The Livingston City Commission is scheduled to meet on Nov. 6 to decide whether to accept City Manager Grant Gager’s resignation. The meeting comes just days after a body‑camera video from June 4, 2026, was made public, showing a candid exchange between Gager and Police Officer Jonathan Manley at the city’s transfer‑station fire.
What the video reveals
In the footage, recorded by Officer Manley’s body camera, the two discuss recent fires at the transfer station and the fire department’s role. Gager says, “I am not much of a conspiracy theorist, but what’s going on with the fire department these days?” Manley replies, “Well, that they are getting bored and they are going around and starting their own fires.” Gager adds, “Yeah, or they have a statement to make to get more money out of us, right?”
The comments have drawn sharp criticism from former Fire Chief Josh Chabalowski’s wife, Brittny Chabalowski, who called the remarks “despicable” and said they insult the brave men and women who protect the community.
City’s response
The city has emphasized that Gager and other non‑fire personnel were on‑scene to protect city property and resources. In a written statement, the city explained that the manager, public‑works staff and police officers were present at both the May 30 and June 4 fires to safeguard taxpayer assets. The statement added that outside investigators found no basis for disciplinary action and that the June 4 fire was caused by a lawn‑mower battery.
City officials also noted that the video excerpts have not been reviewed by KTVQ and that the city’s official narrative remains unchanged: “There is nothing inappropriate about city team members working together to safeguard taxpayer assets; community members should expect nothing less than a unified response from the City of Livingston.”
Background to the dispute
The body‑camera release follows a court fight by former Fire Chief Josh Chabalowski and his wife to obtain the footage. Brittny Chabalowski said the city “fought us hard” to keep the video private, suggesting the city feared the content would be damaging.
Josh Chabalowski was terminated this summer after an external review. While Gager cites state privacy laws as a barrier to discussing the termination, Brittny Chabalowski believes the dismissal is linked to a PowerPoint presentation her husband delivered to the City Commission in May.
She further argued that the incident reflects a broader lack of accountability within city leadership, stating, “I think this is systematic of a larger problem that there is just no accountability here and that we have a city manager and a city commission that has simply lost its way.”
Commission’s upcoming decision
The City Commission’s vote on Gager’s resignation will be the next public test of how Livingston’s leadership addresses internal conflict and public perception. No direct connection between the video and Gager’s pending resignation has been confirmed, but the timing has intensified public interest.
Commission members are expected to weigh the city’s statements, the video content, and the broader dispute between the city manager and the former fire chief before casting their votes.
What residents can expect
Regardless of the outcome, city officials have pledged to continue working as a unified team to protect community assets and maintain public safety. Residents are encouraged to attend the commission meeting or follow the city’s official channels for updates on the decision and any subsequent actions.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
