Next Wednesday April 20th at 7 p.m.
the Lewistown Government Review
Commission holds a Public Hearing
at the Fergus County Council on
Aging. The purpose is allow all of
Lewistown to testify as to whether
our current form of city government
is working or we should consider a
change. What's guaranteed is at best
an even split. Some airing their dirty
laundry while others laud the status
quo. It's doubtful that any will offer
an alternative. So why bother to go?
As previously outlined, the Lewistown
Government Review Commission is an
elected group of our peers tasked with
evaluating our form of city government.
They have no mandate beyond that. If
they feel an alternative is viable - then
they can put it on the ballot for a vote.
However beyond rhetoric they've done
little to nothing to demonstrate change
is of the essence. At last Wednesday's
work session they still lacked concrete
rationales for change. Can they force
us to choose between lies or innuendo?
In theory our choice is to either keep
our government structure as is or add
a mayor to the mix. Lewistown is now
governed by a City Commission of
seven elected residents. They have the
responsibility for hiring/firing/managing
a contracted "City Manager" who runs
our town. The proposed change is to an
elected mayor with the responsibility
of hiring/firing/managing an employee
with the title "Chief Administrative
Officer". Said individual would run
the day in/out operations of our town.
The truth is that both the current and
proposed approaches require that we
hire and pay a professional to run
Lewistown on a daily basis. Both
organizations will maintain a City
Commission. Therefore as as far as
I can tell, if one opts for the proposed
addition of a mayor - we end up with
another layer of bureaucracy plus the
increased expense of compensating
a new mayor for their time and effort
while leading our city management.
So exactly what is the difference?!
To be clear - ADDING A MAYOR
INCREASES BUREAUCRACY
AND TAXES. So why change for
change's sake? In the new scenario
if you have a problem, one person
decides what's right or wrong. As
far as I can tell they're also the one
who benefits from a change given
they get a paid job plus the power
to hire/manage/fire an employee
who has the same responsiblities as
our current City Manager. The only
difference being their title - not pay!
As of today seven elected residents
represent our collective interests. As
a team they manage a professional
City Manager who runs our town.
What is proposed is that ONE mayor
would be the sole manager of a paid
professional "Chief Administrative
Officer. All of which adds up to a
NEW layer within our government,
Plus INCREASED taxes to pay their
salary. Oh... and dont forget that we
HAND OVER control to just ONE
versus SEVEN. Is less... MORE!?
Next Wednesday at 7 p.m. - step up
to the podium and speak our mind.
Tell YOUR Government Review
Commission that you want clarity -
NOT red tape and higher tax bills.
Make sure that before any change
goes on the ballot they fully explain
what, where, when, and WHY! We
need facts not fiction and will NOT
support change simply for change's
sake. Especially when it will only
INCREASES BUREAUCRACY
and RAISE TAXES. More or less?
PUBLIC HEARING
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday April 20th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council on Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
Upcoming Meetings
BI-MONTHLY MEETING
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Monday, April 25th
6 pm Work Session
7 p.m Bi-Monthly Meeting
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
WORK SESSION
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday, April 27th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
WORK SESSION
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday, May 4th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
WORK SESSION
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday, May 11th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
BI-MONTHLY MEETING
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Friday, May 13th
11 a.m. Bi-Monthly Meeting
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
WORK SESSION
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday, April 27th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
WORK SESSION
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday, May 4th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
WORK SESSION
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Wednesday, May 11th at 7 p.m.
Fergus County Council On Aging
307 W. Watson Street
Lewistown, MT 59457
BI-MONTHLY MEETING
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Friday, May 13th
11 a.m. Bi-Monthly Meeting
Lewistown Civic Center
309 Fifth Avenue South
Lewistown, MT 59457
309 Fifth Avenue South
Lewistown, MT 59457
Lewistown Government Review Commission
Click here for a link to http://lewistownstudycomm.wix.com/montana
Click here for a link to their Facebook page
P.O Box 659, Lewistown, MT 59457
lewistownstudycommission@yahoo.com
Commission Members
Alexzandra Dunnington - Chairman
406-366-3519
101 Rainbow Lane, Lewistown, MT 59457
akdunnington84@gmail.com
Dick Krillenberger, Vice Chairman
406-538-3109
201 3rd St. W, Lewistown, MT 59457
abba2@midrivers.com
Gayle Doney, Ex Officio
406-535-7533
2587 Golden Eagle Drive
Lewistown, Montana 59457
gdoney@ci.lewistown.mt.us
Dick Ellestad
406-535-5189
406-366-2783
135 Cedar St., Lewistown, MT 59457
Daryl McKenzie
406-538-3342
406-366-1960
505 W Main St., Lewistown, MT 59457
omcdarryl@tgrsolution.net
Butch Sturtz
406-538-2956
714 2nd Ave S, Apt 5G, Lewistown, MT 59457