Polson Police Chief George Simpson nominated and gifted retired Police Chief Ron Buzzard the Polson Treasure Award for his service to the Polson community during the Polson City Commission meeting on Monday, March 16.  

Buzzard served as chief from 1986 to 2002 during what Simpson called a time of police department reform. Simpson said that Buzzard laid the foundation for how the department currently operates and helped a department that was 30 years behind the times to catch up to professional standards.  

“Ron’s service to the Polson community spans decades and reflects an unwavering commitment to public safety, professionalism and mentorship,” Simpson stated in his nomination letter. “His leadership emphasized integrity, accountability, and service, values that continue to shape the department’s culture.”  

Simpson told the Polson Commission he enjoys sitting down with Buzzard and retired assistant chief John Stevens once a week to hear the stories of Polson's law enforcement history. He joked during the meeting that it’s the only time he doesn’t complain about the department's low wages, since the chief once made $8 an hour. 

Buzzard has told him stories about sharing patrol cars, riding his horse up Jette before there were houses, and helping out with county policing before there were portable radios.  

After his law enforcement service, Buzzard served the community for another decade as the detention officer at Polson High School. From his service there, Simpson said former students still call him their favorite teacher.  

Former Polson Mayor Pat DeVries attended the meeting and said the smartest thing she did as mayor was appoint him as chief in 1986. 

“It's amazing to me that somebody could spend 20 years in the police department and go give another 10 years of their life to the City of Polson,” Simpson said.  

Simpson added that Buzzard’s lifelong commitment contributes to public safety and a positive influence across generations, making Polson “a great place to live and work.”  

Wayfinding signposts and Polson Wolf Pack funding  

Special Project Manager Tyler Leslie presented wayfinding signpost options to the commission, which will be funded by the Polson Redevelopment Agency.  

Leslie presented three options with varying price points and recommended option two, which are decorative iron posts. While it was the most expensive option at $15,000, she noted it would have the best longevity and visual appeal. The commission voted for the option recommended by Leslie.  

Eve Dixon, the president of Woofpack – a nonprofit group that raises funds for the Travis Dolphin Dog Park – said the group has raised the $41,000 needed to make improvements to the dog park.  

The Woofpack established two project phases. Phase one includes replacing the torn weed mat, replenishing gravel on the 2.5-acre park paths and terracing the slope leading to the dock. Phase two would stabilize the shoreline by installing 50 feet of riprap approximately four feet high downstream and upstream of the dock.  

According to previous Leader reporting, Dixon discussed the project at the Feb. 16 commission meeting, and City Manager Ed Meece said he would be cautious about soliciting bids for the project until they had all the funding in hand.  

Meece explained during the latest commission meeting that HDR Engineering is reviewing documents provided by Dixon, and once the design is completed, they can solicit bids.  

Other agenda items  

The commission also passed two resolutions to amend the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget. The first included expenditures for retirement system contributions, and the second included police department expenditures, which were offset by a donation to the department.  

The commission also passed the first reading of an ordinance proposing amendments to the city code regarding excavation permits, new street construction, and addressing violations and code errors.  

Under the excavation portion of the code, the proposed change states off season will be defined as the time when asphaltic hot mix is unavailable. Permit fees may also increase during the off-season and will be included in the scheduled fees.  

The proposed amendment also defined any damage to city infrastructure or vehicles as part of the contractor's responsibility. Under resurfacing specifications and surface repair, a handful of proposed changes were also made. Finally, under the violation section, the cash bond was changed from $5,000 to $20,000.  

The next commission meeting is April 6 at City Hall in the commission chambers.