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Commissioners vote to separate public administrator duties from treasurer's office, set transition for Jan. 2, 2027
Summary
After a public hearing with testimony from Treasurer Adele Krantz and local stakeholders, the commission approved Resolution 1308C to separate the public administrator role from the treasurer's office, with implementation targeted for Jan. 2, 2027 and questions remaining about funding and whether estate fees will be used to support a county position.
Flathead County commissioners approved Resolution 1308C on March 3 to separate the public administrator duties from the elected treasurer's office, setting a target implementation date of Jan. 2, 2027.
Adele Krantz, the Flathead County treasurer, spoke at length during the public hearing. Krantz said the public administrator duties are defined in Montana statutes and noted that the county has not paid her a stipend for those duties: "This so-called side hustle is called being elected by the Flathead County residents to carry out the duties of the public administrator," she said, and emphasized the statutory obligations to pay creditors and file regular accounting with the district court.
Multiple speakers supported maintaining continuity and ensuring the duties are performed correctly. Sheriff Brian Hano, who also serves as elected coroner in his jurisdiction, said the public administrator's work is important to settle estates and ensure burials and next-of-kin notifications are handled. Funeral-home representative Adam Mills and Adele Krantz's husband Clark Krantz also urged the commission to preserve the integrity of the process and to provide practical solutions for storage and handling of estate items.
Commissioners and staff discussed implementation logistics and funding. HR and finance staff said an industrial hygienist had previously inspected items stored in county facilities and identified some concerns; staff recommended implementing the separation to start with the incoming treasurer's term in January 2027 to allow a smooth transition. Commissioners discussed whether estate-related fees historically paid to the public administrator could be directed to a county-paid position and examined sample statutory fee structures. Krantz said the personal compensation she received from estates this past year was about $40,000 before taxes.
After discussion, a motion to separate the duties passed unanimously. The resolution delegates creation of a separate public administrator position or contract and directs staff to return with implementation details, including funding and operational arrangements, prior to the January transition date.
The commission recorded the motion and set the effective transition date; staff will follow up with specifics on whether the position will be appointed or contracted, how estate fees will be handled under county employment, and any impacts to existing interoffice workflows.
