02/12/2026
This is a dangerous agenda and an insult to our communities and firefighters.
Mayor Butch Grenz proposal to "Defund the Fire Department"
On January 27, during a City Council meeting, newly re-elected Mayor Butch Grenz publicly raised a serious and unexpected proposal that would fundamentally change emergency services in Miles City.
Without a formal study, without community input, and without consultation with the professionals who currently provide these services, the mayor suggested:
🚨Eliminating the Miles City Fire Department
🚨Contracting fire protection to a neighboring volunteer department
🚨Privatizing Miles City’s public, not-for-profit ambulance service
This proposal was not listed on the meeting agenda that night. And while fire services are not listed on the agenda for the upcoming meeting either, it is important for the public to understand that major policy shifts have already been introduced without warning.
The Miles City City Council meets Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM, both in person and via Zoom.
CITY OF MILES CITY – Regular Council Meeting
📍 City Council Chambers
💻 Zoom: zoom.us
🆔 Meeting ID: 4062343462
🔑 Passcode: 59301
These are not small or administrative changes. Eliminating a staffed fire department and privatizing ambulance transport would have clear, real-world impacts on emergency response times, firefighter and patient safety, insurance rates, and outcomes during fires and medical emergencies.
Saving lives and protecting property is not a part-time job. It is not a for-profit business model. Emergency services are time-critical, labor-intensive, and highly technical. They require trained professionals, adequate staffing, and strong public oversight.
We encourage the community to stay informed, ask questions, and participate. We will continue to provide education about what these changes could mean for Miles City and why professional fire and EMS services are essential to public safety.
Thank you for your attention and engagement.
