi-colored map has been unveiled..

In a 6-5 vote, the Billings City Council on Monday authorized spending $100,000 as part of a $675,000 public-private partnership to move the One Big Sky District into a year-long planning and development stage. The council’s vote includes approval of a memorandum of agreement among the private and public entities involved in the project as well as a $400,000 line-of-credit agreement extended by Bi

Now the city council is looking at a proposal to build multi-athletic facilities to attract more teams and events to Billings. It won't work. To the tune of almost $60 million. Let me remind you that MetraPark was built in 1975 for $11 million and underwent a face lift 8 years ago for $27 million...

The Gazette reports that the Billings City Council will decide on Monday, March 26th whether to invest $100,000 toward further study that could lead to the One Big Sky Center concept for downtown economic development. That commitment will get a group of partners, including the Downtown Billings Alliance, the Tourism Business Improvement District and what Big Sky’s spokesman called “a handful of p

Last Best News reports that the new Downtown Strategic Plan will be made public next Tuesday at 8 a.m. in the Royal Johnson Community Room of the Billings Public Library. It’s the product of a year’s worth of work by Billings residents and the consulting firm of Thomas P...

The city council made a mistake by not letting a family build a new gymnastics school on the west end. A business that would have been located where numerous other businesses are already thriving. It would have enhanced opportunities for families with kids on the west end...

The Billings city council will consider allowing bees in the city tonight.  Let’s stop before it goes any further.  Bees are already here naturally to pollinate but bringing in a hive could cause problems.   There are a number of people who are allergic to stings that can cause severe problems, some can even die from anaphylaxis.  I...

Tonight the Billings’ city council will undoubtedly approve spending $753,000 on 3 new snow plows, that’s after trades.  Here is my question, why do we have to buy new?  There are some really nice used snow plows for sale.   The city could buy 10 used plows for that money, and good ones.  T...

The Billings city council will consider giving city administrator Tina Volek a $24,500 raise tonight.  Why?  Is the city making a surplus now?  No.   Is it right that the firemen only get a 3.2 percent raise and she gets a 20% raise?  N...

The Billings City Council will allow dogs in city parks but, there is a catch.  Only after licensing fees meet a certain revenue level will it be permitted.   That’s so hypocritical, they pumped a half a million tax dollars into the fountain at south park pool without raising the swim fee.  T...

The council will consider allowing pets in the park tonight during their Monday meeting.  I think it’s absolutely fine as long as the animals are under control and pose no threat to others.   The poop is a non -issue with me, all of the parks have duck poop, rabbit poop, bird poop, deer poop etc.  T...