After a suggested joke about changing the meeting time, during its meeting May 18 the Polson City Commission unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance changing the meeting time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. to better accommodate staff and the public.  

The ordinance was first introduced by city attorney Dave Michie during the April 20 commission meeting, with changes to the meeting time and “numerous” departmental titles, structures and responsibilities in the city code.  

However, during the April meeting, Commissioner Lisa Rehard motioned to change the item to a workshop agenda item due to confusion in the code about departmental changes. Michie said during the workshop that the code had not been updated since it was enacted, and the city code doesn’t align with the current city departmental structure.  

After Rehard's comments on what should be changed in this ordinance, the administration said they would make edits.  

When this ordinance was returned to the commission last Monday it did not include the code changes, and Rehard explained that she had asked Michie to remove that section and revisit it later. The commission unanimously approved the first reading of this ordinance.  

As a part of the previously suggested changes to departmental and structure codes, Michie also pulled the section that added an assistant fire chief to the code, including the position's duties, into a separate ordinance. The commission also unanimously approved the first reading of this ordinance.  

In other agenda items, the commission voted on a broker's bid for workers' compensation insurance services. The Montana Municipal Interlocal Agency notified its members in 2025 that it would no longer provide workers' compensation services or insurance, effective July 1. This led Polson to solicit bids.  

The city received a bid from Bishop Insurance at about $65,000 and another from Leavitt Insurance, for which the cost was not listed in the agenda item summary. The commission unanimously approved Interim City Manager George Simpson to sign the contract with Bishop and Montana State Fund as the broker and insurance coverage.  

The commission also voted on a resolution to approve additional signatures to sign city checks. Finance officer Jodi O’Sullivan, who presented the item to the commission, said that this resolution would add Mayor Laura Dever and commission president Jake Holley.  

O’Sullivan said the current authorized list includes herself, the city clerk and the city manager, but having this number of people will ensure business doesn’t slow.  

This resolution adds Interim City Manager George Simpson and removes former Mayor Eric Huffine and former Commissioner Brodie Moll. It also extends authority to conduct financial business, such as opening bank accounts and credit accounts, to city clerk Cora Pritt and Simpson. Further, it grants all the signature parties the authority to sign executive contracts.  

Other comments  

During the city manager’s comments, Simpson explained that the recent fire at the Polson Bay Golf Course Pro Shop, caused by a light fixture, was extinguished quickly, but this alerted the administration to check out other light fixtures.  

Simpson also said one of the fire engines is down due to significant mechanical issues, and they are currently getting an estimate of the repair costs.  

During public comment, Susie and Steve Speckert also approached the commission again about the tumble mustard problem. The Speckerts are ranchers just outside the city limits who have had “havoc” on their ranch from tumbleweeds blowing across Highway 35 from a property within the city limits.  

They burned hopefully their last pile of weeds earlier this month and explained that they would like to continue open and constructive dialogue with the city to explore options to recover their expenses.  

Steve said the months it took for Michie to issue code enforcement escalated the “community-wide hazard” and caused “long-lasting damage to our ranch and the surrounding area.” The Speckerts filed a complaint with the city in January, and a letter was issued to the property owners in March. Steve said the issue was handled days after the city issued the letter, but it could have all been resolved more quickly.  

“It is still to be determined where responsibility lies in this matter,” Steve said.  

He requested a meeting and Dever agreed they should meet with the city manager to address their questions.