Fergus County commissioners reorganize leadership, approve travel rates and multiple appointments
January 02, 2026 | Fergus County, Montana
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The Fergus County Board of Commissioners opened its first 2026 meeting by reorganizing leadership and approving a package of organizational resolutions covering travel reimbursements, the meeting calendar, notices and several board appointments.
The board moved to approve a reorganization resolution and elected presiding officers for 2026; one commissioner moved to remain as chair and the motion carried by voice vote (specific tallies were not specified in the meeting record). A chair presided over the session.
Commissioners adopted Resolution 1226, setting travel-related reimbursement policies for officers and employees. Discussion centered on whether to advance funds for employees who lack credit cards or cash for travel-related expenses and on mileage and meal rates. A commissioner noted the mileage language included a placeholder reflecting the IRS calculation (cited in the discussion as 70.56 cents per mile) and that the daily meal allowance in the draft is $40 (described in the meeting as broken down roughly as $13 for breakfast, $15 for midday and $22 for evening). The record does not specify a final itemized change to the policy beyond the resolution’s approval.
The board also approved the calendar of commissioner meetings and holidays for 2026 after several members discussed date adjustments for July and February to accommodate travel schedules. Commissioners voted to keep posted office hours at 10 a.m.–noon and 2–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Routine administrative measures carried as well: the board approved an annual resolution appointing deputy coroners (the minutes name Weston Curry as a newly added deputy) and a resolution designating official notice-posting locations (the courthouse exterior, the county website and the posted map). The board moved and approved appointments to various county boards, including Terry Gill to the Fergus County Planning Board, Lori Ray to the County Board of Health, Sandy Thompson to the Area Agency on Aging/district council on aging, and a fair board appointment extending an incumbent into a full term. Terms and exact end dates mentioned in the discussion were not always clear in the record and are not specified here.
On administrative operations, the treasurer’s office will temporarily maintain adjusted vehicle registration hours (reported in the meeting as 8 a.m.–3 p.m.) while staff complete onboarding. Commissioners discussed updating the treasurer’s web page and public notice channels and noted a need for cross-training across county departments to avoid service bottlenecks.
The meeting record shows these organizational items were approved by motion and voice vote; the transcript does not include complete roll-call tallies for each resolution.
The board set its next meeting dates as announced and adjourned.
The board moved to approve a reorganization resolution and elected presiding officers for 2026; one commissioner moved to remain as chair and the motion carried by voice vote (specific tallies were not specified in the meeting record). A chair presided over the session.
Commissioners adopted Resolution 1226, setting travel-related reimbursement policies for officers and employees. Discussion centered on whether to advance funds for employees who lack credit cards or cash for travel-related expenses and on mileage and meal rates. A commissioner noted the mileage language included a placeholder reflecting the IRS calculation (cited in the discussion as 70.56 cents per mile) and that the daily meal allowance in the draft is $40 (described in the meeting as broken down roughly as $13 for breakfast, $15 for midday and $22 for evening). The record does not specify a final itemized change to the policy beyond the resolution’s approval.
The board also approved the calendar of commissioner meetings and holidays for 2026 after several members discussed date adjustments for July and February to accommodate travel schedules. Commissioners voted to keep posted office hours at 10 a.m.–noon and 2–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Routine administrative measures carried as well: the board approved an annual resolution appointing deputy coroners (the minutes name Weston Curry as a newly added deputy) and a resolution designating official notice-posting locations (the courthouse exterior, the county website and the posted map). The board moved and approved appointments to various county boards, including Terry Gill to the Fergus County Planning Board, Lori Ray to the County Board of Health, Sandy Thompson to the Area Agency on Aging/district council on aging, and a fair board appointment extending an incumbent into a full term. Terms and exact end dates mentioned in the discussion were not always clear in the record and are not specified here.
On administrative operations, the treasurer’s office will temporarily maintain adjusted vehicle registration hours (reported in the meeting as 8 a.m.–3 p.m.) while staff complete onboarding. Commissioners discussed updating the treasurer’s web page and public notice channels and noted a need for cross-training across county departments to avoid service bottlenecks.
The meeting record shows these organizational items were approved by motion and voice vote; the transcript does not include complete roll-call tallies for each resolution.
The board set its next meeting dates as announced and adjourned.
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