New Polson mayor, commissioners sworn in
Berl Tiskus
Polson Mayor Heather Knutson repeats the oath of office given her by Polson City Judge A. Doug Olson.
Berl Tiskus
Polson City Judge A. Doug Olson, right, shakes hands with new Polson Mayor Heather Knutson after swearing her into office.
Berl Tiskus
Polson’s newly elected Mayor Heather Knutson conducts her first Polson City Commission meeting on Jan. 6.
Berl Tiskus
Retiring Polson City Commissioner Fred Funke received a plaque for his more than 25 years of service.
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POLSON — At the first Polson City Commission meeting of 2014, Polson City Judge A. Doug Olson swore in new Polson Mayor Heather Knutson and new City Commissioners Jill Southerland, Ward Two; Todd Erickson, Ward One; and Ken Siler, Ward Three.
Knutson said she was looking forward to keeping Polson a great place to live, work and play.
After the new commission took their seats before a packed house, Knutson presented plaques to outgoing Mayor Pat DeVries and commissioners Fred Funke and Mike Lies for their years of service and commitment. DeVries served as mayor for two terms, not contiguous. Lies was a member of the commission for 21 years, and Funke served for more than 25 years.
Lake County Commissioner Bill Barron welcomed the new commission members. He noted that the county has had a good working relationship with the city of Polson, and he is sure that will continue. The Skyline Project is proof of a partnership among the city, the county and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Barron said
CSKT Tribal Councilman Lloyd Irvine congratulated the people who have been elected. He said he remembers starting a new year with new people as this is his 23rd year in tribal government.
The commission hired Richard Gebhardt as interim city attorney. Gebhardt will be paid $100 per hour, and the contract is for six months. That will be the end of the city’s fiscal year and will give the Polson City Manager Mark Shrives some idea of hours required, plus allow continuity for prosecution of Polson City Court cases.
During city manager comments, Shrives noted that Polson Fire Department received an anonymous $1,500 donation. The Parks Department received a $24,000 boost to their budget from the Paul J. McCann Foundation.
Polson has received five proposals from auditors who would like to perform the city’s audits, and Shrives is going through them and should have a recommendation by the Jan. 22 meeting.
Shrives is also taking applications for city boards.
In other business the commission elected an acting chair. He or she serves in place of the mayor if the mayor is absent. Commissioner John Campbell was elected by unanimous vote.
Polson Golf Board Chair Dave Cottington and Polson City Financial Officer Cindy Dooley gave a quick report on the golf course restaurant. Cottington said he received only positive comments on the food, service, attitude and pricing.
From January to December of 2013, the restaurant showed an operating profit of $3,466.89, according to Dooley. She said if the capital outlay was removed, the restaurant showed a slight loss, approximately $5,000.
This figure was an improvement over prior years of $15,000 to $20,000 losses.
Roger Wallace, who is the manager and golf pro, will receive a payment of approximately $5,000, per an agreement to pay him 50 percent of the operating profit, according to Dooley.
The next city commission meeting will be held Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in Polson City Commission Chambers in City Hall.
