Residents press commission for Expo Park financial records; tribal representative alleges ongoing elder abuse at senior center

Two members of the public used the work session public-comment period to raise separate, substantial concerns with county operations.

James Fenner (S8) told the commission he filed a records request about six months earlier seeking 25 years of Montana Expo Park financials and has not received the documents. "I put a FOIA request in for financials for 25 years. I have yet to see anything," Fenner said. He said he contacted county staff (naming Jim, Carrie and Bonnie), the auditor and outside agencies and alleged a history of large annual losses and a pattern of nonresponse; he said his inquiries to state investigators and the FBI led to advice to retain an attorney. Commissioners offered brief, non-substantive replies during the session; no records were provided or actions announced at the meeting.

Later in the public-comment period, Josh (S6) — who said he represents the Prayer Warriors Tribal Council — described what he called more than three years of exploitation and elder abuse at the county senior center. He said he had compiled documents and recordings, that some victims had died, and that he had reported incidents to lawmakers and state aging and law-enforcement authorities. "For over 3 and a half years, I collected documents of exploitation that's been happening to our elders," Josh said, adding he believes "45-7-401 official misconduct" is implicated. Josh asked the commission to take action to protect elders; the work session recorded no direction or referral for investigation during the meeting.

Both public commentators raised allegations that would require formal review; commissioners did not announce next steps during the work session.