Brenneman to serve as chairman

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County commissioners handled their normal beginning-of-year reorganization on Tuesday and decided that Joe Brenneman will serve as chairman in 2007.

The commissioners typically rotate the chairman's duties on an annual basis. The chairman runs public hearings and signs many of the documents that the commissioners approve.

New Commissioner Dale Lauman, who is recuperating from a bout of pneumonia, didn't attend Tuesday's meeting. He isn't expected in the rest of the week, but the commissioners have a light agenda so that shouldn't be a problem.

The commissioners were scheduled to appoint themselves to various boards, but they delayed doing so until next week so Lauman could be present.

Collectively, the commissioners serve on more than two dozen boards and committees, covering issues that range from mental health to transportation or natural resources.

Brenneman indicated that if Lauman still isn't feeling well next week, the growth policy workshop scheduled on the evening of Jan. 9 might be postponed. At this point, however, Lauman expects to be at work.