The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee has two open board seats and two candidates filing to run ahead of the Feb. 4 deadline.  

The committee acts in an advisory capacity for official Flathead County land use decision making boards and Flathead County commissioners. Established in 1993, the committee gives a recommendation on applications and proposals for growth and development projects within the Bigfork Zoning District.  

The committee has seven members, with six elected positions and one appointed member at large. Elected members serve for three years, and the member at large serves for one year.  

Daniel Cotman filed to run for one of the open positions this year. He was appointed to a vacant committee position last July, but his term in that role is set to expire on May 31. 

Cotman is an attorney in intellectual property law. Following his appointment in 2025, he told the Bigfork Eagle that he cares about the community and joined the board to give his input. 

Ry Keller filed to run for the second open position on the board. He is the owner of Valley Maintenance and Property Management, along with his wife Serena. He is a fourth-generation Bigfork resident who has been involved with several local organizations over the years, including being the president of Chapter 102 of the Experimental Aircraft Association.  

He also worked on the original Bigfork Neighborhood Plan in 1993, according to BLUAC’s draft minutes from their January meeting.  

Most recently, the committee has been making updates to its Bigfork Neighborhood Plan, which provides guidelines for growth for the Bigfork area.  

During its meeting last week, the committee outlined goals for 2026 regarding updates to the plan. Members are assigned different parts of the document, bringing recommended changes to the board for discussion.  

This year, Chair Susan Johnson and member Laura Perry will work together on the housing section, member Shelley Anderson will work on downtown Bigfork as well as Montana 35 and Montana 83, Vice Chair Jerry Sorenson will work on the land use section, Cotman will work on the transportation update and member at large Richard Michaud will work on the public facilities section. 

Johnson said they would like the update to be completed by the end of the year. Workshops will be held the second to the last Thursday of every month going forward. 

Ballots for this year’s special purpose elections will be mailed out during the last half of April. Election day takes place on Tuesday, May 5. 

Reporter Taylor Inman may be reached at 758-4440 or [email protected].