County’s economic programs to operate under one umbrella

By Holly Michels, of The Montana Standard - 11/01/2007

Butte-Silver Bow’s economic and community development programs will soon operate under the same umbrella in a new department created by Chief Executive Paul Babb.

The Community Development Department will encompass the Business Development Center, Urban Revitalization Agency, East Butte Renovation and Rehabilitation Agency, Tax Increment Financing Industrial District and Community Development.

“A Community Development Department is a better description of what we’re doing,” Babb said of the reorganization. “It makes more sense for all those entities to work under one department because they all have the same goals and missions.” The overhaul comes after former economic development director and TIFID manager Russ Connole resigned two weeks ago. Connole headed the Business Development Center and advised the TIFID board.

“With his resignation it gives us an opportunity to look at trying things a little differently,” Babb said.

Babb will eliminate Connole’s job and replace it will two new positions: a full-time TIFID administrator and an economic analyst to aid with projects.

“Their sole purpose is to take care of the TIFID,” Babb said of the administrator. The administrator would be “a step down” from Connole’s former position, a move Babb said will create a non-political position to help ease relationships with other Butte economic entities like the Butte Local Development Corp.

The economic analyst will be a direct assistant to the administrator and work closely with applicants for TIFID funding. They could also fill in for the administrator when needed.

The administrator will earn $45,500 annually and the analyst will make $30,000 a year. Connole’s annual salary was $49,195. The administrator position will be advertised internally in the city-county and then publicly. Babb said he hopes to fill it as soon as possible. After that he’ll start the process to hire the analyst.

Karen Byrnes, community development and URA director, will head the new department. She will earn $52,495 a year, a $5,305 bump over her previous salary.

“I think it makes tons of sense to pull all these departments together so they can operate together seamlessly,” Byrnes said.

The Urban Revitalization Agency, East Butte Renovation and Rehabilitation Agency and Community Development will retain the same personnel and job titles.

The Business Development Center, 305 W. Mercury St., tentatively will stay the same under the new plan, but Babb said he wants to start rethinking its purpose. The center was created several years ago as an incubator to give start-up companies a rent-subsidized location and a shared copier, receptionists and fax machines.

“At the time it was something that was going across the county. But from what I’ve studied they are outdated now,” Babb said. “We need to look at it and decide if it is something we want to continue with or something we want to do away with.” Babb said he’ll send a communication to the Council of Commissioners, who have to approve Byrnes as the director before the change is final.

Reporter Holly Michels may be reached via e-mail at holly.michels@lee.net.