Lauman to head commissioners

The Daily Inter Lake

Dale Lauman will chair the three-person Flathead County commission for the coming year, the commissioners decided Monday during their annual reorganizational meeting.

Incoming Commissioner Jim Dupont, who replaces Gary Hall, will assume most of Hall's committee assignments and will have a seat on the county's pre-release center committee.

The commissioners agreed that Dupont's many years of law-enforcement experience as sheriff would be helpful on that committee.

Dupont will represent the county on the Technical Advisory Committee, Transportation Advisory Board, Flathead Valley Economic Development Authority/Port Authority, Montana Coalition of Forest Counties, Western Montana Regional Juvenile Detention board, Flathead on the Move and Flathead County Building Committee.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman will serve on the 911 board, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Flathead City-County Health Board, Flathead County Chemical Dependency Council, Flathead Basin Commission, Northern Tier Interoperability Commission, DUI Task Force/Safe Kids Safe Communities Coalition, county Mosquito Board, Youth Service Network and Interoperability Montana Project.

Lauman's assignments include the county Audit Committee, Solid Waste/Refuse Disposal District Board, Health Board Review Committee, Agency on Aging, Retired Senior Volunteer program, Child Development Center Board, Western Montana Regional Mental Health Board, Impact Fee Advisory Board and Road Naming and Address Committee.

All three commissioners serve on the county Compensation Board.

Still up in the air is an appointment to the Resource, Conservation & Development Board, a post previously held by Hall.

The commissioners withheld that appointment pending further discussion. They agreed they need more information about what that board assignment entails.