As outgoing Flathead County Commissioner Cal Scott packed up boxes on Wednesday and began his move out of the Courthouse, he offered a promise of continued involvement in the county he loves.

“I’m not going very far. I’ve left the building but not the community,” Scott said.

When the commission reconvenes on Monday, Phil Mitchell will take Scott’s place as the District 1 commissioner representing the North Valley area.

Scott said his vote Wednesday in favor of a construction contract for the South Campus Building is among the most important decisions he made during his time as a commissioner.

“Facilitating for the future without a current or future burden to taxpayers was the most beneficial impact I’ve had,” he said.

Scott, 71, was appointed a commissioner following the death of Commissioner Jim Dupont in March 2012 and was elected later that year to fill out the remainder of Dupont’s term. He lost to Mitchell in the June 2014 Republican primary election.

Scott said he found the job of commissioner actually was easier than he expected, largely because of the “depth of expertise and commitment” from Flathead County department heads.

“The county manager and department heads take good care of our people in the Flathead,” he said.

Over the past couple of years, Scott has worked diligently to chart a course for relocating the Agency on Aging from a leased building on Kelly Road to a better, more spacious facility. He will continue to be involved at some level with the Agency on Aging.

Scott said his effort to organize a work group to preserve Demersville Cemetery has been a fulfilling project and he intends to stay involved with the effort to maintain graves and records for the historic county cemetery. He has been involved with a similar preservation effort at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

Scott will continue his board involvement with the Child Development Center, Western Montana Mental Health and Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic.

As for his spare time, Scott plans to take up beekeeping and said Commissioner Gary Krueger has offered to help him set up a hive.

Scott and his wife recently sold their home and property on Montana 40 and are moving to Kalispell, putting him in a new commission district.

Will he run for public office again? Scott paused and offered a circumspect reply: “I don’t know.”

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at [email protected].