The members of Polson’s local government study commission were in Whitefish Tuesday at a training session hosted by the MSU Local Government Center.

The five-member commission is chaired by Larry Ashcraft, and includes vice-chair Pete Ridgeway, members Mark Hubbard, Phil Thelen and Dave Rittenhouse; and non-voting member, Polson commissioner Jake Holley. Three of the five members have some experience with city government: Ashcraft and Ridgeway are the sole members of the Board of Adjustments; Ashcraft also serves on the Golf Board, while Ridgeway is chair of the Park Board, and Rittenhouse is a former member of that board.

The local government review commission is a unique provision of Montana’s Constitution that gives city and county citizens the option to review their form of government every 10 years. While Lake County voters declined to review county government, those in the county’s three incorporated communities – St. Ignatius, Ronan and Polson – approved the process of electing or appointing study commissions during the June election.

However, when it came time to round up members to study local government and recommend changes or improvements, the task was apparently less enticing.

Polson showed the most interest, with five community members offering to serve.

The City of Ronan continues to recruit members, but as of Monday, no one has enlisted.

“We’ve had no takers on the voter-approved study commission,” said Mayor Chris Adler, who noted that the council has advertised and spread the word. “It’s kind of disappointing when something gets a ‘yes’ vote and then no one has time to volunteer.”

However, he noted the city has a statutory obligation to continue searching until the seats are filled, “and there is no expiration date when the city is not under obligation to complete the process,” Adler said. “If you know of anyone interested, send them my way.”

In St. Ignatius, mortician Ralph Foster and Terri Miller, a member of the local ambulance crew, were appointed by the council. A third person, who has since withdrawn due to time constraints, was replaced by Eldena Bear Don’t Walk during the council’s meeting on Dec. 3. She’s an attorney and Chief Justice of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Appellate Court.

Councilwoman Janis Heffern is the non-voting representative to the study commission.

“They are a bit behind schedule since we had difficulties finding people wanting to serve,” said St. Ignatius Mayor Daren Incashola.

The study commissions, comprised of three to five members, will spend the next two years  evaluating the existing structure of their respective forms of government and comparing it to alternative structures available under state law. Changes, if warranted, will be proposed to the local electorate for adoption by the November election in 2026.

Both St. Ignatius and Ronan have an executive form of government, with an elected mayor and council, while Polson has a manager form, with a hired manager and an elected mayor and city commission.

The Polson study group is hoping the public will chime in during the process and encourages people to attend its regular meetings. In a letter that appears in this week’s Leader, the commissioners write, “It is our goal to generate interest in our city government as this study gives you, the voters, a chance to voice your opinions. You voted for this study, which indicates there are concerns on your part.”

St. Ignatius Library Board also needs members

Mayor Incashola also noted that the community is seeking people to serve on its library board, which meets at least four times a year and can include people who live in the school district, and not necessarily in town, since the public library is housed in the high school.

“We are trying to reinvigorate an existing board,” the mayor said. “Over the years, members have left and not been replaced and now we are at a point where we really need a few good people.”

To apply, send a letter of interest to the St. Ignatius Town Hall, P.O. Box 103 or email [email protected].